Healing and New Life - An Easter Story

Coming & Going Newsletter  - April 2014

“I have come that they may have life - rich, satisfying, and overflowing.” John 10:10

Healing and New Life - An Easter Story

Erik test drives his new wheelchair

For forty-five years, Erik had been living on the ground like a twisted, scrubby little bush - disabled from birth, cursed by his father, cared for by his now-aging mother, hidden away in their village hut, and ignored by their community. Never schooled or socialized, barely allowed to survive, Erik was a hidden shame to his family, born into a culture that fears such cripples as an embodiment of evil spirits.

One day last year, a neighbor to Erik's family decided that the teaching he had heard in church about loving one's neighbor needed to be taken seriously if he was a true Christian, so he went to make friends with Erik.

Good Neighbor found a gentle, cheerful, tiny man sitting in the grass near his very small hut, whose legs and feet are frozen at impossible angles, and who only has one functioning hand. Erik can slowly maneuver himself around on the ground, and is able to feed himself with a great deal of effort when a plate or cup is set before him. His hut leaks when it rains through the dried-out reed covering on the roof, and someone needs to help him off the dirt floor and onto his bed each night. No ramp, no wheelchair, no books, no pictures, no other clothes in sight - only a tattered blanket on a bare wooden bed. His mom only lives about 75 feet away, slightly uphill from his hut - but it was an impossible distance for Erik, who was usually eating alone, on the ground, after someone brought his food. In spite of all this, Erik always greets visitors with a bright smile and his best attempt at a verbal greeting, strained by the permanent crook in his neck and the spasms which are part of his disability.

Solomon helps Erik in his new wheelchair

Preparing path for Erik's chair to reach his mom's house

But one good neighbor responding to the teaching of Jesus has been an inspiration to others and has started a new life for Erik and his mom. Other villagers started coming by, perhaps out of curiosity at first. A Kenyan physical therapist from Tenwek heard about Erik's plight, and visited with some advice and arranged for a sturdy, new wheelchair which could handle the rough terrain. Then Good Neighbor and a few handy young men built a small shed for the new wheelchair so that it can be out of the rain until a new hut with a concrete floor can be built for him. They also widened the door of his mom's house, so that the family can roll his chair up and take him inside for dinner with everyone. Area pastors have started making rounds on Erik as they head out for other ministry assignments. A high school graduate without a job has been teaching Erik how to read using his new Bible and a first grade reading book, but Erik surprises everyone by memorizing and reciting the verses he hears. More neighbors were inspired to purchase some new clothing for Erik, and last month several members of a nearby church came and took him to Sunday worship in his new clothes and wheelchair for the first time. His joy was unimaginable.

When Jesus described his ministry to his disciples, he said that he had come so that his followers would have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) The original Greek word for "abundantly" should actually be translated as "excessively abundant, far beyond expectation, and exceedingly superior in quality." We who are his followers have this abundant life - guilt-free and grace-filled - because his death on the cross paid for the healing of our sin-ruptured lives and relationships with God the Father as well as with each other. Jesus demonstrated the wholistic nature of his kind of healing throughout his ministry by accompanying physical cures with reconciliations of individuals to themselves, their families, and their communities. Sometimes those reconciliations are the bigger miracle...

Healing has come for Erik - not exactly as some might have prayed. But a Jesus-kind of healing miracle has come to the whole family, the local church, and the surrounding community. Life excessively abundant, life far beyond expectation, life exceedingly superior in quality, for the glory of God and for the blessing of many. Exactly why Jesus came.

Erik, his mom (behind Erik) and some new friends!

A Fast Trip to USA to say Goodbye (for Now)

Sharing remembrances with tears and thanksgiving

We were blessed to share a week in February with Steve’s family in Rochester,

Minnesota for a wonderful celebration of his mother Helen’s life, with a joyful service and reception held in the church where his family has had membership for over 60 years. We miss Mom and are grateful that Dad is adjusting to the absence of his “bride” (as he always referred to her) of over 65 years. It was a week of subzero temps, which kept us indoors enjoying time together. We were also thankful for the chance to include a week with Alene’s parents in Mariposa,California (near Yosemite) with warm spring weather and daffodils.

Helen's grandson Loren played "Taps" at the memorial service

Go Forth and Replicate Thyself!

Well, the Bible doesn’t exactly say that, but we do recognize the importance of teaching and training others so that they can provide services like we do far into the future....and can do so even more effectively for people living here in Africa. It was a privilege in January to celebrate the graduation of Dr. Lando Justus from the 2-year Tenwek Hospital Endoscopy/Research Fellowship. He has now started his 5-year surgical residency at Tenwek through the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons and continues to be a great help to us in the Endoscopy Unit as we care for patients and complete his “DIRECT Study” of pre-cancerous changes in 300 relatives of patients with esophageal cancer.

Steve and Dr. Russ White (Chief of Surgery) present Lando's graduation certificate

...And Multiply Again

Dr. Sinkeet Ranketi just completed his Medical Officer Internship at Tenwek with his physician wife and their baby cheering him on! It is a joy to welcome him as he starts his Endoscopy/Research Fellowship with the team this month.

Steve congratulates Sinkeet at his internship graduation

Outreach to Bomet Prison

In early March, we were both privileged and inspired to be part of a one-day outreach to Bomet Prison, providing medical/dental/eye/ultrasound healthcare, as well as spiritual counseling by chaplains, and teaching by the Tenwek Community Health team in HIV and addiction issues. Over 200 hundred prisoners, officers, and family members of officers were served - including sharing our lunches with the officers!

The prison outreach began with prayer and worship

Steve and Joel care for an inmate

Francis provides care

Mike cares for an officer and his family

Community Health team taught the inmates

“Faith which is not accompanied by action is dead.” James 2:17

The pharmacy tent was a busy place

 ...And what a joy it was to watch the Kenyans lead and organize

over 70 volunteers for the day, after weeks of preparations and enlisting hospital, business, and community partners. (Only 10 of us were non-Kenyans!) We praise the Lord for the prison officials’ openness to this outreach, and for the compassionate hearts of the national team members - signaling (perhaps) that change has started to take root in adverse cultural attitudes towards those in the prisons.

The entire outreach team celebrated a blessed day at Bomet Prison 

Chaplaincy College Graduation

The L. Nelson Bell International Chaplaincy College at Tenwek Hospital celebrated its second graduation since being accredited as a 2-year diploma program in 2011.The five graduates (center in photo) were honored by the Bishop of Africa Gospel Church, Tenwek Administration, and leaders from WGM. The well-attended graduation ceremony at the Tenwek AGC church was followed by celebratory picnics with enthusiastic supporters from their respective families, villages, and home churches, many of whom had traveled long distances - even from Tanzania! Some of the graduates will be working with Correctional Ministry, one will continue work as a hospital chaplain in a Mennonite hospital near Lake Victoria.

The Chaplain College graduates (the 5 in the middle without caps) and their faculty

Bishop Langat presents diploma to Sharon

Pastor Julius shares his joy at graduation!

Many family members and friends shared in the graduation ceremony

Wesley can now "pastor" with a license!

Pastor Wesley Koech has been our dear friend and close associate in ministry since our first time of service at Tenwek Hospital in 2006. He attended Kaboson Pastor Training College and has served as a Pastor or Assistant Pastor in his local village for many years. In 2011 he began service as a Prison Chaplain in the Africa Gospel Church Correctional Ministry team. We are delighted to celebrate that Pastor Wesley is now "licensed" as a Pastor in AGC and can now serve communion and baptize new Christians. This will be a special blessing for inmates and prison officers. He is the only AGC Prison Chaplain that is licensed at this time. He's not able to marry couples......we'll have to see if there is "Reverend Wesley" in the future!

Licensed Pastor Wesley with his new collar

Please thank the Lord with us:

• For recent generous contributions allowing us to continue and expand all our areas of service

• For physical and spiritual refreshment enjoyed through the WGM Kenya Retreat in April

• For Endoscopy physicians from USA to cover for Steve during retreat and upcoming conference of Christian Medical and Dental Assoc in Greece

• For health, strength, and safety in all our travels

Please pray with us:

• For Endoscopy physicians to cover for Steve during our Home Ministry Assignment time in USA next year, from April to October 2015

• For completion and acceptance of details for the restructuring of Kenya Correctional Ministry

• For ministry opportunities for each new graduate of the Tenwek Chaplaincy College

• For long-term visas from the Kenyan Government for several team members to continue their service

Thank you!

Contributions: World Gospel Mission, 3783 East State Road 18, PO Box 948, Marion IN 46952 (account 02273-Burgert)

Website: www.wgm.org/burgert

In Memory of Steve's Mom, Helen Burgert

Greetings to our friends and family.

We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of our beloved mother, Helen Louise Burgert. We give thanks that she passed away on Thursday evening without discomfort, seated in the supportive care facility beside Omer, her husband of 65 years. We rejoice that Helen knew her Lord Jesus Christ and after 89 years on this earth is now in His heavenly embrace. 

Steve's sister, Carolyn, and his brother, Mark, and Mark's wife, Cécile, are with Omer at this time. Steve and Alene will join in a family celebration of Helen's life on March 1st in Rochester, Minnesota. We have been blessed with the prayers of so many and the presence of many here in Kenya sharing their condolence expressions of "Pole" (pronounced "Poh-lay").

In 2007, Helen had chosen a special verse that she wanted shared at her memorial service.  She'd seen it engraved on a tombstone: "She did what she could."  The Lord blessed us yesterday with that specific verse being the focus for our "Upper Room" daily devotion for Friday, January 17, 2014. In Mark 14:8, those are Jesus' words describing the woman who poured the expensive perfume on Jesus' head. Throughout Helen's life she certainly "did what she could." May we all live our lives such that Jesus could also declare that we each "did what we could."

We have chosen a photo that shows both Helen and Omer. We have been blessed to have them as loving parents and we think of the two of them as one. Thanks for your prayers for our family and especially now for our father, Omer, as he adjusts to the loss of his "bride," as he always called her.

As we experience the peace and comfort of Christ at this time, we pray the same for each of you.

In His love,

Steve & Alene

Helen Louise Burgert (January 5, 1925 - January 16, 2014)

Helen Louise was born to Adolph C. and Viola C. Eifert on January 5, 1925 and grew up on a farm near Waukomis, Oklahoma. Her future husband, Omer Burgert, was the son of a pastor of a church in Enid, Oklahoma and Helen and Omer wed in Enid on September 5, 1948. 

After graduation from Waukomis High School in 1942, Helen attended Oklahoma A & M College and received her B.S. degree in 1946. She did her Dietetic Internship at the University of Michigan in 1947 and worked as a dietician at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, Illinois (1947-48) and later at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Helen served as the Dietetic Supervisor at Madonna Towers from 1978 to 1990.

Helen was blessed with three children: Mark Edmund (1951), Stephen Louis (1953) and Carolyn Joy (1956). Omer and Helen have lived continuously in Rochester, Minnesota since 1957. Helen was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Rochester, where she served as an Elder and Clerk of Session. She participated in the leadership of PEO, AAUW, and League of Women Voters organizations, and served as an Election Judge.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Adolph C. and Viola C. Eifert; her brother, Donald L. EIfert; and her sisters, Dorothy M. Hiddleston and Vivian Jean Heard.

Helen is survived by her husband, E. Omer Burgert, Jr; her children, Mark E. Burgert, Stephen L. Burgert, and Carolyn J. Tanksley; her grandchildren, Johann D. Burgert, Clara R. Burgert, Martin A. Burgert, Brian M. Tanksley, and Loren D. Tanksley; and her great-granddaughter, Madeleine F. Burgert.

Her special Bible verse: "She did what she could." from Mark 14:8.

"God With Us" - 2013 Christmas Greetings from Kenya

December 2013 - Christmas Greetings from Kenya

We greet you in the name of Emmanuel -

“God With Us”

And ask His blessings upon you for the New Year

as we give thanks for your support and

encouragement in our service.

Emmanuel, “God with us.” At our home, and in the village. God with us on muddy roads and inside grass-roofed huts. God with us in new cultures and new languages. New families, new celebrations, new understandings. God with us in every sick patient and every lonely prisoner. God with us in every person who comes to our door asking for help. God with us when we try. And God with us when we fail. God is with us through our families, friends, and faithful supporters. God with us is Jesus, who came offering forgiveness and reconciliation, and who promised he would never leave us or forsake us. We pray that you know Jesus, Emmanuel, and are able to recognize him with you everywhere.

“So the Word [Jesus] became human and made his home among us. 

He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. "

John 1:14, NLT

Merry Christmas from Steve & Alene

News... from South Africa!

Sharing with other African Cancer Researchers

The biannual African cancer conference was held in Durban, South Africa in November. I (Steve) joined Dr. Russ White (Chief of Surgery at Tenwek Hospital) and Dr. Mike Mwachiro (recent graduate of the Tenwek Endoscopy/Research Fellowship program) in presenting our esophageal cancer research results. Drs. Dawsey and Abnet, two of our collaborators from NIH in USA, also made presentations at the conference. We received many compliments for our research work. I found it especially rewarding to interact with esophageal cancer experts from throughout the world and to make some new contacts for collaboration in Africa. We continue our research emphases at Tenwek Hospital to diagnose and treat pre-cancerous abnormalities in the esophagus and to identify factors that may explain the high rate of esophageal cancer for people living in this area of Africa.

Steve with Drs. Mike and Lando, Tenwek Endoscopy/Research Fellows, at our poster presentation

Our trip "down south" in Africa was not all business. We had a chance to see some of the sights and see some animals that we do not have in Kenya…

Yes, that actually is Steve with others at the top of Victoria Falls!

Beautiful tram ride to Table Mountain in Capetown, South Africa

Lighthouse at Cape of Good Hope at the tip of Africa

Greater kudu with beautiful horns and markings

Wild dog

OK, we also have cheetahs in Kenya, but this one came close to us!

You can see that the zebras came close to our lodge!

African penguins reside in this area of South Africa

We were in South Africa one week before Nelson Mandela died, but the people's affection and concern for
"Madiba" ("The Lion") was clearly evident in one of the churches that we visited.

Correctional Ministry in Kenya -

Changing people & communities, one life at a time

Alfred had served over 10 years for a murder to which he had confessed. He had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior after visiting with a Correctional Ministry chaplain working at his prison, and he was eager to go home and make peace. The village elders (including Alfred’s father) were insisting that he undergo a traditional “cleansing ritual” involving the blood of goats before he would be allowed to live in the community again.

But Alfred took a stand. “I am a now Christian, and I will be cleansed in a church.” The Correctional Ministry chaplain gathered a group of Christian pastors from that community, and they organized a church service to receive Alfred back to his village. People turned out in droves to see what a “Christian cleansing” was all about. Alfred’s father also came, and was the first to greet him when he got out of the car. Alfred fell on his knees in front of everyone, and cried out, “I know that God has forgiven me because of the blood of Jesus, but now I ask forgiveness from all of you.” The pastors escorted him and the people to the church with singing and tears, then anointed him and prayed over him. The father invited everyone to a feast at their home. Alfred continues to do well, and his church is preparing a fundraiser to help him build a welding shop, which will empower him to use the training he received in prison. His life stands as a testimony to the power of the Cross of Christ, which can restore a man’s life and change a culture.

Alfred’s village came to greet him, and his father was the first (at left).

The prison officials had recognized the change in Alfred after his conversion, and supported him through all the release arrangements (see right).

Progress for Correctional Ministry

Correctional Ministry chaplains continue to encourage churches and communities to

turn away from traditional norms of rejecting those who are (or have been) in prison.

World Gospel Mission has launched an information page for this ministry on its website, with a link for online, tax-deductible donations

www.wgm.org/agc-correctional

Thank you for visiting the web page, and considering support for this work, which is changing lives and communities.

Please help us to end 2013 well and have a great start for 2014!

We are so grateful for those who stretched to provide additional support to allow us to keep up with our ministry expenses during these past 4 months. However, as of the start of December, our ministry account balance has fallen below our average monthly expenses. As you consider year-end giving and plans for your contributions in 2014, we would appreciate your support at any level.

Thank you so much for your partnership with us!

Donations online: www.wgm.org/burgert [Click the “Donate” arrow for special or recurring donations.]

Mail a check made out to “World Gospel Mission” [memo line: “Burgert ministry-02273”] to this address:

World Gospel Mission, PO Box 948, Marion IN 46952

To provide support directly to Correctional Ministry in Kenya, use this weblink: https://www.wgm.org/donate-correctionalmin

or use the address above, with a note designating the funds for Correctional Ministry.

Please thank the Lord with us:

• For productive networking at the cancer conference

• For some times of relaxation in South Africa

• For new partners and increased financial support in August and September

• For health, strength, and safety in our travels

• For GI endoscopy coverage for most days of Steve’s meetings in April/May 2014

Please pray with us:

• For a successful corn (maize) crop in this area of Kenya after 2 failed seasons due to a blight

• For adequate financial support for our ministry and for Correctional Ministry in Kenya

• For protection over the Correctional Ministry Team

• For celebrations of the true spirit of Christmas, with many coming to know Christ as their Savior

Thank you for your partnerships with us. 

Blessings on your Christmas celebrations and throughout the year to come!

 Steve & Alene

Prayers for one another

Dear partners,
We thank you for your prayers and messages of concern for us after the Nairobi mall attack last weekend. We join the Kenyans in mourning the loss of lives and sense of security, and we are also thankful that no Tenwek Hospital staff or World Gospel Mission personnel were injured. We live 3+ hours from Nairobi, but others from our mission group live in and around the city. It has been a huge shock to Kenyans to be the target of such a large and well-planned attack by terrorists. Kenyan counselors from all over the country have been requested to assist in the crisis management efforts for those whose lives have been affected in the Nairobi area. We join Kenyans in prayers for peace in this country.

Please also join us in prayers for northern Colorado, which is where we lived before moving to Kenya. That area has been devastated this month by severe flooding with destruction to homes, roads, bridges, and much more. Many lives are severely disrupted and it will take months to years for reconstruction and healing.

Whether caused by man or nature, such disasters are difficult to understand. As people of faith, we can rest secure in the arms of our Lord - He is our source for protection and peace. We are comforted again by the one of our favorite promises from the Bible:

The Lord will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and for evermore.

            Psalm 121: 7-8

Thanks for your prayers for Kenya and Colorado.

Please join us in prayers of thanks for those who have extended themselves to assist with the extra needs of our mission service! We are so grateful for every dollar and every prayer offered on our behalf.

Also, we will appreciate your prayers for:
<> The 2-day endoscopy training workshop on Thursday and Friday this week for 12 Kenyan doctors to be held here at Tenwek Hospital.

<>The endoscopy esophageal cancer research projects with two co-investigators from Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota joining us in 8 days.

<> The Kenyan correctional ministry team, which is in the middle of restructuring this ministry to partner with Kenyan churches and other community groups.

Please also give thanks for Baby Chepchumba Cheruiyot, the beautiful daughter of ex-prisoner Pastor Peter and Naomi, who is healthy and happy at home after a normal, full-term delivery at Tenwek Hospital.

What a gift it is to be able to pray for each other!
We pray every blessing on you and your families. May you always know the Lord's peace and protection, and share that message of hope with others.

Grateful for your partnership,
Steve & Alene Burgert

Contributions -->  www.wgm.org/burgert

Mailing--> World Gospel Mission 3783 East State Road, PO Box 948, Marion, IN 46952