Central Oregonian

Meeting needs in Tanzania

Recently the local organization Mbuyu Charities sent a team to Africa to spread the word of Christ through medical care

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Mbuyu charity members pose in front of the Meserani Snake Park Medical Clinic in Tanzania during their recent mission trip. Pictured above are Crook County firefighter and paramedic Wayne Muilenburg, Dr. Lisa Steffey and Chance Steffey of La Pine, Nurse Jane, a patient, and local village translator Rachel.

Jason Chaney

February 16, 2010

Local organization Mbuyu Charities takes its name from the Swahili word for Baobab tree, which is known as the "tree of life."

Recently the charity sent a group of 10 to Tanzania, Africa to provide medical care and spread the gospel of Christ.

"We wanted to share God's love through meeting their physical needs and their spiritual needs," said Mbuyu member and former Crook County Middle School teacher Hannah Moorman.

Tanzania is situated between Kenya and Uganda, just south of the equator on the east coast of Africa. Tanzanian citizens represent more than 120 tribal groups and the country is one of the least urbanized in all of Africa. The nation is home to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak as well as the world's second largest freshwater lake (Victoria) and world's second deepest lake (Tanganyika).

In Tanzania, one of the main needs is medical care. Local citizens commonly require care for venomous snake bites and infections, and so far, little has been available. This charity has set out to address that need.

The recently dispatched mission group was comprised of two physicians, a physician's assistant, a paramedic, and a nurse, along with several other helpers.

"Our group was really half and half," said Mbuyu board vice-president and Crook County Fire and Rescue paramedic Wayne Muilenburg. "We did general medical mission work. We would take care of everything from aches and pains to amputation of a toe."

While the physicians possessed the medical know how, the helpers got involved in the medical care as well.

"We were put to work," Moorman remarked. "I'm a teacher and I did injections. I cleaned wounds."

The group spent about six days doing medical clinics, seeing numerous patients in the process.

"Over the course of the clinic, we saw about 1,000 patients," Muilenburg said.

The missionaries collaborated with the Tanzanian local clinic director and village pastors while carrying out their work.

"Their (clinic) director arranged for translators and transport," Moorman said. "He knows about the cultures and the customs. He was our link there."

As far as the evangelical portion of their work, Moorman said, "The pastors of those villages were critical to us connecting with the people."

The Mbuyu Charities board is made up of medical professionals residing in Redmond and Prineville. The organization is not officially affiliated with any church, however Muilenburg said Mbuyu member churches frequently donate money and pray for the organization.

While this was the first official mission trip, Muilenburg said it will not be the last.

"Our goal is to go out twice a year," he said. "Right now we're planning another medical missions trip in Papua New Guinea." In addition, future missions may deviate from medical care. "Maybe we can do a construction mission or a camp (mission)," Muilenburg said. "This is the tip of the iceberg."