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Gayle Mulberry grant report

The scholarship I received from the Tabor fund enabled me to serve on a medical mission team to Nalergu, Ghana. In September, we traveled to the Baptist Medical Center which was founded by Dr. George Faille Sr. 50 years ago. My work was mainly with public health. I spent time working in the nutrition center teaching classes and using Bible stories to share the gospel and in a family planning clinic providing breast feeding help and post partum check-ups.

The public health staff had put together a meeting of 42 tribal medicine men, and I was allowed to be present and have input. This was a distinct privilege because most of them were Muslim, and women are not looked upon very highly. Groundwork was laid for future dialogue and communication between these tribal medicine men and medical personnel on a topic of how they might be able to work together. Strategies were identified of how they might serve and pass on valued practices, how to share information with the hospital personnel, as well as techniques on how to grow herbs they needed.

The public health staff arranged for a meeting with 120 middle and high school students. At this assembly, we openly discussed HIV, AIDS, STD's, chastity, and God's desires for each young person. There are no restrictions as far as separation of church and state. There was time for questions and answers. Many teenagers struggle when their heart's desire is for chastity, but because of economic situations, their parents may sell them into prostitution.

Some other tasks I was allowed to do were to work in the pharmacy and observe in the pediatric ward, where there was lots of malaria. I was also given the privilege to lead a workshop for pastors' wives. A special treat for me was to attend a wedding. Our team focused on an unreached people group, the Bissa. One works very hard to form relationships and build on existing ones. There is a desire to learn as much about the culture so that you can more effectually share the gospel.

The Baptist Medical Center in Nalergu was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary the week after we left. Much work and preparation was done to make this celebration special. It was a surprise and joy for me to overlap with some of those early missionaries. Two of these early missionary nurses are BNF^® members: Willie Mae Berry and Dianne Lay. Each of these women spent over 30 years serving in the hospital and helping to strengthen churches and missions in the region. What an honor it was for me to be at this place at this time. Thank you, BNF. I encourage each of you to be on mission for God through BNF.

Gayle Mulberry