An Expanding Vision

CHINA SOUTH NOVEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014

NORTHERN INDIA MARCH 2015

ZIMBABWEMAY 2015

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Vision expresses what we believe God wants to do through us: “Christ–centred healthcare teams proclaiming God’s love to all the world through healing and teaching.” It works out in what we do, our Mission: “to heal, teach and serve those in need in a Christ-like manner.” The heart of our vision is “God’s love to all the world”. This is the trajectory of the gospel.

While expressing his ambition to bring the gospel to Europe, Paul in Romans 15:21 placed his confidence in the prophecy and promise in Isaiah 52:15: “For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.” Knowing what God intended to do (vision) led to bold initiatives in mission, “We’ve preached the gospel from Israel to Croatia. What’s the next stop?” Spain via Italy. Then further into Europe. Then the world.

EMAS Canada is taking initiative in the three new endeavours. We are made bold by that same prophecy and promise: Jesus seen, heard and understood.

Dr. Emile Woo and Dr. Walter Woo will take a team to Lijiang. They will study the potential of a new church run hospital, seeking a base for our clinical work that also allows us to equip nationals with skills for weaving their faith and witness into every day clinical encounters.

Dr. Ajit Vargis will lead a team to evaluate the usefulness of providing dental services at a mission hospital as a way to expose more people to the gospel. He will assess the needs for a dentist and equipment for a proposed dental unit. He wants to facilitate appropriate long term dentistry in an area currently without a dentist.

Drs. Stephen and Stephanie Milone will be training national healthcare professionals, enhancing their clinical skills and improving their ability to deliver compassionate medical care. They will also explore the possibility of integrating mission medical experience into the training of Canadian doctors that they supervise.

By going to established hospitals, we aim at capacity building and equipping nationals who will continue to provide much needed services.

You are part of what God is doing through these new initiatives. And we are very thankful. Please give generously to the Project Development Fund. This enables us to explore new opportunities and facilitates the formation of new teams. Of course your may opt to support the Team of your choice.

Clarity in the Open Country of VietnamMadeline Vu photo: Nathan O’Nions (CC BY 3.0)

About midway into the July 2014 EMAS mission to Vietnam I remember getting on a bus full of exhausted volunteers for an hour ride back to where we were staying that night. I sat next to a window, looking out into the fields and roads of Vietnam. There were no skyscraper buildings, no malls, no Starbucks, nothing but land and the people tending to it. The skies were clear with the sun setting in the background. The grass was green, fields of rice paddies lined the road as we drove by.

I could feel the worries of society falling away and I was finally able to listen to

my own thoughts. I could think about things once again without having to analyze them so closely. Simple things like a field of grass, kids playing soccer in the dirt, old women tending to the crops they worked so hard to grow were all somehow inspiring. It made me feel sad that I had lost myself in the middle of a busy life. I was not able to think for myself or hear what I desired in life. It had been muffled by the requirements of what society claimed. Having the chance to hear myself think brought back a sense of deep serenity. I felt like I was back to myself, no longer numb but touched by every person I met and everything that I did.

This mission trip has taught me that there are people all over the world that live their lives to the fullest in the midst of hardship, ease, pain, joy, suffering, comfort, love, hate, richness, poverty - anything that the world hands to them. As the Scriptures say, God has given us everything that we need and it is up to us to accept what we have been given.

And when the time is right, we will fully understand what it is that we are meant to do in this world. Matthew 13:23 “But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

SIX YEARS WITH CHINA WESTThis year was the sixth time our family had the chance to serve on the EMAS China West mission. Each time we have seen God working amongst us, felt the Holy Spirit totally immersed in us, and witnessed His love and grace for the people in China. In this last mission trip we faced an unexpected development: the ministry of health in Ningxia cancelled the ESL lessons organized by the youth team. But God opened another way for them to use their gifts. Instead of giving up, our youth set up three stations in each village to introduce our missions team, to survey the quality of life of the local community and to promote public health relating to smoking cessation, high blood pressure and dental disease. These stations helped facilitate interactions between our youth and the local university students who were also interested in healthcare. Our family is humbled by how the China West mission has drawn us into a deeper relationship with God and we pray that He will continue to use our team even when we face the unexpected.

Dr. Vincent Wang

The Eight L’s of Mission in China West

little to cause lasting improvements to the healthcare system in Ningxia. The most prevalent diseases are largely caused by a lack of clean water, proper sanitation, and access to necessary healthcare services. The medications we distributed could relieve suffering temporarily, but they could not offer a cure. However, we also long for God’s kingdom to come and bring lasting change to Ningxia.

The mission trip I took this summer confirmed my passion to serve God overseas through medicine. I realized that God can use me in China, not only with my language skills but also with a passion to share God’s love in that country. I’m also grateful for the two Christian physicians who joined the trip. They became my role models: their passion to serve God and vision for mission work inspired me. My prayer is that the fire that God has lit in my heart will continue to burn even as I go through medical school and residency training.

Harry Zhou

had minimal education (elementary school) at best. Our team learned to demonstrate God’s love through our actions – a warm smile, a listening ear, a helping hand, and comforting words. The grateful smiles and joyful tears on their faces were more than what we could ask for in return. Several young people brought me over to their home; I thank God for the opportunities to share about my faith with them.

Looking (for witnesses) Some of the villagers traveled long distances to see us. Many asked us why we came all the way from Canada year after year to help them. These questions opened doors for us to share about the motivation behind our work. One day two university students who met the team last year came to our clinic and joined us. For the entire day they helped the nurses and pharmacists with translation. These examples showed that the local connections we made can last. Our prayer is that these people will one day become witnesses to their community.

Laughing (in every circumstance)Even though most of the team only met for the first time when we arrived in China, we quickly became a close family. Whether on the bus, in the clinic, or at the dining table, our conversation often bubbled up into laughter. Through this trip, I learned to rejoice in all circumstances.

Leaning (on God)From crossing customs with our suitcases filled with medications to negotiating with the local health bureau on future projects, we learned to rely on God moment by moment. Each morning, we prayed together as a team, trusting God for the day’s work. And we saw him respond to our prayers in tangible ways.

Longing (for God’s kingdom)Although our two-week mission trip was very fruitful and productive, it does

When I was accepted into medical school last year, I distinctly felt called to do medical missions. The opportunity to respond to this call came sooner than expected. I was invited to join the EMAS China West team to Ningxia on August 2014. The 30-member team consists of two family physicians, four dentists and a pediatric dentist, three nurses, three pharmacists, four medical students, one dental student, one nursing student and several volunteers. Under the faithful leadership of Dr. Ma, this EMAS team has a 24-year history of mission work in Ningxia. I can best summarize our experience by sharing Dr. Ma’s “Eight L’s” of mission:

Learning (from God’s Word)Every morning at 6:45 am, we met together for team devotions. I didn’t understand why it had to be so early in the morning. But I found the morning devotions very rewarding, because it united the team and kept us spiritually fed.

Labouring (for God) and Leaving (previous successes or failures)Our team visited seven villages near Haiyuan. Each day we set up clinics in the local hospitals (which were built by EMAS) and provided medical and dental services to more than 1700 patients in total. I was very impressed by the way our team worked efficiently and smoothly like one body. Everyone persevered and helped each other without complaining. On the busiest day, we served 302 medical patients and 144 dental patients. However, Dr. Ma taught us not to dwell on any day’s successes or failures but look forward to each new day. This allowed us to anticipate God’s blessings.

Loving (God and His people)Ningxia, the second poorest province in China, is predominantly Islamic and home to the Hui ethnic minority. The majority of the people we met in the villages were elderly farmers who

Harry Zhou with a local friend

News in Brief

UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS

• During the annual Awesome Twosome Run with Haiti (right), two participants run or walk the same course, at the same time, but in opposite directions. This event takes place each summer at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. For the latest information, visit handinhandwithhaiti.org

• This summer we relaunched our website and revitalized our print publications. Discover new articles, updated publications and interactive content at emascanada.org

• China South surgical team is exploring a new partnership with Canaan Hospital in Lijiang, where there is a need to improve the operating room, supply modern equipment and provide staff training. A brief video about this opportunity is available at emascanada.org/expansion-plans.

#1–20 Freel Lane Stouffville, ON L4A 8B9 Phone: (905) 642-4661

Toll free: 1 (866) 648-0664

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO:

• The Project Development Fund. This will enable EMAS Canada to do exploratory trips, evaluate new projects and form of new teams.

• The Student Elective Fund. This will enable trainees to share in EMAS’ work and recruit for the future.

EMASSARY is the official newsletter of EMAS Canada. Learn more or

download previous issues atwww.emascanada.org

MYANMAR + N. THAILANDOct 20 - 30, 2014

CHINA EAST - URBANOct 31 - Nov 15, 2014

Accepting Applicants

GUANGDONG, CHINANov 7 - 15, 2014

Accepting Applicants

CHINA EAST - RURALNov 8 - 15, 2014

Accepting Applicants

CHINA SOUTH - SURGERYNov 9 - 19, 2014

Accepting Applicants: especiallyOR nurses, ward nurses and a dentist

CHINA SOUTH - POST OPNov 16 -29, 2014

Accepting Applicants

HAITIFeb 10 - 24, 2015Accepting Applicants

VIETNAMFeb 27 - March 15, 2015

Accepting Applicants: especiallyFamily Practitioners, Nurses, Opto-metrists, Dentists and Pharmacists

PLEASE PRAY:

• That God would cause students who go on mission this year to stay with EMAS Canada well into their post-training years.

• That God will give EMAS Canada long-term operating bases at Lijiang, China, Zimbabwe and India.