New Foundations continues to serve the poorest in the marginalised communities of the politically volatile Niger Delta. Since the kidnap of three trustees and the murder of Ian Squire, a partner and friend of the mission in 2017, the mission has been increasingly led by the Nigerian team of three Nigerian trustees and the core of fifteen community health workers. How apposite are the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes; ’for everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven’.

Missionary activities are the work of the Lord and it is by grace and in His strength that we are called to labour in whatever capacity He calls us. Woe betide the man or woman who takes ownership of the work, or seeks to be validated by some misplaced heroism. For us, we have known the work was to be handed over, and the Lord stepped us back maybe two years earlier than we expected, and in His purpose, chose to take Ian home. After sixteen years there is an encouraging maturity in the team and it is right that they now step forward for the day to day running of the programs.

Following Ian’s death there has been revival, the seed fell to the ground and fruit has been the result. Beside the ongoing clinical work across our two remote clinics in the flooded terrain of the delta jungle we now hold discipleship days every fortnight. Up to eight boat loads of new converts, some 150-200 people eager to hear the Gospel come to be taught sound biblical truth.

Recently, twenty young men who were enmeshed in drugs and drinking, came to ask of the person of Jesus and so a satellite fellowship was started in a neighbouring community, and with nowhere to sit new chairs were purchased.

Within the team there is a new seriousness and sense of purpose in the work. The security in the region is fragile and oil theft and illegal distilleries in the jungle are a major challenge to the team. Much of the work involves treating burns, cases which should be handled by specialist centres, but there are no burns units in the State. By God’s grace we see amazing healings.

Compassion and patience saw a complete healing in three men, two of whom came to Christ and now join the discipleship days, still amazed how God had been so merciful to them. The team continue to tell of God’s mercy to all who come through the doors, delivering evidenced based healthcare with the love of Christ.

Gang activity is still endemic in the area and the communities in which we work provide security for the workers overnight. Nevertheless, we were able to go back twice in 2019 to have time with the team and are extremely grateful to Medical Missionary News for facilitating the entire team coming to meet us for a week of fellowship, prayer, study and training in September last year. Though we had to meet outside the Delta we were able to seek the Lord together and to once more lay the mission down. It is so easy as humans to run ahead with ideas of man and our own thinking, and we know from the Word that there are ways that seem right to men but in them lies the way of death! Because of this we always spend much of our time together seeking the Lord to learn what He would have us do, so that, in all we undertake and discuss, we are looking for God’s direction.

Alanna Carson, who was held hostage with us for three weeks, has now joined the mission as a trustee. A trained Optometrist, she came back with us to Nigeria to invest in the eye team who Ian Squire had initially trained, to continue his legacy.

Glaucoma and refractive errors are a serious problem in sub Saharan Africa, and we have been able to purchase a tonometer to screen for glaucoma, which is second only to cataract as the main cause of blindness, and yet amenable to treatment if caught early.

We continue to provide prescription glasses; a unique service in such a rural area. And yet, without a simple pair of glasses, threading a needle or the ability to mend a fishing net by kerosene lamp can spell economic ruin.

The burden of cataract remains high and the security of the region is un-attractive for many surgeons to visit. We are looking to send those blind with bilateral cataracts to more regional centres for treatment where possible. To see a patient’s sight restored is a marvellous thing, as the young girl evidences from our last cataract camp; the mask like expression gives way to such an engaging and communicative smile.

The team see up to 300 patients each month, the majority being children and mothers. Over the past ten years the majority of babies are now born at the clinic, and with good antenatal care, problem births can be anticipated by use of our ultrasound machine and a good understanding of the mother’s health and obstetric history. For those requiring surgical deliveries we can transport in time for elective surgery at a government hospital two hours away.

This year we have sectioned part of our little inpatient ward to provide a basic but more dedicated delivery suite with bedroom and bathroom facility; basic, but serviceable.

In all we do, we strive to do it unto the Lord. In all we do, we do in unity and in the desire to demonstrate God’s abundant love through compassionate evidenced healthcare, that all may come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This aim underpins the entire mission.

There are many patients who come to the clinic with terrible problems and presentations, such as children, horrifically burnt and in severe distress. The team work tirelessly to save lives and prevent complications from life changing injuries. In the midst of such trial, with the love of Christ and attention to all the complex medical needs of the patient, hope can be restored, and even, by God’s grace, a smile.