Last year we shared with you the story of Josiah, a young boy in England whose dying wish was to help provide medical care in rural Africa. Josiah’s gift became the seed money for a new clinic in Senegal, answering many prayers for greater healthcare access in remote villages.

Now, a year on from laying the first brick, when we consider the vision God has given us to build this medical clinic from scratch, it can still feel like an utterly overwhelming task. How will we obtain everything we need? How do we find workers who share our values? Where will our provision come from? But God continually proves himself faithful in the face of each impossible need.

As we pondered questions like these, we were approached by Ernest and Isobel Carrick and their team in Northern Ireland. They run the ministry Helping Others Worldwide, sending shipping containers overseas. The Carricks offered to fill a 20-foot shipping container with equipment we needed from the UK. So we gave them a wish list, not expecting all the items to be sourced to fill a whole container.

But God moved in amazing ways through the Carricks’ contacts and incredible team of supporters. Soon individuals, schools and hospitals were donating far more than we ever expected. Before we knew it, the Carricks had rallied support to fill not the 20-foot container but a 40-foot container! It was packed with office furniture, building materials, medical equipment and other items on our list. Their team collected, prepared and packed everything!

This huge outpouring of love and generosity was an unbelievable encouragement. It has reminded us that God can move mightily through his people to abundantly meet needs. God has shown us incredible grace, miraculously linking us to the Carricks. This assures us that if God can provide these supplies, he will certainly equip us for every other need in fulfilling this vision. We know we can fully trust him with the rest.

we’re humbled to witness God touching hearts as we work to make quality healthcare available

And so, the project continues moving forward. We have put the concrete ceiling on the clinic side and hope to do the same on the maternity side soon. We also aim to plaster the walls, then start tiling the floors and installing doors. Progress depends partly on the country remaining stable through the upcoming elections.

We are thankful that the local community are fully behind this project, doing all they can to help. It has truly become a clinic of their own. We’re humbled to witness God touching hearts as we work to make quality healthcare available. We thank God for a Christian labourer who, along with us, has had many opportunities to share his faith.

Thank you for standing with us in this work. Please pray for … 

  • stability and peace in Senegal
  • the practicalities of becoming authorised as a clinic
  • God to bring medical staff with the same vision to work with us
  • for Omar* (one of the workers and his family), who are searching for truth but facing strong cultural barriers. Animism has a large grip in the area – please pray for open hearts to receive the gospel.
  • God to continue to draw people to himself through this work

we are thankful that the community are doing all they can to help … it has truly become a clinic of their own

Photos – main photo (top of page): the local community get involved, the team in Northern Ireland load up the container; the 40-ton container is on its way, front view of the new clinic and the clinic water pump serves the community – these girls are collecting water for their vegetable garden.

Ténébou and Bethan (and family) are serving in Senegal, focusing on evangelism, medical care and hospitality