January 2016 Health Calendar

We hope all of our supporters and friends have been enjoying a happy and healthy 2016 so far!

Do you want some tips for good health this year?  If so, check out this article:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2016-01-19/5-easy-steps-for-a-healthy-and-happy-2016

Now, let's learn about at the dreaded disease leprosy today.  Why?  January 31 is World Leprosy Day

and January 31 - February 6 is World Leprosy Week.

  

photo credit:  http://www.allsaintskingcity.com/world-leprosy-day-january-31-2016/

Click the above link to read more about it.

The social consequences can be as devastating as the disease itself.

This is one reason to learn as much about this disease as you can.

If you have time, check out the Wikipedia article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy

It's a thorough article and includes an interesting historical section.

You'll find out who this man is and what he did:

Yes, Nepal still has leprosy.

photo credit:  http://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/nepal-among-high-burden-leprosy-countries/

If you click the above link you'll note that Nepal is among the high burden leprosy countries.

The Leprosy Mission Nepal is doing a great work for those with this affliction.

Read more about leprosy in Nepal at their website, which is the photo credit for this picture.

There's even a video.

photo credit:  http://www.tlmnepal.org/

We thank them for their work.

Remember--as we always recommend, don't hesitate to come in for a consultation with one of our doctors, even if you simply have questions.  You don't have to be sick to ask questions if you're wondering about a  health issue.  

Of course, if you are sick, come in!  

(photo credit:  carwoo.blogspot.com)

photo credit:  http://www.healthresource4u.com/how-often-should-you-visit-the-doctor.html

Read the above link to find the answer to that question!

Thank you to all who are supporting us.  You'll never know how much your help means.

Nepal is still in crisis, so your continuing help is much needed and appreciated.

Have a nice day!

When the Sturges Family was Here!

Do you know the history of Scheer Memorial Hospital?

Here is our website's history page:

http://scheermemhosp.org/History.asp

Dr. Stanley and Mrs. Raylene Sturges were the first SDA missionary family in Nepal.

In 1962, Dr. Sturges wrote an article for Listen magazine.
The link is here:
http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/LISTEN/LISTEN19620701-V15-04.pdf

You will have to click the link to see the pictures, but here is the full article
for your convenience:

Stanley Sturges, a United States medical doctor working for the mountain peoples of far-off Nepal, is a young man of dedication and daring who cares enough—

To Give His Very Best

F ROM the very first my wife and I have been interested in some type of pioneer assignment, particularly since my parents were missionaries in the Congo province of Katanga. Because of this, when we had an opportunity to go to Nepal, we knew it was exactly what we wanted. 

After six months of language study in India, I went looking for a suitable hospital-clinic site in the Nepal mountains. En route I passed through the village of Banepa, a short distance northeast of the Nepal capital, Kathmandu. While I was there, the headman and 10,000 of the local tribesmen staged a demonstration urging that their town be chosen for this new medical facility. 

After the villagers took up a collection of 7,000 rupees and purchased a plot of land above the town, it was given to the king on condition that it be used for the American doctor. The minister of health immediately assigned us to Banepa. Then came construction of roads, bridges, water pipelines, and living quarters for our family, and the securing of hospital assistants from India. 

The Nepalese immediately began to "customize" a local building for me, since I am six feet and four inches in height. This meant the raising of the doors to six feet and six inches and the ceiling to eight feet. 

On the first day of work, we broke a centuries-old taboo by treating a woman with a retained placenta after she gave birth to her baby. When I began examining the woman, all the midwives warned me not to touch her. So I left, but the husband asked me to come back again. With the promise that the husband would keep any intruders out and allow me to do what I felt necessary, I trudged back to the home. A few minutes later, after squeezing the placenta out from the abdominal side, I again left, this time with the confidence of the midwives. Henceforth the clinic was in the business of treating women as well as men. 

Parasites are a major medical problem in Nepal. The people have no concept whatsoever of sanitation and hygiene. Consequently, a good 95 percent are infested with some type of worms, about 6o percent of them having hookworms. Also, typhoid, cholera, and smallpox rage in periodic epidemics. Tuberculosis constitutes a major health problem, too, with at least io percent of the population afflicted. 

At first we were equipped with only a clinic, but we kept wishing and hoping for a hospital. This dream came nearer to reality when we received a $25,000 memorial donation from the Clifford Scheer family of Springfield, New Jersey. I talked with Oden Meeker, head of CARE in India, regarding equipment. Ultimately, CARE agreed to match a mission gift of $5,000 from the Seventh-day Adventist Southern Asia Division. 

To keep costs down, we carried on our own building program. While a student I had worked as a plumber, painter, and carpenter to finance my high school and college education. So with this background of experience I hired the best native help available, secured some mud and dung, and went into the bricklaying business. Six months later the prime minister of Nepal and more than 3,000 townsmen gathered at the Scheer Memorial Hospital for the dedication of another demonstration of America's friendship for Nepal. 

The Nepalese are about 70 percent Hindu and 30 percent Buddhist. You might think the religions would not get along too well, but the situation is such that the Hindu people enjoy thoroughly a Buddhist festival, and vice versa. 

In spite of their religions, the Nepalese have a drinking problem. They go on drinking sprees during their festivals, with widespread drunkenness as a result. Their liquor is made from rice which is fermented and distilled. They call this rakshi, and they have a mash made from cornmeal which is called janr. 

Drinking during their festivals must be considered one of their favorite pastimes, although there are a few of the orthodox Nepalese who do not drink at all. 

As far as smoking is concerned, the Nepalese smoke, in small clay pipes, an opium derivative called ganja. When I ask what effects it has on the body, they say it gives them peace. 

A hookah is a type of pipe in which a long rubber tube is connected to a water trap. For use in this the leaves of the tobacco plant are mixed with a sort of brown sugar. The Nepalese call it sucker, and it gives off a sweet-smelling smoke. It provides a certain atmosphere to the village at night when you hear this gurgling sound, for you know that someone is awake and enjoying his evening rest. 

There is a lot of confusion these days as to what role America plays in this world, what the image of America is in these underdeveloped countries, and what direction these countries will take in the years ahead. So it appears to me that we need to strain every nerve to apply the ideals of the Christian West in our dealings with other people. Thus, my wife and I have never considered either of these two habits of drinking and smoking. We feel they are unnecessary to our well being. 

 I was reared in a Seventh-day Adventist home and my parents always were careful to point out the disastrous effects that can come from such habits. Our church bases its beliefs on a text of Scripture admonishing us to keep in mind that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, that Christ dwells in us, and that by defiling our bodies we are actually defiling the temple of God. 

Oftentimes my friends ask me why I don't smoke or drink. I like to ask them a question right back: "What benefit do you derive from doing these things?" 

The Nepalese people are looking toward the West for their methods of government. They certainly admire the American way of life. They have many students who have gone to America and have returned and reported on the spirit of the American people. 

We are parents of four children, but probably will never forget the birth of our youngest son, Jimmy. Raylene gave birth to him on a black Himalayan night while I jeeped down the rocky trail toward the United Medical Mission Hospital at Katmandu, sixteen miles and two hours away. 

As she writhed in labor, her baby turned so that a natural birth was impossible. Raylene fought back tears of agony while I struggled with the jeep. Suddenly the jeep lurched to the right near the edge of a cliff, jolting Raylene. "Stanley, I think she's changed position," she gasped. 

I halted the jeep, and near the edge of a cliff in the darkness, Raylene gave birth, not to "she," but to nine pound Jimmy. The delivery accomplished, I started on toward Katmandu, but Raylene wanted to return home. Somehow I turned the jeep around on the narrow trail and headed back to the clinic at Banepa. 

Back at the hospital we resumed our previous schedules in a short time, continuing to give medical attention to hundreds of Nepalese, 95 percent of whom neither read nor write. But this picture is changing. Until 1950-51 Nepal had been a closed nation, but now with the aid of the United States Government the Nepalese are making great strides in education. 

They have set up a college of education for the training of teachers. About 850 primary schools have been set up, these schools being maintained on a fifty-fifty basis by the local government and by the Nepali government. So the educational future of Nepal is brightening. 

Many youth today are interested in serving their country and their church in some overseas country. When a person thinks in terms of working in an undeveloped country, he must keep himself adaptable. For example, if all you see is the filth and the slums, you might as well turn around and go back. A person must be flexible in his attitude and must be willing to see through the eyes of another person. In this way he can be of real service and help to all in need. 

Listen, July-August, 1962, pages 12, 13, & 14

Thank you Dr. & Mrs. Sturges!

You will always be remembered with love!

We also want to thank our supporters and friends for their prayers and help

during this difficult time in Nepal.  THANKS!

To keep current, you can read this article:

http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-nepal-quake-aftermath-20160124-story.html

Stay tuned for more information and have a nice day!

Happy Holidays 2015!

WELCOME!

Here's hoping all of you, our friends and supporters, enjoyed a happy holiday season!

We certainly counted our many blessings!

The Lord sustained us through a difficult 2015 and is still sustaining us as always!

 

(photo credit:  zazzle.com)

 (photo credit:  happynewyear2016u.com)


 Thank you dear friends and supporters for your friendship during the past year when we faced so many obstacles.  Knowing we could count on the prayers and support
of all of you made each day easier!

As the whole country continues to face severe difficulties due to the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Nepal_blockade, which is causing the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015-2016_Nepal_humanitarian_crisis,
we are able to continue helping those with medical needs with the Lord's help,

(photo credit:  motivationalwordsofwisdom.com)

and yours!

(photo credit:  canyonsechoes.com)

Now, sit back and relax with your favorite hot or cold drink,
depending on your climate.
and enjoy this photo post with pictures from Scheer Memorial Hospital's
College of Nursing's Annual Christmas Drama.  They did an excellent job!

The audience:

The sound/music system team:

The Welcome:

Esa Memorial School Grade 3 students start off the program with  a Nepali Christmas song.
Look how intently they are listening to their instructions!  Don't you love it?

Beautiful!

Part of the Grade 4 students perform a wonderful Christmas dance!  Delightful!

Is the cast ready for the drama?  Yes!


As you will note, they did such an excellent job!  The Christmas Story came to life for us!

The Story:  (This scripture is from Luke 1, The Living Bible)

26 ... God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin, Mary, engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Congratulations, favored lady! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

30 “Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to wonderfully bless you! 31 Very soon now, you will become pregnant and have a baby boy, and you are to name him ‘Jesus.’ 32 He shall be very great and shall be called the Son of God. And the Lord God shall give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he shall reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom shall never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of God shall overshadow you; so the baby born to you will be utterly holy—the Son of God...." 

(This scripture is from Matthew 1, The Living Bible)

18 These are the facts concerning the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph, her fiancé, being a man of stern principle, decided to break the engagement but to do it quietly, as he didn’t want to publicly disgrace her.

20 As he lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “don’t hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus (meaning ‘Savior’), for he will save his people from their sins. 22 This will fulfill God’s message through his prophets—

23 ‘Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and he shall be called “Emmanuel” (meaning “God is with us”).’” (Isaiah 7:14)

24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel commanded and brought Mary home to be his wife, 25 but she remained a virgin until her Son was born; and Joseph named him “Jesus.”

(The following scriptures are all from Luke 2, The Living Bible)
1 About this time Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the nation. 2 (This census was taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3 Everyone was required to return to his ancestral home for this registration.4 And because Joseph was a member of the royal line, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, King David’s ancient home—journeying there from the Galilean village of Nazareth. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

8 That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened,10 but the angel reassured them.

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! 12 How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,” they sang,[d] “and peace on earth for all those pleasing him.”

15 When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on! Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.

(The following scriptures are all from Matthew 2, The Living Bible)

1 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.

At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship him.”

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, and all Jerusalem was filled with rumors.

7 Then Herod sent a private message to the astrologers, asking them to come to see him; at this meeting he found out from them the exact time when they first saw the star. Then he told them, 8 “Go to Bethlehem and search for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him too!”

9 After this interview the astrologers started out again. And look! The star appeared to them again, standing over Bethlehem. 10 Their joy knew no bounds!

11 Entering the house where the baby and Mary, his mother, were, they threw themselves down before him, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But when they returned to their own land, they didn’t go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way.

(The following scriptures are from Luke 2, The Living Bible)

39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the Law of God, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child became a strong, robust lad, and was known for wisdom beyond his years; and God poured out his blessings on him.

52 So Jesus grew both tall and wise, and was loved by God and man.

Pastor Kumar thanked the students for doing such a lovely job with this important message and gave some closing remarks.

(This scripture is from Acts 16, The Living Bible)

30 He brought them out and begged them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and your entire household.”

Pastor Puri thanked the Lord for his blessings during 2015 

and what we know will be His continued blessings during 2016 and beyond.

(This scripture is from John 3, The Living Bible)

16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Thank you again for your care, concern, and support!

We wish you a lovely 2016!