Meet a friend of ours named Johnson.
Serving people living on the islands in Micronesia, quickly brings you face to face with their actual realities. It is one thing to imagine what sorts of people and situations you will encounter and try to make plans accordingly, but once you arrive and begin a conversation with these who live in extreme isolation you realize just how difficult it is to sustain healthy life removed from healthcare options.
The problem is evident – the lack of nutrition, communication, access to healthcare during an illness, lack of medical equipment and supplies, and the lack of knowledge. All of these factors create a difficult health environment. On these remote islands change appears impossible – so much so that many have given up dreaming about a different way of life and lapse into depression.
One of our medical crew, Kimberley Ward, noted, “With the reality of their life, the shortage of healthy foods, and unfortunately the easy access to canned goods it is understandable why by the age of 35, half of the population struggles to manage severe diabetes.” It is rampant in these remote places but you never hear of it on the news!
Due to the lack of healthy food options one in two persons you meet there will live half their life seriously struggling with health issues. They will suffer from poor or nonexistent dental care and optical care, have circulation problems, obesity, and the list goes on and on. This brings us to our friend named Johnson (below) who had toes already amputated was in desperate need to have more removed. He was trying to manage on his own but was needing to be evacuated before the diabetes ended up taking his life. Using HAWAII ALOHA as an ambulance we were able to get him to medical care in time – but it was close.
This is part of what our family has been part of, providing for the medical help for the physical body and spiritual help for the soul!!!
To be part of our ministry you can go to www.ywamships.net or click on the link below and make donations under "Missionary Support Fund" and in the notes type "Suderno Family". These funds go to making it possible for our family to be part of what YWAM Ships is doing in Micronesia.
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