Community Free Health Day

Being a Mormon in a Muslim country isn't easy.  For instance, when it's time to marry, you don't have a lot of choices--the Muslims are definitely out, and many Christian families don't want their children to marry a Mormon.  There's a lot of misunderstandings and prejudices.

Recently we have been trying to improve the image of the Church in the Al Husn area where the North Jordan branch meets.  We've had two projects to help the local schools.  Last weekend we had a project to provide medications to poor Jordanians and Syrians at a Free Health Day sponsored by a group of  local community leaders.

These are some of the medications donated by LDS Charities.  The most common meds are for hypertension and diabetes.

22 doctors and medical students from the nearby Jordan Medical school participated in the event which was held in a school very near to the North Jordan Branch Chapel.

Is this scary or what!!

The classrooms were turned into examination rooms.

"arabic arabic arabic arabic arabic arabic arabic LDSCHARITIES arabic arabic arabic arabic arabic"

(We got thanked--we think!!)

Over 350 poor Jordanians and refugees received free treatment and medications.

This is Dr. Bourhan, the leader of the community action group that sponsored the event.  Dr. Bourhan is the department head of the school of engineering at JUST University, and on the local school board.  A busy man!

We met the mayor of Al Husn, the President of JUST University, the Dean of the College of Medicine and other dignitaries at the event.  

We hope this event was positive public relations for the Church.  Two guys told us they would like to come to our church.  Somehow they made the connection that LDS Charities is the Mormons.

The Women's Clinic in Tafila

Several months ago we heard about the National Women's Health Care Center in Jordan and made an appointment to go and see them.  During our visit with the administrators we learned that the center deals specifically with women's health under the direction of Queen Noir (one of the royal family members).   It sounded like a good organization and we made an appointment to visit their clinic in Tafila, a very poor area in southern Jordan.

An employee named Rhamen speaks very good English and knows the way, so we were happy to have her go with us.  

Tafila is tucked in a secluded valley east of the  Dead Sea.  

It's a beautiful setting and a peaceful little town.  Remember--the people in the area are very poor.

We were expecting a humble little center in need of a lot of help.  

What we saw was completely the opposite:  

Everything they showed us was very modern and new, starting with the reception desk.

The center's pharmacy is well stocked with vitamins and drugs.   All medications are free.

Laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment.

x-ray machine for mammograms.

Modern ultrasound equipment.

 More x-ray equipment

Bone density scanner 

 Dental equipment better than our dentist has at home.

 Slit lamp for eye examinations

A mobile health van

They also offer a variety of services, including family planning, family counseling, etc.  There's a large auditorium for classes.  Even the restrooms had real toilets--and paper too.

We looked around and noticed only a handful of patients.  "Where is everyone?"  We were told that  the women come early in the morning to the center and then hurry back home to take care of their families.

This is an organization that needs help from LDS Charities???  We can't figure it out.  The facility we saw must have cost millions and wasn't lacking in anything.  It was the finest facility we have seen ANYWHERE in a developing country.  We have a meeting with their administration next week.  It will be interesting to see what they have to say.

Osama from Madaba

Several years ago a missionary couple in Jordan became acquainted with Osama Abu Al-Ganam, a prominent and successful businessman who lives in Madaba (south of Amman).  One of his businesses is a mosiac shop.  Madaba is famous for having an abundance of ancient mosiacs from earlier civilizations.  Today, the craftsmen in the area still produce beautiful works as souvenirs.  

Through the years other missionary couples have nourished the friendship of the LDS Church with Osama.  We have also made friends with him and visit his shop when we are in the area.  (That's Osama next to Lynn).

Last Tuesday Osama invited us to his home for lunch and to meet his family.  He and his wife have two severely handicapped boys and a new baby girl.  The problem they  have is genetic and is related to cystic fibrosis.  Osama's wife is very busy taking care of the children because they can't find a school for the disabled that will take them.

The extended family don't want Osama and his wife to bring the children outside their home because they're ashamed to have disabled people in their family.  They are afraid prospective husbands and wives for other family members wouldn't want to marry into their family because of the genetic issues.  So all they can do is keep the children inside the home out of sight.  The children are very loving and smart.  They have been inside for so long, they are afraid to go out.

When Osama has business in the U.S. he visits the missionary couples in Utah and attends our church there.  He likes what he hears and he likes the Mormon church.  HOWEVER, it would be very very difficult if not impossible for him to join the church right now in Jordan.  Maybe he's one of the people the Lord is preparing to be ready as soon as the barriers are down and people are free to think what they want to think and do what they want to do.  

All is Forgiven

Last week one person came to church and we were feeling very sad.  This week 18 people showed up and we're happy again.  All the people who went AWOL because they couldn't make it to church after staying up all night celebrating the new year have been forgiven.  We had a good spirit, great lessons and everyone was "nourished by the good word of God."

The Church is true.  We're so happy for the principle of forgiveness which applies to everyone, (especially us).

Fajitas at the Pyramid

Last week we went to an Egyptian-style restaurant in Jordan and ate Mexican fajitas prepared by a Chinese cook.

 They weren't too bad! 

Al Husn Medical Clinic

The Al Husn Comprehensive Health Clinic (very near where we live) serves approximately 76,000 people in the surrounding communities, including approximately 4,000 uninsured.  The service area includes a large number of refugees, primarily Syrian and Palestinian.  According to the data we were given, the clinic serves about 7,000 patients per month.

A lot of Muslim women keep their faces covered, but Dr. Bassam is the first man we've met who was covered!  Maybe it didn't have anything to do with his religion.  Maybe it had something to do with infections diseases......Hmmmmmm......

The clinic needs an ultrasound machine and a blood analysis machine, emergency room kits, 12 blood pressure machines, a sterilizer and a washing machine.  They promised to prioritize their list and to give us some prices.

As usual, we are required to meet with the government and get their approval before we can do anything.

We met with the director of immunizations, the health director, our friend Dr. Bourhan, and the head of purchasing for the directorate to explain who we are and tell them about LDS Charities.

Signing MOU's for school project

Did you see Lynn's picture on Facebook?  For those of you who can't read Arabic (that includes us), the posting explained that we signed papers with the director of education for the local area to make a donation to two of the schools in Al Husn.  We agreed to donate the stuff and Dr. Fawazel agreed to allow us to do it.  Nice agreement, don't you think?

Signing the papers....

 

The director is shorter than me!!  Isn't he cute?

We donated a copy machine, playground shelter, classroom heaters, copy machine, classroom window coverings and clean drinking water dispenser to the primary school.  The secondary school received lab chairs, classroom chairs, a laptop computer, classroom heaters and clean water dispensers.  FUN!!