1. society
2. welfare
3. healthcare
4. hospital

Auxiliary news
Volume 71, Number 3
Spring Issue • 2010
The National Auxiliary to the Alumni Association,
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Although the world is full of suffering,
it is also full of the overcoming of it.
– Helen Keller
Geri Gaines
2010 Woman of the Year
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
With the School of Medicine's 100th birthday party behind us, and the graduation
of the 10,000th student just ahead, we at the National Auxiliary have much to celebrate! And I believe that our celebrations should always center on things that really
matter in life. After our relationship with our God, what could matter more than
service to others?
Celebrate with us in this issue of the Auxiliary News as we report the joys and
frustrations of service in new hospitals and clinics in the isolated and impoverished
nations of Niger and Cameroon. With medical work being lead by women, the stories of Trixy Franke (SM '06) and Bill Colwell, and Mindi (SM '06) and Scott
Guptill, will remind you that a dedication to international medical mission work is still very much alive among the
graduates of LLUSM.
APC was a great success. Thank you to all who made it so by your support and participation.
Our spring luncheon will also celebrate service, featuring "The Miracle Worker". Marilyn Loveless-Howard and
her drama troupe will bring us this remarkable story of the young Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan.
This play was first performed on Broadway in 1960 and has just returned there for its 50th anniversary, thrilling
audiences with its remarkable account of learning to communicate with someone who could neither see nor hear.
It is a tale of perserverance despite great adversity which I believe you will find as uplifting as it is entertaining.
“The Miracle Worker” is a masterpiece you will not want to miss! Plan to join us on May 18 at La Sierra
University. Look for details in this issue or on our website, www.llumedaux.org.
Warmest regards,
Merle
Merle Hildebrand
President
Merle Hildebrand, Debby Boone, and Sheila Hodgkin
at Homecoming Luncheon
Our Mission
The mission of the National Auxiliary to the
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Alumni Association is to demonstrate God’s love
through benevolence and shared service. The
Auxiliary promotes the mission work of its
Alumni; the education and welfare of medical students, residents and their spouses; and the intellectual and spiritual growth of its diverse membership. The Auxiliary is committed to continuing a
heritage of unselfish dedication to service, beneficence and healthful living, as well as to responding to humanitarian needs in today’s
changing world.
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WORDS
FROM THE
EDITORS
In a year of wonderful celebrations, we are reminded that God is still working
out His plan for this earth. We who have lovely homes, warm clothing, full stomachs, and time for leisure, need a wake-up call like the Haiti earthquake to focus our
minds and hearts on what is most important--spreading the good news about One
who is greater than evil or circumstances. Our medical missions, strong faith, and
healthy lifestyle can help to show others a better way.
Our cover (clockwise from upper left) features photos of Mindi Guptill,
David Puder, and Trixy Franke at work in Niger, Haiti, and Cameroon, respectively.
Both Drs. Guptill and Franke and their husbands will benefit from your mission
donations to the Auxiliary this year. Read their descriptions of life at their new hospitals. Medical student David Puder went to Haiti just after the earthquake. He
writes of his trip there. Also in this issue, Area Coordinator Sinka Razzouk tells of a
Stop Smoking program instituted in her native country, the former Republic of
Jugoslavija.
There are so many good things happening
with your fellow alumni families, we cannot list
them all. But please enjoy the profile of the 2010
Woman of the Year, Geri Gaines, and a review of
the Auxiliary events during this year's APC, March
5-8, 2010. Put March 4-7, 2011 on your calendar
to be with us next year.
Sheila, Dick, and Karen
We would also like to thank Dick Weismeyer
for helping us put each issue of the News together. We couldn't do it without you!
Karen & Sheila
Contents
President’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Words from the Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Woman of the Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
APC Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
APC Seminars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
APC Vespers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Mission Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
RMA / JMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Area Coordinators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Spring Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Thank you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Remembering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Photo Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Contributors
to this issue:
Ladan Ask, Katie Cameron, Patti
Catalano, Melinda Fredrickson,
Sheila Hodgkin, Karen Wat Nielsen,
Myra Peterson, Joyce Reiswig
Layout: Richard Weismeyer
Karen Wat Nielsen & Sheila Hodgkin
<contact@llumedaux.org>
Executive Assistant: Chrissy Evangelista
National Auxiliary Board of Directors • 2009–2010
President
President-elect
Past President
Parliamentarian
Finance Chair
Area Coordinator Chair
Arts & Decorations
Cookbook Co-Chair
Cookbook Co-Chair
DUO Chair
DUO Associate
Co-Editor Auxiliary News
Hospitality Chair, 2nd Vice President
Hospitality Associate
JMA Co-Sponsor
JMA Co-Sponsor
Little White House Chair
Merle Hildebrand
Sharan Bennett
Georgia Hodgkin
Edie Deming
Carol Brauer
Dorothy Zane
Jolene Hilliard
Marjorie Akamine
Mary Ann Catalon
Reba Rowsell
Betty Webster
Karen Wat Nielsen
Anita Lui
Memrose Atiga
Cookie Atiga
Adele Johnson
Margaret Donaldson
Little White House Associate
Lolita Hirst
Membership Chair
Myra Peterson
Membership Associate
Joyce Reiswig
Missions Chair
Judy Hart
Missions Associate
Carol Zirkle
Program Chair, Co-Editor Auxiliary News Sheila Hodgkin
Program Associate
Betsy Jabola
Public Relations Chair
Ann Oshiro
Public Relations Associate
Pam Barruga
RMA Sponsor
Demeree Andreasen
RMA Associate
Irene Tsai
Scholarship Chair, 1st Vice President
Donna Hadley
Special Projects Chair
Ladan Ask
Tree of Angels Chair
Joan Harding
Tree of Angels Associate
Mary Stokos
Secretary (no vote, recording only) Christine Evangelista
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WOMAN OF THE YEAR – 2010
Geraldine A. Gaines
Our Woman of the Year is a devout SDA Christian, who
loves her God, family, and church. She is the mother of
four (daughters Geralyn and Daina, and sons Darin and
Geof) and the grandmother of five of the cutest and
smartest grandchildren. Her husband Elvin is a graduate of
LLUSM Class of 1961.
Her early years were spent in Colorado. After academy
graduation she headed to Union College for one year and
then west to La Sierra College. Upon graduation from
nursing at Glendale Adventist Hospital, she helped her
physician husband set up practice in Southern California
where she functioned as office nurse, receptionist, bill collector and janitor.
For 47 years she has been active in her church and local
community, serving as president of the Federated
Women’s Club, the Christian Women’s Club, the
Community Concert Association, Simi Adventist Church
School Board, & Simi Valley Hospital Volunteers. She has
also served on the boards of the Ventura County Red
Cross, the Simi Valley Boys and Girls Club, the local
Cultural Arts Board, the Hospital First Ladies, and the
Simi Valley Hospital Foundation. She has been a docent at
the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
She and her husband received the Norka Award and the
Pillar of the Arts Community Award. With her husband,
she served in leadership of the Councilors to the President
of Loma Linda University from 2000-2002. They were
also members of the Centennial Complex fund-raising
committee.
In addition to being a world cruiser and lover of travel,
she and her husband have served as relief missionaries for
a total of 2½ years. They began in Zambia, Africa, where
she started a well-baby clinic at Yuka Hospital which
immunized over 50 children daily, assisted in surgery, and
cared for her own children then ages 3, 5, 7, and 9. They
later served in Phuket, Thailand; Sopas Hospital in the
highlands of Papua New Guinea; twice in Guam; Mwami
Hospital in Zambia; and Atoifi Hospital in the Solomon
Islands. Malaria and snakes were her greatest concerns at
these bush hospitals. They had plenty of both.
She is a Life Member of the National Auxiliary and was
National Auxiliary President from 1992-1993. We congratulate you, Geri Gaines, our 2010 National Auxiliary
Woman of the Year!
–Beverly Krick
Geri Gaines with children (left to right) Geof, Geralyn, and Daina.
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APC HOMECOMING LUNCHEON 2010
Luncheon at the Miramonte Resort
Blue skies and beds of lovely red geraniums greeted us
as we arrived in Indian Wells, leaving the grey skies and
drizzle of Loma Linda behind. The registration process
was greatly enhanced by a boutique, which thanks to
Adele Johnson's and Mindy Morell's able planning,
allowed attendees to shop and converse with friends for a
leisurely hour prior to being seated inside.
The tables were elegant: the turquoise and coral decorations had a somewhat Oriental theme. Again Jolene
Hilliard and her team truly gave us the benefit of her endlessly creative gifts. Inside we were greeted with soothing
piano music by Cindy Waring which set the mood and
lifted all our spirits. We already sensed that this luncheon
was going to be special.
And so it was. Our president, Merle Hildebrand set the
tone by thanking all the many people involved, and
acknowledging the special contribution of Lorna Wong
who made, from scratch, the delicious biscotti that we each
had inside boxes that matched the décor. Such a lovely
gift! Pastor Randy Roberts gave a devotional, and Sharan
Bennett, our president-elect, offered the invocation. The
lunch was a gourmet treat, starting with the golden tomato
gazpacho soup and ending with the crème brulee. None
of us went home hungry!
After Merle presented current and future board members, Sheila Hodgkin introduced Debby Boone. Sheila
had always loved Debby Boone's singing and showed us
her first album which Sheila had saved since 1977 and
which included the song, "You Light Up My Life." One
of her dreams was to have Debby sign the album cover,
and now this was
going to happen!
Debby Boone not
only sang several
sacred numbers but
shared her own personal spiritual journey. She talked with
gratitude of the family she grew up in.
Her father was Pat
Boone, a very successful crooner of the
50's. The family ate
breakfast and dinner
together and also had Debby Boone, featured artist
morning and evening
worship. That legacy has impacted her Christian life, and
also how she has raised her own four children.
Debby played an old tape recording of her mother-inlaw, Rosemary Clooney, singing the song "Blue Skies" to
Debby's firstborn son. This was followed by Debby
singing the song for us. This is also the first song on the
album Debby made to honor Rosemary Clooney which
she sold and signed afterward.
The luncheon left everyone in a joyous mood as we celebrated the gift of friendship, the gift of worship, and the
gift of music. A big thank you to all of those who made this
time so special.
–Joyce Reiswig
Dr. Randy Roberts with wife, Anita,
and daughter, Miranda.
Lorna Wong and Donna Hadley
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APC SEMINARS IN REVIEW
Dr. Hodgkin also prepared fresh fruit smoothies for all
the seminar participants.
Martina Karunia, MS, MPH, RD, spoke about the
health hazards of obesity and the eating habits that lead to
unwanted extra pounds. Her maps of the increasing
prevalence of obesity throughout the United States
shocked us all.
Seminar at the U. D. Register
Research Kitchen
Seminar I “Forever Young — Foods from the
Fountain of Youth”
Dr Louise Schneider covered the topic of anti-oxidants
and vitamins. She described the role of vitamins A, C & E
in brain function and listed foods rich in these vitamins
(carrots, tomatoes, yellow and red fruits and vegetables).
To stay young and healthy, there are five food types that
we all should eat on a regular basis:
Whole grains (i.e. oatmeal); nuts and seeds (almonds,
flaxseed); dark green and deep yellow vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels
sprouts, kale) which are effective in cancer prevention;
fruits (berries); and Vitamins B12 and D. Dr. Schneider
cited studies that show that abundant intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, and cereals provides phytochemical compounds with anti-oxidant potential. This
may be one of the ways to slow down aging or delay the
onset of age-associated diseases.
Dr. Georgia Hodgkin presented the Vegetarian Food
Pyramid which can be found at www.mypyramid.gov . She
showed us the portion sizes and food equivalents for recommended caloric intakes for various age and activity levels. For many women and older adults, 1600 calories daily
is recommended. A sample diet would contain :
•
5 servings of whole grains
•
4 servings of vegetables
•
3 servings of dairy
•
3 servings of proteins
•
2 serving of fats
Chef James
Ojeda demonstrated how he
carves a variety
of fruits and vegetables
into
roses,
leaves,
and flowers. He
delighted the
attendees with a
gorgeous flower
basket made of
edible fruits.
Chef James’ edible fruit
basket creation
Seminar II “Anti-Aging Skin — Forever Young Skin
Care”
Dr. Steven Hodgkin and Dr. Bonnie Chi-Lum gave the
standing room only audience information on the essentials
Dr. Chi-Lum and Dr. Hodgkin
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7
APC SEMINARS IN REVIEW
of healthy skin, as well as ways to slow down the ravages of
time and sunshine and look good while trying.
Dr. Hodgkin’s slides detailed the components of youthful skin and then showed the signs of aging. He discussed
skin health risks and what abnormalities to look for when
spots and moles appear on the skin. His warnings:
•
Use sunscreen.
•
Watch out for changing moles with uneven borders and spots that appear to have color variations.
•
Don’t be too rough on your skin, use neither very
hot water nor harsh scrubs.
•
See your doctor to check moles and evaluate skin
irregularities; most are treatable if caught early.
Seminar at
Aesthetic Skin and Laser Medical Center
Dr. Bonnie Chi-Lum’s enthusiasm for possible flawless
skin encouraged all of us to be more vigilant about moisturizing and sun protection. This is how Dr. Bonnie outlined basic skin care for each decade:
•
20’s- Use sun block (minimum SPF15 –to SPF
30), wear a wide-brim hat, stay out of the sun, cleanse at
night and lightly moisturize the skin.
•
30’s- Time to get more serious about skin care
since the youthful glow begins to disappear. Use a cleaner
with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to encourage exfoliation. Use sun protection daily. Use moisturizers that utilize the best anti-aging technology. Must begin to use
topical antioxidants. (Look for the following ingredients
in your skin products: idebenone, amino-peptides, coffeeberry, green tea extract, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C and
vitamin E.)
•
40’s-Skin is changing so blotches, freckles, age
discolorations
appear. Use sun protection daily, soapspots,
free cleansers, moisturizers that have hyaluronic acid,
antioxidants (to correct cell damage), eye creams (containing retinol), retinoid (Vitamin A-derived can build collagen), exfoliants containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) or
beta-hydroxy acids (BHA). Be careful not to irritate the
skin.
•
50’s-Skin has loss of volume and fullness. Regular
facials with massage can help increase the circulation; firming masks and hydrating treatments can also rejuvenate
the skin. Avoid the sun; consistently use thick moisturizers with retinol, AHAs, antioxidants, and humectants; and
use eye creams with retinol.
•
60’s and beyond- Advanced wrinkling can be corrected by dermatologists or plastic surgeons using dermal
fillers, or Botox or Dysport injections. Do cleanse morning
and night with a non-soap cleanser, apply moisturizing
serum containing peptides or antioxidants like vitamin C
when face is still damp; cover with moisturizer with SPF
15-20 UVA/UVB protection. Antioxidants like Vitamin C
and E are very important. Exfoliants help increase skin
cell turnover; use AHA or BHA acid cleanser or lotion. If
using physical exfoliation, don’t be overly aggressive as it
can irritate the skin.
Seminar III “How to Look Forever Young —
Make-up to Defy Your Age!”
Valerie Sarnelle (of Valerie Beverly Hills) and her assistant
Joseph demonstrated how to apply make-up for day and
Valerie Sarnelle demonstrating her
make-up technique
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APC SEMINARS IN REVIEW
for special evening events such as the Academy Awards.
(After all, this was the day of the Oscars!) We want to
thank Valerie and her staff for coming out to make us feel
like movie stars so early on Sunday morning! We wanted
to make sure they got back to Hollywood in time to give
actresses Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock their touchups. Some of our local stars who happen to be Auxiliary
members, Teresa Thompson-Razzouk and Demeree
Andreasen, graciously signed on to be the models for
demonstration. After Valerie and Joseph were done with
their make-up, they looked “Red Carpet” ready and gorgeous! Valerie and five of her signature make-up artists
then applied their excellent cosmetic products and many
years of experience to beautify all those women who
signed up. We learned how to apply moisturizers and
creams and blush. We learned about good eyebrow grooming and stencils, correct blush application, eye shadows
and eyeliners. We know beauty comes from within but it
doesn't hurt to have it on the outside too. All ladies left the
premises even more beautiful!
–Reported by Ladan Ask
and Sheila Hodgkin
✴✴✴✴✴
PHOTO SCENES FROM MISSION VESPERS
Clockwise from upper left: Heralds of Hope Men’s
Chorus; Dr. Marti Baum; and Dr. Richard Hart
with Daniel Westerdahl and David Puder.
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APC MISSION VESPERS
Light from the Hill
Adventists love missionary stories. We pray for our missionaries; we send them our offerings; we cherish them for
bringing hope to our tired world. Sabbath afternoon vespers,
March 6, 2010, in the Loma Linda University Church, proved
the point. The University Church sanctuary was filled with
those who have served, those planning to serve, and those
who pray and support.
We were beckoned into the church by hymns played beautifully on the piano by Kim Conley (SM ’09). This was followed
by a rousing “Lead Me to the Rock,” sung by the men’s chorus,
Heralds of Hope, directed by Gerald Wareham (SM ’85) and
accompanied by Dorothy Wareham. Merle Hildebrand,
Auxiliary President, welcomed us and introduced Judy Hart,
Missions Chair. In turn, Judy introduced her husband, Richard
Hart (SM’70), president of Loma Linda University.
Dr. Hart updated us on previous Auxiliary projects in Chad
and Malamulo, Malawi. He then introduced Daniel
Westerdahl and David Puder, medical students from the class
of 2010. These young men shared a story about their medical
class, which chose to adopt the Adventist Hospital of Haiti as
a project during the second year of medical school. They
established ties with that hospital and made trips to Haiti long
before the earthquake. Immediately after the earthquake,
class members went into action, praying, getting supplies, and
sending classmates to Haiti. The class is now within $30,000
of their goal of $100,000 for an endowed fund to help the hospital. On behalf of the Auxiliary, Merle Hildebrand and Judy
Hart presented the class with a check for $5,000 to take them
a bit closer to their goal.
Dr Marti Baum (SM ’79-B), a pediatrician, brought our
audience closer to home as she shared a day in her life at
SACHS (Social Action Community Health System.) Dr.
Baum and her colleagues in the pediatric department at
SACHS participate in a program called Reach Out and Read.
This program encourages children in their reading skills. The
SACHS pediatric department is always in need of books.
Again, Merle and Judy, on behalf of the Auxiliary, were
pleased to present a $500 check to Dr. Baum and her colleagues for the SACHS Reach Out and Read Program.
Katie Cameron, President of the Junior Medical Auxiliary,
told of the JMA project for pregnant teens at SACHS: making
blankets for the teens' infants. JMA fund-raising and monies
from the Auxiliary assisted in the purchase of fabric for this
special project.
Dr. Hart updated the vesper attendees on the work of AHI
in Cameroon and Niger. Two alumnae, Trixy Franke (SM
’06) and Mindi Guptill (SM’06), both Deferred Mission
Appointees, are heading teams in these two countries, respectively. The two hospitals in Cameroon and Niger were the
focus of the Auxiliary's major mission fund-raising this year.
$15,000 was the goal for Niger and $35,000 was the goal for
Cameroon. Three other projects in Guam and Thailand completed our fund-raising campaign. (To learn more about these
five projects please go to the Auxiliary website at
www.llumedaux.org.)
Following Judy Hart’s mission service recognition, the
Deferred Mission Appointees and Global Service Scholarship
Recipients were asked to come forward. On cue, they were
asked to light the special “candles” in their hands. We were
again privileged to enjoy the voices of the Heralds of Hope,
with soloist Lauren Joy Wareham, singing the first two stanzas
of “So Send I You.” Dr. Wareham then invited the audience
to stand and join in the singing of the third and fourth stanzas
of this wonderful, uplifting song. Additional lights held by
missionaries in the audience, both former and current, soon
brightened the whole room, just as their work has done over
the years. Our hearts were full with appreciation for the
“Light from the Hill” that shines, with God’s leading, to a
world in need.
–Patti Catalano
It’s not too late to contribute to the 2009-2010
National Auxiliary mission projects. You can mail
your contribution or donate online. For online
donations, go to www.llumedaux.com, click on
“Missions” and go to “Mission Projects 20092010.” Just follow the prompts.
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MISSION UPDATES
For Such a Time as This
When we hear "For such a time as this" we often think of
the story of Esther - and for good reason (see Esther 4:14).
We do not always see or understand "why" or for what purpose we have been called. Every day God calls - and His
friends have the opportunity to say "Yes, Lord, here I am, use
me." Trixy and I both have made it a general practice in our
lives to say to God "Here we are, use us." It is not that we, as
missionaries, have any advantage, or a complete and full
understanding of the Bible, or the character and nature of
God. We don't. We only have who we are. We have hopes,
dreams, and desires. We have visions of what service for God
looks like and we are often surprised when God reveals that
His vision for us is different; yet somehow He fills to overflowing our hopes, dreams, and desires in ways we would
never have imagined.
We arrived in Cameroon to find a nearly finished hospital
that, due to water damage, has walls that are rotted by mold
and mildew. As readers know, funds have been raised for us
to purchase and ship labor/delivery and surgical equipment
from America. We hope to also include a generator. (A very
heart-felt THANK YOU).
We see God at work in this place. The clinic patient flow
fluctuated wildly in 2009, from a high of 125 patients following a health fair, to a low of 51 in September. We hope to be
a stabilizing and growth factor in terms of outpatient clinic
performance. Truly, it is not that we are unique or special in
this regard. God has impressed patients to try us out and they
have become repeat clients. Our clients relate our service to
their neighbors and friends. One patient came on the recommendation of her sister in the mid-Atlantic coast area of the
United States, who had heard about us from another
Cameroonian in a southern State, whose sister was a client
with us. All of this is secondary to God's call to us.
As a 46 year-old, I very much relate to God's call to the
then 75 year-old Abraham. Called to leave his home country
and travel elsewhere - to an unknown, untested future. God
made him promises. Abraham believed and trusted God.
While his trust ebbed and flowed as revealed in his behavior,
he was growing in his relationship with God. That he failed
at times was not held against him - he continued to grow and
learn as he deepened his trust in God.
We have hopes, dreams, desires, and visions for the
Seventh-day Adventist Health Centre here in Buea,
Cameroon. Daily we surrender these to God. This is his
Centre. He knows what it will become and in what time
frame. With each of our supporters, we are partners with Him
and the staff. As we surrender ourselves and our plans we
trust God to do the right things in and through us. We are
active and we will make mistakes. Some people may hold
these mistakes against us, but God does not. Esther's story
gives us courage as does Abraham's. Romans 8 gives us
courage and along with Ephesians 6:10-18 reminds us to
stand firm and strong in the armor of God. Please continue to
pray for Trixy and me. God has called us - for such a time as
this - to be His Ambassadors here in Buea, Cameroon. Pray
that He will give us the words, courage, and love to reveal the
mystery of His good news in all of our activities.
–Bill Colwell, Jr.
Bill is Development Officer and his wife Trixy Franke MD (SM
‘06) is the Medical Director (and only doctor) at the Seventh-day
Adventist Health Centre in Buea, Cameroon. You can follow along
on their adventure via their blog <http://billntrixy.blogspot.com>
and the Health Centre's fan page on Facebook.
Bill and Trixi Franke Colwell stand in front of Buea Hospital (left). Buea Hospital is located in Cameroon
(center). Dr. Franke examines a patient at Buea Hospital (right).
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11
MISSION UPDATES
Diary from the Front
Dr. Mindi Guptill (SM'06) sends this email about a typical
day at Kirker Hospital in the small town of Maine-Soroa,
Niger:
I wake up around 6:30 am and take a shower. This
necessitates turning on the hot water heater and also the
water supply to the heater. Then you have to wait a bit
for it to warm up. You'd think we wouldn't need hot
showers here, but they still feel good. Also, you'd think
we'd remember to turn on the hot water heater first
thing when we get up, but we never do. Then breakfast
which is only 3 choices: eggs, white bread with PB&J, or
oatmeal from Niamey (with worms and weevils). Next,
we rush out the door at the sound of the hospital driver's
honking. He brings Mustafa with him (our 75 y/o almost
blind househelp that we inherited from the Kirkers). I
change Mustafa's bandage (tropical ulcer) and give him
instructions on squeezing lemons for lemonade or what
we want ironed etc... He doesn't see dirt much anymore,
but he is fabulous at laundry which is a big job. We all
squeeze in the hospital's SUV together (8 of us including
the hospital driver). We drop Kari H [Kari Hidalgo, who
with her husband Derrek and children, also serve at
Kirker Hospital] and the kids off at the school and continue on to the hospital (an approximate 10 min drive). I
try to round with Dr. Moctar first thing (maternity, pediatrics, medicine, emergency department) and then rush
to my office to see patients (usually 30-40). I see a lot of
chronic problems, surprisingly. Like diabetes, hypertension, epigastric pain, eczema, and asthma. A lot of
fevers, diarrhea, worms, headaches, dysuria. So far I've
seen a few rare things: end-stage nephroblastoma in a 6
year old, a hermaphrodite. Around 1-2 pm, we all head
home for "repos" or siesta time. At this point, there is
usually stuff to do around the house. It is a constant battle to prepare food here. Seriously, either I am sorting
legumes (to remove sticks, rocks, wire, hair, etc) or
bleaching vegetables or blanching vegetables to freeze
(the season of "scarcity" is upon us) or trying to invent a
dish that includes what is available (from scratch). I
have yet to "repos" during the "repos" time. Then
around 3:30 or 4:00 pm, we all rush back to the hospital
for a few more clinic patients or administrative stuff.
This could be tallying patient numbers for the month,
doing ultrasounds or EKGs on in-patients, sorting
through donated MedShare supplies, trying to figure out
the hospitals finances, etc. Around 5:30 to 6:00, we go
home. At this point, the sheep, chickens, and guinea
fowl need to be fed. The sheep are friendly and nice.
The chickens care less about human interaction. Then
we eat supper...once again a long process of cleaning,
bleaching, inventing a new recipe. Then we think of a
reason to visit the Hidalgos' house so we can see if the
internet is free. Then it is off to bed. Scott is reading
Saving Fish From Drowning right now on our Kindle and
I am reading Medicine in Africa which is a voluminous text
that makes me more insecure about what I am doing.
Well, that about sums it up. Except I forgot that today
is Thursday, which is mefloquine day. That always
makes things a tad more exciting.
–Mindi Guptil SM’06
A man who has walked on his hands his whole life is presented with a hand bike (left). Mindi and Scott
(center). Mindi performs an ulstrasound thanks to a recent gift from Dr. Larry Rahn.
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MISSION UPDATES
Unto ‘The Least of These’
The pictures and events of my recent trip to Haiti flash
endlessly through my mind, the memories invoking ecstasy,
pain, fascination and joy. I have never worked harder, in a
more chaotic place, where emotions for everyone are on the
edge. Alfonso Duran and I re-entered Haiti for the third time
together, with another fourth year medical student Daniel
Patton. The two prior times were with Dr. Scott Nelson in
2007, but now, a couple months from being doctors, our roles
were different. I had spent countless hours thinking about
Haiti since my initial trips, preparing mentally to treat diseases encountered only in the third world.
Arriving in Haiti, the city of Port-au-Prince was in a state
of rebuilding itself as Haitians were seen tearing down
houses and buildings that had fallen apart. Tents were everywhere, and to my surprise people were mostly going about
business as usual. As the ER was busy and our help was
needed, Alfonso and I worked there 12 to 16 hours a day.
Many of the issues I witnessed were either from the poor living conditions due to the earthquake (malaria, typhoid, scabies), from not seeing a doctor since the earthquake (hypertensive crisis, uncontrolled diabetes, seizures), or from stress
from the earthquake (tension headaches, stomach ulcers,
post-traumatic stress disorder). History and physical exam
took the front seat without the multiplicity of lab tests and
imaging studies available in the US. Although initially on my
way to Haiti I felt naked without such information, in retrospect somehow we managed with what we had.
Many patients were brought back from the brink of death
by a system which has been created at the hospital. ACTS
World Relief, an independent organization founded by
Seventh-day Adventist David Canther, has a clinic across the
street from the hospital managing about 500 patients per day.
The sick ones get sent over, and go through our gate triage
system. From there they get sent to the Obstetrics ward, the
Pediatric ward, or the ER. The ER also receives transfers
from local hospitals and clinics. There are around 50 internationals working on the hospital at peak hours, and about 20 at
night.
In the ER we had hands-on contact with the patients all
day. For me, this was a time when theory became action.
Through the long hours and difficulties I encountered, everything I brought was tested. There was a testing of my faith, of
everything I have learned over the last 4 years, and of my emotional endurance. In times like these inevitably my source of
strength, my rock, my foundation is my relationship with God.
I prayed every morning, and throughout the day, for God to fill
me, so that I could continue filling others.
But my work was only a small piece of the puzzle. The
real heroes were, and still are, those working stateside, praying endlessly, and donating their time or resources. I saw success, and was made alive by the process. I wish that all could
also have seen the smiles, the sick overcoming life-threatening issues, the bones straightened allowing young boys to
walk, and illness banished. All of our efforts combined allow
God’s work on earth to continue, to help the “least of these.”
–David Puder, SM’10
Alfonso Duran SM’10, David Puder SM’10, and orthopedist Scott
Nelson SM’96 visit at Haiti Adventist Hospital (above). David
Puder plays with a young patient (right).
Auxiliarynews
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13
MISSION UPDATES
Do You Burst Like a Tomato?
It’s been a long time since I’ve written; mostly because
what I see and do here is just “the usual” (although I realize that “usual” for me may not be the same as for you…)
But, I need to tell you about my day. Today was even a
bit unusual for me.
Throughout West and Central Africa, there is a campaign going on to vaccinate against Polio. Because this is
an oral vaccine, it can be given by anyone. So, local people are trained to give 2 drops of the vaccine to any child
under 5. (This is judged by whether or not the child can
reach over the head with his or her left hand, and touch
the right ear. If they can’t, they are under 5!) The vaccinators go door-to-door and find all the children they can.
They vaccinate the kids and write on the door/wall/tree
with chalk to mark the number of kids vaccinated. I was
asked to be a supervisor for this endeavor. One of my target areas is way up in the mountains.
I love going to the mountains because the people are
simple (as in not complicated) and nice. I always learn
something while visiting the mountains. This time I
passed by a blacksmith’s house and shop. Everything is
done entirely by hand here. The metal is cut and formed
by heating over an open charcoal fire that is enhanced by
two goat-hide bellows. Pounding the metal with a very
hard rock flattens it. The same blacksmith makes
cowhide drums for funerals. To show how much sorrow
one has over the death of a loved one, one must beat the
drum until the hide breaks! Interestingly, it is the blacksmith that makes the tools for farming and the clay pots
that hold everyone’s water; they bury the dead and deliver
the babies. However, they are considered of a lower class,
and the local people are forbidden to eat with, visit with,
or intermarry with these people. They are considered
“dirty”. However, without the blacksmiths, the rest of the
population here would not survive!
As I was climbing the mountain to visit with a local
chief, I stopped to check on the vaccination status of several kids at a house. There was a very old woman there.
Her first question to me was how it was possible for me to
climb to her house. I explained that I walked there just
like she did. Her next statement left me in hysterics. She
said, “Your skin is red, and if you walk on those feet they
will burst, just like a ripe tomato.” What do you say to
such a thing? I assured her that I would stay intact while
at her house, then I let her touch my skin. At first she was
very hesitant, thinking I would explode before her very
eyes. I told her to squeeze my hand hard. She was utterly
amazed. We talked for a while longer, then I said my
good-byes and walked away on my tomato feet.
I stopped by the local chief’s hut. He was alone at the
time as two of his wives had gone to the market, and he
had just recently “retired” his four older wives who were
no longer having children. He was in the market for a
younger, childbearing age woman to take home (anyone
interested???). He already has 25 children (11 have
already died), but is looking to “go forth and multiply”
some more. This is a very common type of “family” here.
Although I don’t agree with his marital status, he is a very
nice man, and tries hard to lead his people fairly.
God’s blessings to all of you,
–Audrey Shank, SM’01
(...who fortunately has not yet burst like a tomato!)
Audrey and Greg Shank, SM’99, serve at Koza Adventist
Hospital in Cameroon.
African villagers
work at their
wares in West
and Central
Africa.
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RMA & JMA NEWS
RMA
The RMA is enjoying a great year with a lot of fun activities. We want to extend a special thank you to Demeree
Andreasen for welcoming us into her home for a fabulous
Christmas party in December!
We had the opportunity to prepare boxed lunches for the
Annual Postgraduate Conference in March, and were glad to
have a part in this wonderful event.
We're looking forward to many more wonderful events,
including an opportunity to collect items for an orphanage in
Africa from which one of our members is adopting a little boy.
The Abel, Jager, Lai, Lares, Murawski, Tingey, Yamashiro,
and Yeung families have all welcomed future physicians this
year, and the RMA expects to see several more new arrivals
before the end of the year.
–Melinda Fredrickson
Lisa Williams displays the box lunches created by
the RMA for those attending the Friday seminar.
JMA
A special thank you to all that attended our Spring
Lunch during the APC Weekend! Our luncheon was a
huge success! It was held at a beautiful private home
overlooking the mountains. The weather was a tad cold
and windy, but we hope you all had a wonderful time.
Our tables looked beautiful—each of the 10 tables
was decorated by members of the National Auxiliary
Board. The food was yummy (and warm!)—each recipe
came from our own JMA. And our blankets for the
SACHS Clinic were the focus—thanks to all of you that
attended, we raised almost $250 towards next year's
blanket making efforts! If you didn’t attend this year,
you were missed, and we hope you can make it next
year! JMA looks forward to this event every year, and we
enjoy getting to visit with each of you. Again, thank you
all that attended and supported us during APC! See you
next year!
– Katie Cameron
JMA luncheon servers, from left, back row: Jennifer Brucks, Jennifer Youker, Marla Treiyer, Katie
Cameron, Petra Arutyunyan, Laura Lammert, Cheri Blue, Beth King, and Evalie Koning. Front row,
from left: Louisa Kellar and Amy Brown.
Auxiliarynews · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 15
AREA COORDINATORS
Reports from Maine and Illinois
Area Coordinators keep us in contact with members
around the United States and let them know of the
annual mission projects. This year they are Bonnie
Henneberg (Oregon-Idaho-Alaska), Druscilla Heidar
(Washington-Montana), Silva Gryte (Northern
California), Ann Hoxie (Central California), Nancy
Boksberger (Los Angeles-Central Coast), Barbara
Willard (Inland Empire), Claudine Herber (DesertHawaii), Virginia Griswold (San Diego-Orange County),
Maxine Ordelheide (Mid-America), Joan Sibenlist
(Southwestern), Sinka Razzouk (Lake), Dorothy
Buckman (Southern), Janet Stoehr (Columbia), Kitty
Johnson (Atlantic), Trudy Johnson (Ohio), and Carol
Kettner (Canada.)
We received the following updates from two of our
Area Coordinators:
From Kitty Johnson in Maine
Life in Maine is busy and rewarding. I am the church
clerk of our 375 member church. I serve on the K-12
Board, and on the Conference Executive Committee. I
am the pianist for the Cradle Roll Sabbath School. I will
be conducting a cooking school at our campmeeting in
June.
My husband and I work together as a team doing
health evangelism. We are involved in the ‘Lifestyle
Choices’ program at Parkview Adventist Medical Center
in Brunswick, Maine. He gives health lectures and I do
cooking demonstrations. We spent three months in
Gimbie, Ethiopia in 2008 and 2009. I conducted
Children’s meetings, and was involved in hospitality. In
August, 2009 we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the
Hospital. I coordinated the effort for food samples to
serve 750 people. In October, we will be participating in
a Health Seminar in Montreal.
From Sinka Razzouk in Illinois
As a child I grew up in a small town, Vracev Gaj, in the
former Republic of Jugoslavija. My husband and I have
been back to visit a few times and we were always concerned about the apparent epidemic of smoking addic-
tion by parents and their adolescent children. Last year
we decided to reach out to a few friends in the U.S. and
start an educational STOP SMOKING Program for the
Public School in Vracev Gaj. God has blessed this mission project and inspired many people to support a lifesaving ministry.
Dr. Zorica Plavsic is an Adventist physician in
Belgrade. She previously completed training at Loma
Linda University to conduct stop-smoking seminars.
After buying a new projector and preparing a syllabus,
Dr. Zorica recently conducted the first educational program at the village. Now students have requested a similar program for their parents.
The school director wrote about his excitement to
see the Vracev Gaj school as the first smoke-free school
in the country. The Ministry of Health in Belgrade as
well as the UNESCO officials there are interested in
getting involved in this 'pilot' project which we hope will
be duplicated in other schools around the country. We
have named our project YouGo Global Missions and
have been receiving generous donations to the fund
established at Yugoslavian Adventist Church in Chicago.
Anyone interested in receiving updates about this
mission program please contact Sinka Michelle Razzouk
at <stojan484@aol.com>.
From left to right: the director of the school in
Vracev Gaj, the school administrator, Sinka
Razzouk, and Dr. Zorica Plavsic.
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SPRING INSTALLATION BRUNCH & PLAY
Auxiliarynews · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 17
National Medical Auxiliary An Apple A Day Cookbooks
Now available to order online at <www.llumedaux.org>
____ Copies An Apple A Day Vol. 1 @ $14.95 plus $5.00 postage & handling each = $19.95
____ Copies An Apple A Day Vol. 2 @ $14.95 plus $5.00 postage & handling each = $19.95
____ Copies An Apple A Day Vol. 3 @ $14.95 plus $5.00 postage & handling each = $19.95
____ If mailed to a California address, add $1.31 for sales tax = $21.26
____ Sets Vol. 1 & 2 $25.00 plus $5.45 postage and handling each set = $30.45
____ If mailed to a California address, add $2.19 for sales tax = $32.64
____ Sets Vol. 1, 2 & 3 $38.00 plus $7.00 postage & handling each set = $45.00
____ If mailed to a California address, add $3.94 each set for sales tax = $48.94
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You may order your An Apple A Day cookbooks online. Prices are subject to change without notice. Mail orders must be
accompanied by a check or money order. Please make check payable to: National Auxiliary, LLUSM, 11245 Anderson
Street, Suite 230, Loma Linda, CA 92354
Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Street address ______________________________________ City _______________________ State _____ Zip ____________
Auxiliary News Sponsors
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Beverly J. Ching
Dr. Richard and Judy Hart
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Thank you note from
a scholarship recipient
To the Alumni Auxiliary Association,
Thank you for your generous decision to support me this year
with a scholarship. Although I still feel like I am adjusting to the
pace of medical school (I was a little disappointed with my
performance on the last round of tests)
I am still dedicated to maintaining high
standards in my academics, goals, and
personal life and values. Thus I greatly
appreciate your willingness to help me in
achieving what is important to me (and
hopefully to Loma Linda University).
Please feel free to check back with me in
the future if you are ever curious about
what happened to “that guy you helped in 2009.” I would
appreciate the interest.
Thanks again!
Jon Van Ornam
Remembering
Mary Lou Gregory
(wife of Ronald Gregory, SM ’45)
Elva Ruth Bowyer
(widow of Charles Bowyer, SM ’50)
Barbara Winslow
(wife of Walter Winslow, SM ’52)
Mrs. Ernest W. Jordan
(wife of Ernest Jordan, SM ’47)
Mrs. Viola Mathiesen
(widow of Merrill Mathiesen, SM ’48)
Beaty Erhard
(wife of O. Stewart Erhard, SM ’56)
2010-2011 Dues Reminder
Since we do not publish a Summer issue of the
News, we remind you that July is Dues Month.
The Auxiliary runs on a fiscal year from July 1 to
June 30, so your 2010-2011 dues are payable July 1,
2010. Go to our website <www.llumedaux.com>
and click on “Membership” for futher information.
These dues help us to serve the needs of current
students, residents, and missionary families all over
the world, as well as run the office and bring you
the News. To avoid the annual payment, become a
Life Member! You will receive a special “life member” pin, your name on a plaque in the office, and
a yearly courtesy ticket to the APC Homecoming
Luncheon. Thank you for your support. We could
not exist without you!
Virginia Cason
(wife of Walt Cason, SM ’54)
Betty Crawford
(wife of Raymond Crawford, SM ’49)
New Life Member
Rosie Salcedo Concepcion
Auxiliarynews · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 19
Scenes from Homecoming Luncheon
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