|
The Clinic...
A True Testimony of God's Power!
|
|
We are sorry to
say that in the last 18 months there
has not been a change in the status of the clinic, it is not that
the need or the desire has changed but there has not been any
additional funding received to continue. Because of this long
unexpected delay we are praying to know whether the Lord would
have us continue with the clinic or if He is redirecting the use
of this building for another purpose. Please pray with us to know
Gods will. This is the story of where the clinic stands and how it
began.
|
|
Update as of August 2005
The construction has been on
hold since July of 2004 due to lack of funds. In fall of 2003,
we could have completed the clinic for about $135,000. At this
time, August, 2005, the cost has gone up to about $200,000, and
increases all the time. The reason for this is twofold. One is
the devaluation of the U. S. dollar against the euro, and the
other is constant inflation inside Romania.
|
|
A Special Note from Johnny... Nov.
2002
Re the clinic, I have been sharing something I found
out, or rather became more aware of on this last trip. Because of either indifference, or the fact that they can't afford
it, many do not get the med help they need.
An example---
Anne,
Anton's wife, was telling me of a street child who was sleeping in
a dumpster, and for one reason or another decided to build a fire.
In doing so, some plastic bottles melted on his legs.
He was already back on the street in a few hours, having
been treated as an outpatient. His broken leg had not been set and
despite the fact that he had 3rd degree burns, he was
bandaged and taken back outside and left on the sidewalk to fend
for himself. She told me that in the U.S. he would have been in a burn ward for
several weeks. This is also often the case for Gypsies and
street people.
|
|
History
of The Clinic...
In
2000, while on a trip to Dallas to receive a load of
medical supplies for shipping to Romania, I had an idea
about building a clinic in Arad. I never really
knew if we should build a clinic, or not, and never really
prayed about it. In my mind though,
I knew what I wanted and felt we should have, if we ever did build
a clinic.
Then, one day in the spring, as I drove home from Covington, God spoke to my heart and
reminded me that I had never asked Him about the clinic.
So, as I drove, I just said to God, "Lord
if you want us to build a clinic in Arad, I would happy and
privileged to do it.”
And that is all I prayed. However, to be honest,
I was thinking I had to be crazy even before I drove a mile, after
praying this prayer.
As I said, this was on a Tuesday. On Thursday of the same
week, we had 2 visitors come to visit us at Fairhaven.
We visited, and as I showed them the area we were using for
the Romanian Ministry, I was telling them how we distributed the
medical supplies , and just mentioned that I was praying that
perhaps, if it was God’s will, we could someday build a clinic
in Arad.
A little while later, as we
sat in my office, the gentleman just looked at me and asked me
what $15,000 would do in starting a clinic in Arad. I told him not
to write me a check for I could not have any idea of what the cost
would be, but that I would try to have an idea in 2 weeks.
He and his wife went home, and few days later, I received an
e-mail from them informing me that they had sent me $20,000 to
start the clinic. Needless to say, I was deeply moved and so
surprised at the Lord doing this so suddenly.
Within 2 months I was back in Romania, hiring an architect and
trying to get an idea of what the costs would be for construction.
I will simply say that the next 6 months were a real learning
experience for me. The architect misrepresented facts and then
designed the bldg as he would have it and not as I wanted it. When
I went back in May, and met with the city engineers, I found out
just how badly I had been mislead. The architect had told me the
cost would be about $70,000, but I soon realized that the actual
cost would be closer to $170,000.
To say I was depressed and
discouraged is an understatement. I came home, wondering if I had
missed God’s will or if I had been a
poor steward of what He provided, or what. I just continued
to pray but had no direction whatsoever.
|
|
Then,
one afternoon in July, 2001, a gentleman came to visit me. As we
visited, he asked me about the clinic project, so I told him all
that had happened and that I had no idea as to what I was supposed
to do at this time. He then got up from his chair and told me that
he thought I was supposed to go ahead with the original project,
and then he gave me a check for $50,000. Again, God seemed to be
giving me direction in this.
|
| So, again I
went to Romania and hired new architects and then a
contractor to construct the foundation and the basement.
They started on the foundation in May, 2002.
|
|
|
As usual, this was not
without problems. With a higher than normal water table and then
additional rain, there were many obstacles for the contractor to
deal with.
|
| However, in June, 2002, the
basement and foundation were completed.
|
|
|
|
|
July 2003...
As of July, 2003, we now have
the third floor poured on the clinic. We are so thankful to God
for bringing so far on this. We will now wait until we have more
clinic funds to be able to
start to work on it again. Please pray that we will soon have the funds to complete the roof
before winter begins.
This picture illustrates the
progress of the clinic as of August 2003.
Please pray with us concerning the need of the roof to be
completed before winter begins
and the weather makes it impossible to do the
construction. At this time we do not have the funds to
complete this project.
|
|
The building is approximately 67
ft. in length and 32 ft. wide and has 3 floors. This gives us
approximately 6400 square ft. of working area. I have tried, to
the best of my ability, to design the clinic for both people
control and efficiency. Since I am not a doctor, and have only
had advice from doctors and medical personnel, I can only hope
and pray that it will serve the purpose.
The purpose of this building
will be unique, I think. I have been involved in working in
Romania since 1995 and we have had a licensed non profit
organization there since 1997. The name of the organization is
Hopes for Others. In working in Romania, we have seen many
situations where lives could have been saved had the right
medical help been available—and these are not major cases.
If the Lord is willing, I would
like the clinic to be a place where doctors, as well as dentists
and other medical personnel from America, or other countries,
could come to work and meet the needs of the people of Romania.
Also, since we have taken no government funding, we can share
the love of Jesus both in word and deed.
The first floor of clinic will
have the reception area with office, exam rooms, x-ray,
outpatient surgery with a small recovery room.
The second floor will contain a
lab, room for instrument sterilization, exam rooms, and 2
complete dental suites.
The third floor will have at
least 2 nice bedrooms with baths, a conference area, office,
counseling room, and storage rooms.
There is also a basement where
we will have the hot water heaters, and other things necessary
for safe operation of the clinic.
(NOTE: Should you look at the
plans, you will see each room marked for a particular use. The
reason for this is in order to meet the criteria set up by the
board of medical standards in Romania. I have worked closely
with the director of clinical standards for this part of Romania
in order to be sure that the clinic will meet all of the
criteria required for licensing. She has told me that we can use
the rooms as we need them, but have to have these names for the
plans to be accepted.)
|
|
|
|
The need is so
real, as you can see from these few pictures.
Baby with hernia Bad
Leg
A
Child
A Beggar
(click on pictures for larger version)
|
|
We would ask that you pray with us for
the completion of the construction and then for the equipment and
supplies needed for the operation of the clinic.
Also, that you will be praying that as it is constructed and as
people are served, that God will be glorified through it all.
|
Contact
Information
Please
go to Contact Info Page... Thank
You! |
|
|
And the
King shall answer and say unto them,
"Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it
unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto
me."
Matthew 25:40
|
Copyright © 2002 Hopes For Others.
|
