VOICE OF Bi-monthly Newsletter of Myungsung Christian Medical Center

Vol.1 Issue.3 Nov·Dec 2014

On October 6th, a team from Facing Africa (FA) visited MCM from the UK. Founded in 1998 by Chris Lawrence and Allan Thom, FA treats patients suffering from Noma (a rare disease now found only in Africa, associated with unsanitary conditions and malnutrition, which rapidly degrades facial tissues) free of charge, including facial reconstructive surgeries. The FA team has visited MCM regularly, twice a year, for a total of nine times since 2010. This year, they arrived on September 25th to be-gin diagnosis outpatients, and then operated at MCM for two weeks, from October 6th to 16th. MCM supported resources for clinical parameters such as labs, vitals, and radiologic imaging, and provided both inpatient beds and operat-ing theaters. During this visit, there were 18 patients diagnosed, 23 patients admitted, and 21 patients operated on. Among the patients, there was one identified by Chris Lawrence (CEO of FA) in another area, previously who could not undergo surgery due to her pregnancy. The FA team did not forget about her this year, and sought her out to provide treatment, including baby-sitting so that the patient could focus on the treatment. The FA team is planning to visit again next year January, and through their service and volunteerism, we hope for both physical and spiritual healing of those suffering from Noma.

Memorial service for Donated Ca-davers On September 5th (Friday), for the 2nd year MMC, cele-brated the conclusion of their academic year with a me-morial service for those who had donated their bodies post-mortem for the sake of the students’ learning. This memorial, called “A Service of Memory and Thanks”, was attended by the entire 2nd year class. The service began with the lighting of the candles by each student, followed by announcements and speeches by the faculty members, and by laying of roses on a symbolic casket by each student. The ceremony was concluded with a ser-mon by the hospital chaplain, Pastor Henok, a letter of gratitude to the donors read by Elder Yohana Kim, and benediction by Pastor Eui-Kwang Song. We praise God for the fact that through the anatomy lab, students are learning not only just anatomy, but also to be grateful to those who have donated their bodies for the students to learn.

“Joshua’s Faith”: September’s spe-cial Sunrise Services From September 5th to 11th, with the excep-tion on Sunday and Monday, Good News church broadcasted Myungsung church’s September special sun-rise worship services. The theme verse was from Numbers 27:18, So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him.” With the central message focused on Joshua’s faith, Myungsung Church’s Paster Sam-Hwan Kim gave the sermon. He preached that in order to becoming leaders utilized by God, we must become like Joshua, who was an obedient servant, and well trained to become a leader. Af-ter each service, breakfast was provided in the cafeteria for fellowship. It is hoped that we all remember the blessings from this special early morning service and emulate Joshua’s faith and his servanthood.

2014 Nov·Dec VOICE OF MCM 01

ACTIVITY

New Hospital Building Construction and Expansion At MCM, there are currently many, ongoing construction projects, including a new hospital building. This

new building is 84% completed, and was planned to be completed January 31th 2015. Construction began after receiving a request from the Ethiopian government. The building will be five-stories high above ground and will contain a cardiovas-cular angiography suite and many other top-notch facilities. It is hoped that this new facility will not only improve overall quality of care, but also attract Ethiopians who may otherwise seek their healthcare dollars abroad. This past months, containers full of equipment such as electric, networking, floor tiles and com-puter monitors have been arrived to be stocked. More containers are on the way, and continued prayers are needed to ensure for no barriers or accidents during this construction process.

A New Year dawn in Ethiopia Based on the Ethiopian calendar, September 11 marked the start of the New Year, 2007. On New Year’s eve, both MCM and MMC held end of the year celebration. The ceremony at MCM started off with a choir singing by MCM staff members as well as young adult volunteers’ special performance, followed by Elder Henry Moon’s New Year address. Each department was given chocolates and thank you cards, in a spirit of giving encouragement to all. In a family-style atmosphere, everyone gave rounds of applause as representatives from each depart-ment came forward to receive the gifts. After the benediction by Pastor Eui-Kwang Song, we con-cluded the last day of 2006 with a commemorative photo taken in front of the hospital building. MCM also made significant efforts to create a celebratory mood in the hospital, akin to the Lunar New Year in Korea. Each staff member was given 4L bottles of vegetable oil. It is hoped that 2007 will be another prosperous year during which MCM carries out its mission in the Lord.

Annual Health Check-ups for Long-term volunteers MCM held a health check-up for any interested long-term volunteer (who have volunteered for at least two years), this past September 23rd-24th, and again on October 21st-22nd. A total of 14 volunteers partici-pated in the first round in September, which consisted of BMI measurements, blood pressures, vision, ECG, blood tests, urinary analysis, and chest x-rays. Due to its popularity, the check-ups were split into two ses-sions, and could only be held starting 7am before clinical duties officially began. Ethiopian staff member, Menberu , and Korean volunteer Charlie Kim were instrumental to organize this event. On September 25th, those who participated in the 1st round of check-ups discussed the results with Dr. Ch-Soo Choi (Internal Medicine from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA) either individually or as family units. In the 2nd round, the focus was on mammography for early detection of breast cancer. The mammography was per-formed by a mammographer, doctor Woderyelesh with help by Korean volunteer Soo-Young Jung. Results were discussed in private with Dr. Chul-Soo Kim (OB/GYN). It is hoped that amid concerns regarding Ebola virus and other illnesses in Africa, those at MCM will remain healthy.

List (Estimated Completion Time )

Process Rate

Expected Process Rate

Progress Rate

New Hospital (2015.01.31) 84% 94% 89.36%

New guesthouse (2014.12.10) 56.34% 85% 66.28%

Guesthouse cafeteria (2014.05.14) 71.7% 100% 71.7%

MMC Laboratory (2014.04.08) 90.16% 100% 90.16%

2014 Nov·Dec VOICE OF MCM 02

Good News International Church holds baptism and Lord’s supper On October 19th, Good News Myungsung International Church held a baptism as well as a Lord’s supper. Members who sought baptism applied and underwent education pre-paring for baptism from September 14th to October 12th for a total of five classes. On October 18th, all preparations for bap-tism were concluded after a confirmation session. Five indi-viduals committed themselves to be baptized: U-Na Shin(Child Fund), Do-Hyung Kim, A-Ra Ko(EMCo), Sung-Hwan Ji(Korean School), Joo-Young Choi(Student). They had either not attended a church or had attended the church without getting baptized, and had become devout after coming to Ethiopia. This baptism was quite meaningful in a sense that Good News Church is able to be a passageway for faith for both Ethiopians and Koreans. The baptism was followed by congratulatory bouquet from Good News Church and cakes from the young adults group. Afterwards, there was a Lord’s Supper provided to all those baptized. Pastor Eui-Kwang Song encouraged those that new church members continue to grow in the Lord after baptism, and announced the start of a beginner’s group meeting. He also stressed the importance of connecting with a church in Korea once those baptized return home.

Holeta Region Well-digging project In the Holeta region (about 1.5 hours away from Addis Ababa)

MCW (Myungsung Christian Water Well) constructed its first

well, which measured to a depth of 73.3m. Seven total workers -

MCW’s Suk-Won Lim, Sang-Il Lee, three Ethiopian employees

and two temporary workers from Holeta – worked in the con-

struction of not only the well, but also the water pump, tank, and

other related facilities. This well was requested by KOPIA (Korea

Project on International Agricultural). Because the ground where

the well was dug up had good conditions and large watershed,

this well will be utilized not only by KOPIA but also by other

organizations in the area. From this project, MCW is hoping to

contribute a positive image of Koreans to the region. We wish

that all Korean NGO’s in Ethiopia – not just MCM and MCW -

will continue to thrive.

Orientation for the new students for the 2014-15year On September 13th, Myungsung Medical College (MMC) held an orientation for the new students for the 2014-15 year. During the orientation, MMC faculty members, 30 new students, and their parents participated in learning about life at MMC, the college’s curriculum, and MMC’s vision to train Ethiopian physicians with Christian values. There was also a time set aside for presenting student handbooks and name tags to each student, distributed by faculty members, Rahel, Yohana Kim and Henry Moon. Afterwards, all participants moved to the cafeteria for a celebratory lincheon. MMC was founded in August of 2012 with the aim to reform the fragile health care environment in Ethio-pia, by training future leaders in medicine in both specialty knowledge and mature characters. MMC’s pri-mary objective is to train Godly physicians who would serve as Jesus did. Currently, the school is expand-ing to 75 total students, including the incoming and returning classes. Continued prayer and cooperation are needed for MMC to carry out its vision, and in fulfilling its many tasks such as governmental support, recruitment of talents, and stable financial standing.

MISSION

2014 Nov·Dec VOICE OF MCM 03

COMMUNION

VOICE OF MCM November+December 2014

Vol.1 Issue.3 Next will be published on 1st January 2015

Publisher Dr. Chul-Soo Kim

Medical director

Editor Henry Moon Associate director

Editorial team Dr. Kuhn Hong Tae-Gyu Choi

Biniam Yemane Soo-Young Jung Chan-Min Kim

VISIT US at http://mcmet.org

http://facebook.com/msch.mcm

Change your E-mail address? Have any comments, questions or suggestions?

editorsMCM@gmail.com

Pray for MCM To lift his name and glorify him only by ministering through taking care of patients at MCM. To become the cornerstone of God’s king-dom in Ethiopia and the front line in spread the gospel beyond Africa, Middle Eastern countries, and to the end of the world. Attract more qualified, dedicated and ex-perienced medical specialists to serve in the new wing of the hospital, and invite all the necessary basic science faculty members at the MMC. May the construction of the new hospital building, library, and the dorms proceed safely and with proper funding. May the medical college be able to establish scholar-ships and endowments. May the students studying at the medical college become people of God with a vision for medical missions across Africa. To promote evangelic activities, educate the young leaders in health care system in the developing countries together as coopera-tive efforts with concerned and interested medical schools, hospitals and mission or-ganizations from the developed countries. To make a harmonious mission body by overcoming the difference of background, cultural diversity and serve to responding to the Call from the Above.

Visitors & Volunteers Outgoing 9/2 Pastor Jong-Hyung Lee USA 9/2 Nam-Sun Baek USA 9/2 Dr. Dan Poenaru (Associate Dean of MMC) Canada 9/20 Chi-Soo Choi (Internist) USA 9/22 Sung-Mu Kang (Architect) USA 9/24 Dr. Tim Love (MMC Professor) USA 9/28 Dr. John Gleysteen (MMC Professor) USA 10/3 Dr. Charles Beemer (Orthopedist) USA

10/3 Sr. Susan Beemer (Nurse) USA 10/6 Dr. Leonardo Go (General Surgeon) USA 10/6 Dr. Margaret Go (Pediatrist) USA 10/6 Sr. Patrica Fruen (Nurse) USA 10/20 Dr. Donald Pearson (Orthopedist) USA 10/23 Jason Park (anesthetist) USA 10/25 Dr. Amy Rebecca (MMC Professor) USA 10/30 Hong-Sun Kang, Dae-Sik Kim(CT Engineer) Korea

Incoming

11/2 Dr. Andy Engdahl (MMC Professor) USA 11/2 Dr. Ronald Thompson (MMC Professor) USA 11/3 Suk-Young Kim with journalists Korea

got sick multiple times because of infections. She stayed here about two months. We cleaned up her joint. Her infection became under control.

Last week before she left, she looked quite well. She may have permanent damage in her broken joint or maybe not. We hope she becomes well in the future.

Q : What was the most difficult thing? C : Probably, the most difficult thing that we have to over-

come is Ethiopia government. It is very difficult to bring medical equipments and drugs here. The government does not seem to be particularly interested in welfare for people. And it is just a struggle to all. It is not a simple thing here. We can’t suggest great things here. I hope happiness for Ethiopians. I think we need more people than we think to train doctors and staffs to help their work. More people need to come and help.

Q : Last word to MCM C : I think one of the greatest things here is the medical col-

lege. When I came here I tried to change established health system. I found that they won’t change easily. I thank you for improving medical care in Ethiopia. You really have to start with young students in the medical college and change the culture from bottom to up. I think the bright hope here is the medical college that will change medical care in Ethiopia.

S : I also would like to say thank you to every Korean families. You helped us to settle in to be a part of your culture as well. Outside of here and hospital were really great. We enjoyed outside of community as well. Language barrier is a quite difficult problem. By the way, Korean commu-nity has offered amazing things to us. English-speaking people have been very kind to other English speaking people and non-Koreans. I want to encourage Americans and other English speaking people to be opened to each other.

Sponsor / Donations Phone Ethiopia : 251-11-6292963/251-11-6292795

Korea : 02-6930-9555

Online Voluntary Service >> Apply for support

Volunteer Application Online Volunteering >> Apply online

Email msmcmet@gmail.com

http://mcmet.org

COPYRIGHT© MYUNGSUNG CHRISTIAN MEDICAL CENTER.. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

P.O. Box 15478, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Charles Beemer and Susan Beemer (Orthopedist) (Nurse)

Meet a couple who came from WMM(Samaritan's pruse) Q : How did you get to know MCM? C : We had worked at the Cure hospital in Addis Ababa

three years ago, so we are familiar with Addis. After the hospital there we worked was closed, we were con-nected with Samaritan’s purse. They had several oppor-tunities for us to work. Recently, we thank this opportu-nity because we were familiar with Addis Ababa before.

Q : What was your position? C : I am an orthopedic surgeon. S : I am a nurse anesthetist. So I practiced anesthesia and

also taught ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and BLS (Basic life support class).

Q : What was the most memorable case? C: Probably, the most memorable thing was a little baby

found at home two weeks ago when we got here. She was less than two weeks old with infection in blood stream. She turned out to have seven infected joints. She

2014 Nov·Dec VOICE OF MCM 04