Your T.I.M. donations to Our Saviour Lutheran Church go directly to this mission project and work. Together In Mission (TIM). We give thanks to God for His wonderful blessing and the strength and energy He gives to Dr. Schmaltz. The mission is truly a fulfillment of Jesus command, preach the word, heal the sick. This mission is not talk. This mission is prayer and faith and love in action.

Dr. Kristen Schmaltz Photo Gallery

This is the latest letter from Dr. Kristen Schmalz who served with the mission in Guinea and now serves at Compassion Evangelical Hospital. Compassion Evangelical Hospital is a non-denomination Christian hospital supported by the interdenominational Christian community.

The ministry at Compassion Evangelical Hospital is by God's grace growing. We remember Kristen in our prayers and through our TIM giving. All monies donated to TIM through our offerings go directly to the work of Compassion Evangelical Hospital.

While the medical presence of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod mission in Guinea is primarily information, our Lutheran Church Missouri Synod missionaries are hard at work sharing the Gospel. Jane sends you regular updates on these missionaries.

We include all of them in our prayers and support.

Pastor Eberhart

DECEMBER 2010; NEWSLETTER FROM DR. KRISTEN SCHMALTZ

GUINEA, W. AFRICA

I recently saw a sunrise during my early morning devotions & prayer time on my front terrace by lamp light. I caught the sunrise with brilliant colors and clouds gliding by reflecting that dazzling light of a new day before going to work at CEH. My prayer was for a bright new day for Guinea in colors of created beauty that could match this beautiful sunrise.

However it would take some time. Events showing the turmoil during the delay of the runoff elections continued as we waited weeks for confirmation of those preliminary results. The Supreme Court of Guinea would have to rule on allegations of irregularities filed by both candidates before final results could be posted & accepted. People were scared. Markets were closed for most of the day except for a few tables of food open for short times of sales. Rougie told me of the stench of rotting meat or fish in the market - prices were too high for the average citizen to purchase such food. No new stocks of food/ goods were acquired for a while. Tensions mounted. Scuffles happened and finally a "state of emergency" was declared for the whole country. Gunfire in neighborhoods across the country, including mine, announced the beginning of the curfew from 6 pm to 6 am. At first it was kind of scary - bullets that are fired in the air must come down (!) and some people were caught in gunfire. Rascal and I sat on the floor in my bedroom... him woofing since he does not like the sharp sound of gunshots and me waiting quietly for the short time of warning shots to stop.

The schools were closed officially for "vacation," as they have been on and off again for about 2 months. At this "state of emergency" announcement CEH closed for 2 days... we had been working every day before that. Few patients came (maybe 6-40 per day). It is a time of insecurity and no money to spare on healthcare for anyone. Very sick patients came for IV treatments. We had treated & sold meds to patients that last day before gunfire started and rigorously enforced curfew. Fortunately I'd bought a new battery for my 1 panel solar system which is giving me power for a light & to charge my phone and computer. Thankfully that arrived 2 days before the curfew and was charged so I could have power for the 4 days at home!! I emailed family, the CEH/USA office & supporters, and called my national and missionary friends and colleagues in Guinea regularly to keep abreast of the latest news.

Just last week we heard the Supreme Court ruling on the election confirming Alpha Conde's victory in the elections and all the prayers for peace for this were abundantly answered!! Each candidate encouraged his supporters to stay calm, and everyone was for the most part. Now 4 days later, things are slowly getting more "normal"- markets are opening up, kids (including the twins Sere and Nene) will go to school today, patient load is picking up a bit & I plan to go to "my" village for an overnight this week. I am thankful to God for this and for fellow missionaries and workers who stand by our Guinean friends, neighbors & patients in times of crisis to live and work together. We are a multinational team at CEH living in this beautiful developing world learning and open to the new sunrise of democracy in Guinea - a brand new day! We are the body of Christ- His church put here to be a witness to Him and we are serving where and as He leads here. Thank you for enabling us to be hands and feet and hearts for Christ here at CEH and in Guinea.

Please consider the following in your prayers:
(1) Thanksgiving to God for His protection, guidance and care during the unsettled election period, and for His peace.
(2) Thanksgiving for the growth of CEH-both physical (wards, new well, arrival of supplies via shipment) and medical (remaining open -except for 2 days-and available for our patients, and working in a serving attitude).
(3) Thanksgiving for food, water, lights and power
(4) Thanksgiving for my first celebration of "Thanksgiving" (in 8 years of living in Guinea) with good company (friends working in Guinea), good food (we had guinea fowl), and fun!

Christmas Blessings to All,

Dr. Kristen Schmaltz

Guineadoc@yahoo.fr