1. Bethesda Mission Hospital Board of Trustee Meeting

I thank God for international UBF medical mission team who came from Korea, USA and shared Jesus’ love with their medical skill and knowledge in Uganda last February. I also thank God for those who came to attend the first meeting of Bethesda Mission Hospital Board of Trustee with Jesus’ compassionate heart and love for Ugnada. Before free medical camp in Lyantonde, we held the meeting of Bethesda Mission Hospital Board of Trustee. The attendants were Dr. Samuel Zun, David Park, Samuel Yoo, Mary Yoo, Jinbo Kim, Jinhyun Kim, Luke Lim, Rebekah Lim. They discussed direction and future plan of Bethesda mission clinic. They agreed that Bethesda Mission Hospital should be self sustainable and income generating hospital so that missionaries might get self support from the hospital. We agreed to expand clinic to be hospital which will be launched seven departments (Internal medicine, Pediatrics, General surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Obstetrics &Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Dentistry). For this plan we need many co-workers not only medical professionals but also non medical professionals such as administrator, accountant, engineer and so on. In order to achieve our vision and plan we need more land in the suburbs of Kampala city so that we may build medical school and tropical institute in the future. I pray that God may bless our plan abundantly so that many Ugandans may get healed physically and spiritually through Bethesda Mission Hospital. It’s my earnest prayer that more missionaries from worldwide UBF chapters may join this ministry. May God grant enough human and material resources for Bethesda Mission Hospital project.

2. Hospital collaboration agreement
There was hospital collaboration agreement ceremony between Bethesda Mission clinic, Kampala and Jungeup Love hospital, Korea. This agreement was made for the purpose of pursing medical development and contributing improvement in medical qualities and health conditions of people in two countries through mutual cooperation. Shepherd Dr. Abraham Kwak, the medical director of Jungeup Love hospital, Dr. Luke Lim, the managing doctor of Bethesda Mission clinic, signed the agreement and exchanged it. We prayed that this collaboration might improve medical quality in Bethesda Mission clinic.

3. UBF International Medical Team Free Medical Camp
This year it was the 2nd time of UBF free medical camp in Uganda. Last year it was done by mainly Korea Kwangju III UBF coworkers. This year more people participated who were 19 from Kwangju III, 2 from Kwangju I, 1 from Jungeup love hospital, 2 from Jongro II, 1 from Kwanak III, 3 from USA, 3 from Uganda Makerere chapter. Lyantonde district is new district where was devastated by HIV infection. Lyantonde town is known as the source of HIV infection because it is located on the way to the Western part of Uganda, Rwanda, Brundi, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Many truck drivers stop over there that prostitution is prevalent. There are many HIV orphans who lost their parents because of AIDS. Though hospital facility was poor and working environment was inconvenient, none of medical mission team members complained. They worked their best in their situation in order to serve more patients. As a result 2351 patients were treated and 22 patients were undergone operation. Some surgical cases were not able to be handled in Lyantonde. We arranged to transfer them to Kampala for further investigation and treatment. Patients were so poor that they could not afford to come to Kampala. We sponsored their transport fee, treatment cost, and other cost for their stay in Kampala. Many people were so grateful for our UBF medical mission team’s sacrificial work and treatment. Local government officer and district medical officer invited UBF medical team to reception in token of their gratitude. It was served with mouth-watering barbecued goat meat and drinks

While many people were getting treatment in the Lyantonde hospital, some of medical team members visited village because village people could not come to the hospital due to lack of transport. We could see how miserable their village life was. There was no electric power, water supply, and the roads where unaccessible. They fetched water from well which was shared with the cattle. Their houses were built with mud and cow dung. The house was collapsing gradually with time and rain. We visited few orphans’ houses. Their parents died of AIDS and many young children were left. They were desperately in need of food, clothing, bedding, scholastic materials, medication and tender care. Local NGO PARDI (Participatory Action for Rural Development Initiative) is helping those AIDS orphans by supplying their needs, teaching them farming method, HIV/AIDS awareness and sensitivity training. We are looking for the ways how we can cooperate with the local NGO PARDI so that we may help those desperate HIV orphans.

Through UBF medical mission work we could learn the compassionate heart of Jesus and needs of medical mission work in mission field especially the third world. We discovered that there are a lot of works to be done in the mission field but workers are few. It is my prayer that God may send more workers to Uganda so that we may participate in the joy of harvest of God’s work. May God continue to use us for his world salvation work through campus discipleship ministry and healing ministry.

4. Helping HIV/AIDS Orphans project
Last year worldwide UBF chapters offered Christmas offering for HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda. I thank God for worldwide precious coworkers’ prayer and offering for Uganda. We have investigated so far how to use this precious offering the most effectively. Bethesda clinic had served the children of Mulago FOCUS (Fellowship of Christian Unions) Children Project. These children are HIV orphans or vulnerable children who stay in slum area of Mulago. We have given them free treatment in Bethesda Mission Clinic. Our leaders and missionaries in Uganda are going to discuss how to help them. We also served the area of Lyantonde district with UBF Free Medical Camp. We have known some local NGO which helps AIDS orphans in many ways. We are going to decide how to help them in effective way. May God give us wisdom so that we may help HIV/AIDS orphans practically and effectively.

5. Launching Optical service in Bethesda clinic
Last September, we purchased automated machine for making eye glasses from Korea. Korean NGO VCS (Vision Care Service) arranged purchase of machine and training. Msn. Rebekah learned how to make eye glasses from one technician who came to Uganda to install machine and to teach her. Msn. Rebekah now can make all kinds of glasses without any help from outside. We still need more lenses and glass accessories so that optical service may be fully equipped and we may generate income for self-supporting. May God bless our new business so that we may provide good quality spectacles to Ugnadan people with affordable price and generate income for self-support.

6. Launching endoscopic service by Dr. Samuel Yoo
Since Msn. Samuel Yoo ended his contract with KOICA, he became free that he could work in Bethesda clinic as consultant. He began Esophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy then he introduced bronchoscopy in Bethesda clinic. He was the first doctor who introduced bronchoscopy to Uganda. He used to do it in Mulago hospital. The endoscopy in Mulago hospital is out of order now that Bethesda clinic becomes only place where brochoscopy can be done in Uganda. We pray for getting more endoscopic machine and endoscopic room next year so that we may provide quality diagnostic service to Ugandans.

When I look back last year, I find that I did not prepare Bible study and Sunday message wholeheartedly. I participated in many outreach program and mission hospital project. After I returned from village, I felt very tired and could not prepare message deeply. I feel very sorry for my responsibility of handling God’s word. May you forgive my laziness and negligence of my duty as your servant. In new year 2009 I hold the word of God, Ezra 7:10. It says, "For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel." This year I decide to devote myself to study, to observe and to teach the word of God more diligently. I pray that I may study Bible deeply so that I may provide very nutritious spiritual food to our coworkers and flock of sheep. I pray that I may handle God’s word correctly by studying and observing and teaching it wholeheartedly. Please help me to put what I teach into practice so that I myself may not be disqualified after my teaching. May you grant me the Holy Spirit and wisdom so that I may discern this world and prepare sharp touching message every Sunday. It’s my prayer that I may meditate God’s word day and night and read the whole Bible once from the cover to cover this year.