CELEBRATE WITH US! God appeared on earth in bodily form. He was called. Maternity and Eternity By Peter Agwa, Executive Director of EMAS CANADA

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1 God appeared on earth in bodily form. He was called Jesus Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Col.2:9). At first He lived and traveled for about nine months in the uterus of an Israeli teenager. She was a virgin He even let her breastfeed Him. The details are hidden from us, but with sanctified imaginations we stand amazed at the honor and trust that was given to Mary. God was with her. The Lord is with you, the angel declared. Mary herself was astounded: how will this be? (Luke 1:28,34 &33) Her Son s kingdom was to last forever. Mary delivered. Her Son was Good News, because he will save His people from their sins. (Matt. 1:21) That was the first Christmas. Her Son grew up and defined Eternal Life for us: Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John17:3) God is still on earth. He lives and travels everywhere through those to whom He has given His Holy Spirit. Maternity and Eternity By Peter Agwa, Executive Director of EMAS CANADA DECEMBER 2014 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God s possession to the praise of his glory. (Eph.1:13-14) At EMAS Canada, we are humbled by the amazing and indescribable privilege we have of bringing this same God to the world through Christ-centered healthcare teams that proclaim His love through healing and teaching. Our confidence is this: God is within us and with us, just as He was within and with Mary. Therefore we boldly ask you to share with us through your gifts at this season of celebrating God s love. Because when you give, we too can deliver the Good News. (Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version 2011) CELEBRATE WITH US!

2 CELEBRATING GOD S WORK IN CHINA EAST Today, Wenzhou has become a very prosperous industrial city with a high Christian population. There are many seminary schools, churches and big industries run by Christians in Wenzhou, which has become known as the Jerusalem of China. With joy we celebrate together as we recognize God s work through his people who are willing to go to the ends of the earth. It wasn t always this way,in 1987 EMAS sent the first China team to Wenzhou, a small industrial city situated at the southeast coast of China in the Zhejiang Province. This marked the beginning of the China East Team. For the past 27 years, the China East Team has visited many cities along the east coast. Many additional teams, originating from the China East Team have branched out to different areas of China including central and western China. With God s blessing, these teams have included participants from across the world including Europe and Australia. As they go, they offer spiritual support to local Christians and participate in local church activities. The China East team has helped provide funding for several medical needs in the region including a peadiatric hematology oncology ward, a fund for cancer drugs for those who cannot afford them, and assistance to a community centre for the disabled and mentally ill. We have also sponsored numerous Chinese physicians to attend courses and conferences to upgrade their skills. The China East team recently traveled to a Reha- bilitation Center for patients with mental health issues. They volunteered in the community, performed skits, offered teaching and participated in the nationwide, World Mental Health Day event. The EMAS team were well received and local health care workers were encouraged. Their particular desire in the future is to care for the Christians belonging to the minority tribes in Kunming. Our prayer is that God may continue to work though the China East Urban and Rural teams. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS CHINA WEST PERFORMING A SKIT ON THEIR RECENT TRIP EMAS CHINA WEST TEAM TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS This year, thirty team members from Canada and the USA joined together, consisting of physicians, dentist, nurses, pharmacists, medical and dental students. One third of the team were new team members, but they experienced the joy of working in harmony and unity. EMAS teams were able to meet the needs of villagers who braved the elements to receive treatment. Patients have been looking forward to our annual return for medical and dental assistance. New friendships were made and old ones were rekindled. Our Dental Team was invited to give lectures at a new site. The EMAS China West team also provided English teaching. The youth on the team set up educational stations to promote public health at each EMAS hospital they visited. This encouraged interaction between our youth and local university students with interest in health care. Over the past years, the China West team has helped construct several hospitals in the region and provided primary health care from these locations during the mission trips as well as training local health care personnel and health educators. In August, 2014 the 14 member team was delighted to return to work in Qinghai. They held free medical and dental clinics and were touched by the vision and mission of the local church. A new Medical Center in the area is now under construction and EMAS was asked to help fund this project.

3 CHINA WEST TEAM (continued from previous page) 2015 marks the 25th Anniversary of EMAS involvement in China West medical missions in the remote northwestern provinces of China and we are ready to celebrate this milestone. Thank you for your support and prayers. Let us make 2015 the best to date, for His Glory. The China West Team started with only three members in Nearly 25 years later, more than 700 people have participated in China West missions. EMAS will celebrate our 25th year of participation in Ningxia in This is a wonderful reason to celebrate. Thank you for considering EMAS as part of your Christmas Gift Giving. Celebrate with us. GIVE THE GIFT OF SERVICE If you would like to volunteer to serve on an EMAS missions trip there are opportunities available to serve. THAILAND/MYANMAR: This is one team operating from EMAS Hong Kong. Their biggest need is for Canadian team members.the small, but mighty team, led by Dr. David Chan provided primary health care for those who do not have access to it. In October they went on their second trip to this newly opened area, which has significant medical and dental and needs. PHILIPPINES: This team is in need of physicians. VIETNAM: The EMAS Vietnam Team, led by Dr. David Neima, are planning their upcoming trip. We are in need of more general practitioners to join this endeavour. NIGERIA: Paediatricians/neonatalogists and neonatal nurses and nurse educators are needed. MALAWI: Malawi needs physicians and dentists. To volunteer please contact Peter Agwa: peter@emascanada.org VIETNAM $25 will provide eye glasses or medication. $200 will pay for cataract surgery enabling a patient to see better. $2,500 is the cost of heart surgery for a child, any donation will help make a difference in their lives. HAITI The EMAS Haiti project, called Hand in Hand with Haiti and is a partnership between EMAS Canada and the El Shaddai Church community in Port-au- Prince. $50 is the cost for a square foot of earthquake & hurricane resistant construction. $130 will provide lunch for all the students each school day. $450 will enable one student to spend a year at Imago Dei School. CHOOSE YOUR EMAS CELEBRATION GIFT CHINA WEST We want to improve medical and dental care and availability for villagers living in remote areas by establishing EMAS hospitals in various villages of Ningxia. For 2015 we will need $48,000 to build the EMAS outpatient hospital to provide medical or dental care to 21,000 villagers. $25 can provide a pair of glasses. $100 can provide medication for villagers. INDONESIA Planning for a Feb 2015 mission to Jakarta, Bandung and Bali in partnership with local churches is under development. Your help would be appreciated. $100 will help us make a difference in the lives of orphans in Indonesia. CHINA EAST $ can help provide care in the recovery of a mentally ill patient at a rehabilitation center for one month $200 will help a mental health worker to attend a national mental health conference at a major center. Donations of any value go towards medication costs for the medical clinic for 3000 ethnic Mui Tribe Christians in the mountainous Lefung area. UGANDA $50 buys mosquito nets for an average family. $100 buys basic supplies for the maternity ward at the health clinic $1000 will stock for the health clinic pharmacy for one month. CHINA SOUTH $40 will provide one course of antibiotics $50 will provide a bus ticket for the child and caregiver. $200 for post op care after surgery. $500 for the hospital fee for surgery for a child. GUANGDONG We have been blessed with His great provisions. Our prayers have been answered. Thank you. Praise God! Find out more at giveconfidently.ca

4 Celebrating God s Faithfulness through the Generations At Christmas time we think of a babe born in a manger and how His humble beginnings changed the course of history for all time. He was foretold, He came and lived among us and is alive and well in the hearts of every believer. Although Jesus walked on the earth for a short time, He left a hope and a legacy that has spread throughout the world. His Good News is for all people, for all nations and for all generations. Another story that comes to mind is the legacy left by the founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM), Dr. Hudson Taylor. He was a British Protestant Christian missionary, known for his sensitivity to the local culture to the point that he wore Chinese clothing even though it was very rare for missionaries to do so in the 1850 s. Dr. Taylor was passionate about sharing Jesus story and His love with others. He gave his life to the work of the Lord living through blessing and hardship in China for 51 years. How many of our brothers and sisters in the faith are here today because of the humble beginnings of what the Lord did through Dr. Taylor and his colleagues in China so many years ago? Our own Dr. Michael Bentley Taylor is not related to the Dr. Hudson Taylor who pioneered China Inland missions 150 years ago, but his great grandparents were close friends with Dr. Taylor and worked with him in China. Most people know Dr. Michael Bentley-Taylor as a respected cardiologist from Toronto East General Hospital with a sense of humour and a compassionate bedside manner. He is now retired, but has not stopped giving his time and talents as a cardiologist. On the home front, he and his wife, Myfanwy, have generously hosted students at their cottage and inspired several medical students from the University of Toronto to explore medical missions abroad. On their last trip, the EMAS Cardiology Medical Team led by a Cardiologist Dr. Keith Kwok, worked with patients who were elderly or disabled. One of the unexpected highlights for the China South Team was being invited to a local seminary where our EMAS team provided health checks for over 250 enthusiastic future Christian leaders. As part of the EMAS China South Team, Dr. Bentley-Taylor shared his testimony at the seminary in China. Dr. Robert Ting was there and remembers, What made Michael s testimony so special was he would get very choked up when he talked about how God intervened in the lives of his father, grandfather and greatgrandfather. He talked about how God transformed the lives of ordinary men and led them to great personal sacrifice for the service of God. These men left comfortable upper class lives in the UK to lead harsh lives in remote areas of China. They lost their children to illnesses. The students at the seminary felt God s love and Michael s love for the people of China. They were very touched and quite a few were weeping and came up to speak to Michael at the end. Michael also talked about his beloved wife, and her descent into Alzheimer s Disease, but talked about his acceptance of the will of the Almighty. Our Sovereign God is in control and we accept whatever happens. His care for his wife, touched the students and his testimony left many deeply moved. I have heard this talk before, but I have never heard Michael bare his soul and seem so vulnerable. It was a truly memorable moment. I believe the principal was in attendance and mostly third year students. The Bentley-Taylors sharing their story in China There are times when we are called upon to share our stories, and although it may not be an easy thing to do, we are passing on the message, leaving a legacy and encouraging the next generation to continue the good work that the Lord has started. That is a gift that we can give. Dr. Micheal Bentley-Taylor admits he does have an amazing family history of service in China, going back to his maternal greatgrandparents who went to China with the CIM. In 1939 his father, David BENTLEY- TAYLOR, arrived in Chefoo, China from the UK. (Photo Right) Japanese marines had taken over the city during the war. He would get chicken pox in 1941 and his nurse was Jessie Moore who would later become his wife. My grandmother, mother and my twin and I were all born in China. This is the Lord s work NOT ours. But it was a privilege to share a little of what it cost and how God worked. - Dr. Michael Bentley-Taylor PHOTO: Twins Arthur and Michael with teddy bears in China aged The EMAS China South Team has been working alongside national caregivers as guest coaches. In some cases health care professionals are forming EMAS like teams and are managing quite well on their own. This is a sign of growth and progress. This is evidence that the faithfulness of those who have gone to serve with the EMAS teams is paying off and bearing fruit. People s lives are being changed and touched. What greater gift can we give than to have a part in the eternal benefits that result from willing servants, who leave their area of comfort in order to reach out to others in this way. Together let us celebrate God s faithfulness through the generations. As Dr. Bentley-Taylor has pointed out, it is HIS WORK, not ours and we are privileged to be a part of it. DAVID BENTLEY-TAYLOR

5 INDIA DONATIONS The India Team consists of three people and will be on mission for eight days. North India Team A Family Venture As part of the EMAS new faith initiatives, Drs. Stephen and Stephanie Milone will lead an exploratory team to visit the Herbertpur Hospital in Northern India. It is located near the banks of the Asan river between the Shivalik and Himalaya mountain ranges. This hospital is part of the Emmanuel Hospital Association in India. Their objective will be to explore opportunities to teach there. Join with us in supporting this brand new effort as EMAS seeks to teach and heal in a Christ-like manner. Drs. Stephanie and Stephen Milone are two family physicians who currently work in Orangeville, Ontario. They have a broad scope of practice including ER, anesthesia, inpatients, palliative and academic medicine. They feel very fortunate to be blessed with so much and feel it is their calling to use THE MILONE FAMILY PHOTO their skills and talents to help others. They want this experience to be a family one and thus will be accompanied by their three children, ages five, seven and ten. Dr. Stephen and Dr.Stephanie hope this mission trip will spark that same desire to do good in this world in their children. The EMAS India team will be teaching new skills and providing medical education for local trainee and practicing physicians, so that they can continue to provide the best care in this rural area. They will also be working alongside these hardworking physicians to help with their heavy workload, and hope this will be an ongoing relationship between EMAS, the Orangeville medical team and Herbertpur Christian Hospital. Thank you for supporting this new initiative as they serve in March $200 will support one team member for one day excluding travel. UGANDA For the first time since 2008 EMAS has not sent a team to Uganda in We have however continued to support our NGO partner there. Previously the Uganda team funded a community plan and then a baseline study of water needs and sources. We approached UNICEF Uganda and UNICEF Canada for assistance. Now, a gravity water system serving three communities is being implemented by UNICEF. At RAMBIA s Health Centre housing has been constructed for a midwife which should make this position easier to staff. Most recently, with the Uganda team s help, RAMBIA has started a school for orphans and vulnerable children. Over 400 children attend, many of whom sleep over and all of whom are given a daily meal. We see the Lord s hand in much of what has happened in this community and how EMAS support has acted as a catalyst for other partners. We pray for your continuing support and for a medical team to visit in 2015 to help at the clinic, train staff and care for the children at the school. Be shepherds of God s flock that is under your care, watching over them not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5: 2-4 NIV) ZIMBABWE Dr. Paul Thistle, a career missionary doctor and long term member of the Canadian Christian medical community in Ontario, has served in Zimbabwe for many years. He invited EMAS Canada to provide resources for expanding the services at Karanda Mission Hospital by incorporating dental care. Dr. Ajit Vargis will lead a team to Zimbabwe as part of EMAS new initiatives in Karanda is located in the Rushinga district,in a remote area of Northern Zimbabwe nearest to Mount Darwin which is approximately 124 miles from Harare, the Capital of Zimbabwe. Dr. Ajit Vargis will evaluate the usefulness of providing dental services at Karanda 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 DR. AJIT & MRS. ANN VARGIS in an area currently without a dentist. Celebrate with us as this team prepares for their time in Africa. We are excited about what God will do in Zimbabwe. Join with us in supporting this brand new effort as EMAS seeks to teach and heal in a Christ-like manner. Consider giving a celebration gift: $100 will buy dental clinical supplies $200 will buy dental anesthetics

6 Celebrate with EMAS Ecuador Operation Esperanza Janet Greidanus The EMAS Ecuador Team will be serving on their 18th trip from January 29 to February 9th, They will be returning to the same region of Ecuador in order to perform hip and knee replacement surgeries for those who could otherwise not afford them and to help correct club feet, address orthopaedic problems, and train national surgeons. The Ecuador team includes some dentists. When the Mission began many years ago, it focused solely on adult orthopaedic surgery and consisted of a small group of health care professionals. As the years passed and more needs were discovered, a pediatric surgery team and then a dental team were added. Currently, Operation Esperanza consists of approximately 60 team members who work together to provide hip and knee replacement surgery to poor adult Ecuadoreans, surgery for poor children with dislocated hips and club feet, and dental care to disadvantaged children in rural schools. The team leader since the beginning has been Edmonton orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Thomas Greidanus. Operating room nurse, Lisa Watson, and physiotherapist, Mark Labrentz, have been team members for more than ten years and have witnessed the life-changing impact of the orthopedic surgery provided by Operation Esperanza. Like most team members who work hard and long hours, they agree that they receive more than they give. As much as the patients are blessed, I am blessed even more, says Watson, by the love of the patients and the fulfillment of seeing them after (surgery). For Labrentz, To see the results, to be a part of helping change a person s life... It s so rewarding. It s humbling. Working with Operation Esperanza was a new experience for nurse Susan Mann. I am overwhelmed, she said. What we do here without state of the art equipment is phenomenal...this is so rewarding. When I get back home, I ll dig down inside me and always remember this. The experience also had Mann reflecting about her life in Alberta. We are surrounded by plenty. We are so blessed. We need to use some of this to give back to those in need. Operating room charge nurse Cari Noelck, put it this way, It s a lot of work, but its re-energizing. I always come back with a new appreciation for my life and all that we have in Canada. A prosthesis costs $2,000. You may want to contribute by buying half a prosthesis or less. Thank you. We celebrate and together, we thank the Lord for what He has done in Ecuador. UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR THESE TEAMS AS THEY SEEK TO HEAL AND TEACH IN A CHRIST-LIKE MANNER ECUADOR Jan 29 - Feb 09, 2015 INDONESIA Jan/Feb, 2015 Accepting Applicants HAITI Feb 10-24, 2015 VIETNAM Feb 27 - March 15, 2015 Accepting Applicants INDIA March 1-8, 2015 ZIMBABWE April/May, 2015 CHINA SOUTH May 10-21, 2015 (Surgery) May 17-29, 2015 (Post Op) CHINA SOUTH Nov 8-19, 2015 (Surgery) Nov 15-27, 2015 (Post Op) CHINA WEST Ningxia: June 4-18, 2015 Ningxia & Qinghai: June 4-27, 2015 Accepting Applicants EMASSARY is the official newsletter of EMAS Canada. Learn more or download previous issues at #1 20 Freel Lane Stouffville, ON L4A 8B9 Phone: (905) Toll free: 1 (866)