A couple months ago I received an email from Kevin, a Christian brother in Uganda, asking for help from the Critical Medical Needs Ministry. He told me about Akumu Janifer, a young 23-year-old woman living in great pain. Akumu slipped from her mother's arms when she was just 6 months old, but her mother never sought medical care for her and she seemed to get better.

My husband and I were in Kitale, Kenya, earlier this year, enjoying a wonderful church service with the congregation of Pastor Cleophas Makona. Afterwards, I began meeting people who had medical needs. In that line was a young man named Mark. My heart was immediately touched when my eyes met his—that's because his eyes were red, swollen and watering profusely.

I get so excited meeting people who have been helped by the Critical Medical Needs Fund! And on my recent trip to Kenya, I was blessed to meet my friend Alice Nakhumicha. Alice has podiconiosis (also known as mossy feet), a disease of the lymph vessels of the lower extremities that is caused by long exposure to irritant soils, and is characterized by prominent swelling of the lower extremities. Untreated, it leads to disfigurement and disability.

Victor Siniyu, along with his wife and children, are happy to see the end of 2014. That's because this year has been filled with doctors and hospitals and treatments—and fear. It all started 8 years ago in Bungoma, Kenya, when Victor was 23 years old. He noticed an open sore on his chest. Medicines didn't heal it; instead, it just got bigger and uglier. There were no doctors near his village and traveling to the nearest hospital was financially impossible. So Victor just made the best of it and tried to keep living a normal life.

Me with Joshua, at left, and his brother, Fanuel Dear Friends, Looking at the photo of Joshua’s grotesque, bulging left eye was difficult, and my […]

Do you recognize this girl? Dear Friends, This is eight-year-old Biak, and she lives in Myanmar. Over the years Biak has become a good friend […]