Thailand and Cambodia

May 8, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

On May 10, 2009, I will depart for Thailand and Cambodia. While in Bangkok, Thailand, I will take part in a Tropical Medicine Course hosted by MTW, Medical College of Georgia and the Mahidol University as part of my missionary training. I will also be giving a presentation on the Training and Education of Community Health Workers and caring for patients with tropical diseases while spending time in the jungle. Recently there has been much unrest in Bangkok. Please pray for my health and safety.

As you know, after working at the World Health Organization last summer, I felt the Lord calling me to work in decreasing maternal mortality (mothers dying in pregnancy and childbirth). Two years ago, while serving in Cambodia, we visited the medical school and nursing school in Phnom Penh, and one of the stated needs was a strong provincial midwifery program. I cared for a woman there who had been in bed (bleeding) for 6 months after delivering a baby and the baby was being fed rice water. Both were very sick. Trained birth attendants could minister here in both Word and deed.

The maternal mortality ratio has remained high in Cambodia and is one of the highest in the region. The majority of births are still occurring at home, with only a small number of all births being attended by a health professional. And even among the few trained midwives, there are deficiencies – particularly in life-saving skills

I will fly to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 23 and stay through June 8, meeting with Provincial Health Dept leaders and others together with Missionary Physicians Dr Dale Knutson and Dr Eda Kim to determine the needs there. We hope to launch a project there in the next year. It will be small at first, possibly training 15 midwives or skilled birth attendants in the Kampot Province.

Previously, I worked in the area of maternal health and perinatology for over 25 years. This is where my heart, my passion, and my area of training lie.

. Midwifery training will increase the capacity of traditional birth attendants (most cannot read or write, nor have life saving skills, and can’t use Pitocin to stop bleeding) to safely deliver infants and advocate safe motherhood practices. We will structure the program to encourage community ownership.

Attending to health needs serves as a tool to introduce the gospel. In this way, village health workers learn to share basic health skills – and their faith – so that individual lives, families, and even communities may be transformed.

PRAISES

· For the privilege of serving Him in cross-cultural ministry

· For the support of wonderful family, friends and Church family.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• That I may show God’s love through health ministry to bring people into a saving relationship with Him, strengthening the local church and facilitating church planting.
• Cambodia project:
• For other groups or agencies to partner with us
• For productive meetings with local Ministry of Health officials and other agents
• For the Lord to provide teachers and trainers
• That Midwifery training would start before October
• For financial support
• That many people would be ignited for the mission field through this ministry

Home address: Karen’s Donation address:

800 Cool Glade Court Mission to the World

Millersville, MD 21108 PO Box 116284

klmcclure@comcast.net Atlanta GA 30368

h. 410-987-0784 Memo: # 013945

c. 410-991-9953 Call 1 866 373 6133 for e-donations

BLOG: www.thelordisthehealer2.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

May the Lord richly bless you for your part in my ministry!

Yours in Christ,

Karen McClure

Acts 20:24

“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”