We are excited to announce that January
8th, 2015 marked an historic event in the ministry of Casa
Compasiva. That was the day that we inaugurated a new branch of Casa
Compasiva in the small town of Mitla, Oaxaca. Mitla is about one
hour of bus/taxi travel from the original location in Oaxaca City, so
having a clinic here will be a great benefit for many women who have
a hard time traveling into the city.
The new clinic is a tribute to the
lifetime work of the parents of our beloved Doctora Donaji. Her
father was the town doctor here in Mitla for forty years before his
death, and her mother was an obstetric nurse-midwife, delivering many
of the Mitleño citizens of the last forty years.
Their clinic was
eventually converted into a home where
various missionaries lived over the last few years. Now, with
the help of an awesome Canadian work team and the Canadian funds they
brought, we have renovated one half of the
home, making it once again a functioning clinic, and coming full
circle! Faithful local friends here in
Mitla have also dedicated much time, energy and money to make this
vision a reality. To God be the glory for
His amazing plan!
Our initial plan is to provide
prenatal care, childbirth education classes, spiritual support, and
post-partum care for our clients in Mitla. At this time we are not
advertising that we will attend births here in the Mitla clinic,
preferring instead to direct most women to our more extensive
facility in Oaxaca City. But we are also being realistic about the
possibility of facing surprise situations in which someone might come
for a check-up in full-fledged labour with no time to transport (it
happens). :) Accordingly, besides the standard equipment for maternal
and infant care, we are also planning to gradually equip Casa
Compasiva Mitla with the necessary emergency supplies for such an
eventuality.
The inauguration
day was a delightful time of honouring Donaji's
mother for her decades of work as a midwife, as well as letting the
townspeople know about the philosophy, vision, and mission of Casa
Compasiva. The
new clinic was full to capacity with guests come to celebrate with us
and with town dignitaries who helped to dedicate this new location.
There is lots of enthusiasm among the new
clients now coming for classes and for prenatal care, with promised
support from the local municipal
government for low-income clients who cannot afford to pay.
We are eager to see
this new clinic become fully-equipped and functioning effectively as
a center for sharing God's love through Jesus Christ with the
indigenous Zapotec people of Mitla. Doctora Donaji will hold office
hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays for both general clients and
maternity clients. This last Saturday we had our first in the series
of eight childbirth education classes, and word is spreading among
the townsfolk of Mitla and the nearby villages. Please join us in
prayer and with financial support for
this new ministry which vastly expands the potential kingdom impact
of Casa Compasiva!
Lila Joy
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