GLOBAL HEALTH
Newsletter of Global Health Ministries
Vol. 21 No. 3
Board Elects New Officers, Sets Strategic
Focus on “Cycles of Success”
In her last meeting as GHM president,
Carol Berg, observed, “I see evidence of
Jesus’ love in each person involved in
the healing ministry we support…our
overseas partners, the many volunteers,
and GHM staff are all inspired by that
sense of being loved by Jesus to reach
out to those who are sick or in need of
care, to be instruments of God’s healing
touch.” Newly elected to the Board’s
Executive Committee for 2008 were:
Donna Wright, President; Dr. Randy
Hurley, Vice President; Dr. Susan
Vitalis, Secretary; Dr. Karen Plager and
Barbara Wang, members at large; Dr.
James Hart and Wilhelmina Holder,
Alternates; Ken Dahlberg, Treasurer.
“We praise God for what has been
accomplished through our support of
international partners in the past year,”
Berg concluded, (see the 2007 Annual
Report insert for details), “and there is
much yet to do in response to the growing
number of opportunities presenting
themselves.”
During the
meeting’s
second half,
president-elect
Wright (left) led
a discussion of
strategic goals
that she and the
board have been developing during the
last year. “We will be creating tools to
identify and strengthen “Cycles of
Success” in key dimensions of our
mission,” Wright said, “including the
gathering and shipping of medical
supplies and equipment, developing new
leadership and donor support,
accountability and vital partnerships.”
Cited during discussion were reports to
the board on recent survey trips to Liberia
and Cameroon by GHM Director of
Operations, Scott Lien, documenting the
need for improvements in storage
facilities and inventory management
once GHM shipments arrive. Such
challenges to mission success also
present important opportunities for
strengthening partnerships, it was said,
and for recruiting volunteers with varied
expertise to assist in assessment and
problem-solving missions. In other
actions, the board adopted a charter for
a new Dental Health Advisory
Committee, heard plans to hold a
conference on practices in mission
hospital management, and committed
to complete the organization’s
warehouse expansion capital campaign
by year-end.
Friends Return Home
to Tanzania
In December 2006, Bishop Amos Gimbi,
recently retired from the ELCT Central
Diocese in Tanzania, arrived in Vadnais
Heights, MN with his wife, Elintongela
(Elly for short) to visit their daughter
and spend time with their grandchildren.
Shortly thereafter, they joined First
Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake,
MN, and became involved in the various
activities there. Elly joined the quilting
group and befriended Arlene Handlos,
a long-time Tuesday volunteer at GHM.
While working on quilts, Arlene shared
with Elly her work at GHM and
suggested she might be interested in
coming out as well and bring her husband
too. The couple visited GHM and
quickly made friends. Elly inspected
and blessed midwife kits, while Amos
worked with hospital linens and other
projects. Both became an integral part
of our regular Tuesday group and
frequently participated in container
loading events on Saturdays, especially
when the container was going to
Tanzania. During coffee and lunch
breaks, it was common to hear stories
from Tanzania, or a conversation in
Kiswahili with other volunteers returned
from the mission field.
After more than a year, the call to return
home to Tanzania arrived. Amos and
Elly bid farewell to their friends at a
May - June 2008
GHM party in their honor on March 12.
Bishop Gimbi thanked those attending
for their friendship and for the
opportunity to be of service at GHM to
the people of Tanzania and around the
world. Reading from 1 Timothy, he
exhorted his friends "Do not be weary in
well-doing," and prayed that "the Lord
Jesus and God our father, who loved us
and gave us good hope through grace,
comfort your hearts and establish them
in every good work and word." Bishop
Gimbi and Elly have now returned to
Tanzania to share their experiences with
other friends and thus continue the circle
of faith and fellowship found in the
body of Christ. We miss them dearly
and hope this story will inspire others.
Bishop Gimbi and Elly say farewell
Power Surge Protection
Project Advances
In 2007, Global Health Ministries
approved a Power Surge Protection
Project (79XX-Q1503) in support of
the 20 Lutheran hospitals in Tanzania.
Electrical power to these hospitals has
long been erratic, unstable, and
unreliable, creating problems that range
from improper operation to damage and
destruction of sensitive hospital
equipment. As a key provider of such
equipment, GHM has an important stake
in protecting it. The project was divided
into three phases: evaluation of each
hospital to assess and document the
status of their electrical service, purchase
appropriate equipment to stabilize this
power and provide protection from
power surges, and finally the installation
of the equipment.
"ELCT Power Project" continued page 3
Page 2
Direct Lines
from the Director
We are pleased to enclose our 2007
Annual Report with this edition of
Global Health. It was a year filled with
accomplishment, for which we give God
praise and glory, and sincere thanks to
all of you whose volunteer service and
voluntary donations of money, supplies
and equipment were given freely that
others might have life. We cannot
predict what our report for 2008 will
look like, but in spite of the dark clouds
of recession and anxiety, we know that
the year will be one of opportunity and,
with God’s help and your continued
support, a year of promise!
I had an inspiring experience in
celebrating the Passover with my family
recently. At the suggestion of American
Jewish World Service, a fifth question
was added to the original four that begin,
as you will remember, with “Why is this
night different from all other nights?”
The fifth question this year was, “How
can we make this year different from all
other years?” The question was
followed by prayers of commitment that
I commend to all of you:
• When tasting the matzah, the bread
of poverty, let us find ways to help
the poor and hungry;
• When eating the maror, the bitter
herbs, let us commit to those whose
lives are embittered by disease;
• When dipping to commemorate the
blood that protected our ancestors
from the angel of death, let us pursue
protection for lives that are
threatened by violence and conflict;
• When reclining in celebration of our
freedom, let us seek opportunities to
help those who are oppressed.
How can this year be different from
other years? Here are three possibilities:
1. There are reports that a large scale
campaign will soon be underway that
will engage Lutherans and Methodists
as major agents in combating malaria,
the leading cause of death and illness in
the developing world. An astounding
$200,000,000 initiative was announced
by the ELCA, LCMS and Methodists
with Ted Turner’s United Nations
Foundation “This will be the largest
campaign of its type ever for Lutherans,”
said the Rev. John Nunes, president and
chief executive of Lutheran World
Relief. The denominations were chosen
by Turner "...because of their overseas
experience and ability to advocate for
the project in the U.S. The money will
be used for prevention, treatment and
improving health care in areas at risk for
the disease through the Global Fund to
GLOBAL HEALTH
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.”
(Associated Press, April 1, 2008) Such
a campaign has the promise of
eliminating deaths due to the disease,
and we can only pray for its success in
achieving such a goal.
2. A member of the GHM/Minneapolis
Area Synod health care team, Jay
Johnson, recently departed for Nigeria
for the third time in as many years.
Johnson, a trained water engineer, has
offered his expertise in assessing how
best to build a clean water program with
the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria,
where women may walk a mile or more
to retrieve water for household use that
is often already contaminated. This
year, Johnson received an inheritance
that he took as an opportunity to leave
his job and dedicate more than two
months to developing plans to make
pure water accessible to the many
communities served by the Church.
Johnson says that the future is not
entirely clear, but he feels somehow
liberated in placing what lies ahead in
God’s hands. For Jay, it certainly will
be a year different from all others!
Farewell party for Jay Johnson. L-R: Gary
Sande, GHM Nigeria Project Manager;
Dana Sabiya; Sally Johnson; Jay
Johnson; Rev. Tim Iverson
3. Since I last wrote to invite your prayers
for our mission in the Central African
Republic, an exciting candidate has
come forward with an abundance of
gifts and a full measure of faith and
courage to pursue the Gallo Project
Manager position. She comes from
Kenya, and will visit with us in May
before going to CAR for her assessment
of the tasks, challenges and opportunities
and for interviews with Church leaders
there. At this time, insurgent activity
has lessened and there is finally serious
talk of peace among the conflicted
parties. A German missionary formerly
stationed near Gallo and an advocate
for the proposed health center, will return
to CAR at the same time as our candidate
to assist in her planning. The past has
seen only violence, insecurity, and
paralysis of efforts to bring hope and
healing to the region. Please join me
once again in praying that this, indeed,
will become a year that is different from
all other years! Rev. Tim Iverson
May - June 2008
The B-line
by Bea Haagenson
Rolled Bandages - revisited.
Please note the change regarding
white bandages only.
Rolled bandages made from sheets are
still needed in many areas of the world
where commercial bandages are often
expensive and in short supply. Bandage
rolling has been an ongoing project and
we appreciated the many thousands of
bandages that have found their way to the
GHM warehouse and from there to
overseas hospitals and clinics. However,
since WHITE bandages are preferred we
find it necessary to change our policy and
ask for WHITE bandages only (No colors
or designs). Suitable materials used are
bed sheets, cotton or cotton blend. Please
no knits or flannels.
You can find the revised instructions,
dated April 2008, on the GHM web site,
or if you prefer, request a revised handout
from the GHM office.
From the B-line mailbox:
Q. Our women love to roll bandages but
often feel bad about tearing up
perfectly good sheets.
A. Flat and fitted bed sheets in good
condition, especially single and twin
size, are always needed. Sheets can
be white or pastel colors. Pillowcases
are also in demand.
Q. What happens to donated medical
supplies and equipment that can not
be used overseas?
A. The GHM warehouse staff and
volunteers inspect and sort diligently
to make sure that only useful and
needed items are packed and shipped.
The supplies are also checked for
expiration dates and not shipped
unless we can be sure they arrive
overseas in plenty of time before the
printed expiration date. Equipment
that cannot be repaired, cannot be
used overseas, and is not needed by
other agencies in the U.S., is recycled.
Volunteers take it apart, sort it into
different types of metal and take it to
recycling centers.
Q. What kind of response have you had
to the request for baby blankets?
A. We have had excellent response.
Many beautiful blankets have been
shipped already. It is a joy to see the
many colors and patterns and the
obvious love with which the blankets
are produced. A big thank you to
everyone, who has taken on this new
project.
Note: Local volunteers are needed to
assemble knitted and crocheted bandages
into baby blankets. These are the bandages
that arrived after the project was
discontinued, and we want to make good
use of them. Please call the GHM office
if you can help with this project.
Questions for the B-line can be addressed
to GHM, attention Bea Haagenson
 May - June 2008 GLOBAL HEALTH
Madagascar Integrated
Program Hires Coordinator
Following a thorough and highly
competitive recruitment and selection
process, RAMAROLAHY Lalaina has
been chosen to be Regional Coordinator
of the new Anosy Integrated Village
Development Program. Participating in
the selection process were: Lanto
Rabenasolo, SALFA CFO; Agnes,
Rasamimampianina, AIVD National
Supervisor; Dr. Emmanuelson
Randrianaina, Manambaro Hospital
Medical Director; Rev. Mara Tovosoa
Florent, Director, Manantantely Bible
School; Dr. Sahondra Rasoarimanana,
Fort Dauphin SALFA Clinic Director;
Ms. Jeannette, leader of the Toby
Nenilava; and Rev. Monja, Vice
President, Faradofy Synod. Once hired
on February 29, Lalaina began intensive
orientation and training for the unique
challenges of managing an initiative that
will conduct careful assessments of
community needs with village residents
of the Anosy (Southeastern Madagacar)
region, develop distinctive holistic action
plans and budgets, and draw upon the
community assets of the Church,
government, business and regional
NGOs for collaborative implementation.
The AIVD assessment team, centered at
Manambaro Lutheran Hospital, will
provide traditional village outreach
health care and referral services, while
other partners will address diverse
aspects of community health, including
sanitation and clean water, evangelism
and education, agricultural practices, and
small business development. Dr. John
Toso, former Madagasacar missionary
and previous GHM board president will
coordinate closely with the team as the
stateside AIVD Project Manager for
GHM. Support for this program may be
designated to Madagascar, Integrated
Village Development: 48IV-G0001.
Nurses Needed in
Warehouse
Global Health Ministries is looking
for a few good nurses to help sort
and inventory medical supplies in
our fine sorting room. Training will
be provided. Available days/time
include Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday from 9 am to 2 pm, and
Tuesday and Wednesday evening
from 6 pm to 8 pm. Please call the
GHM office or visit for more details.
We need you!
GLOBAL HEALTH, published 6 times a year, is a publication
of Global Health Ministries. Subscriptions are free upon
request. GHM,7831 Hickory Street NE, Minneapolis, MN
55432 (763)586-9590. Rev. Tim Iverson, Executive Director
and Editor, Dee Ingemansen, Production
Page 3
New Palliative Care Program in Cameroon
It is a cause for celebration that many of GHM’S Lutheran health care partners have
instituted home care hospice programs in recent years as a critically-needed and
gracious response to widespread suffering and death due to the AIDS pandemic.
Until these initiatives began visitations by hospital staff and trained members of
local congregations, those who were ill often suffered in isolation due to shunning
by their local community and even family. Hospice, or palliative care, programs are
an important ministry of the Church through which such stigma is lessened and the
Gospel of God’s love for all people is publicly proclaimed. Global Health Ministries
supports these programs with start-up grants and regular supplies of Hospice Kits for
use by families at home in the care of their loved ones. Thousands of people all over
the nation participate in this ministry by preparing and sending these kits to GHM
for shipment overseas. During 2006, Joan Holliman, a Minneapolis hospice nurse
and GHM volunteer, consulted with the health program in Cameroon—OSEELC—
to refine plans for a new program. She was joined in this effort by a U of M medical
student, Matthew Fitzpatrick, whom Joan helped prepare for a three month rotation
in Cameroon to assist Ngaoundere hospital staff in implementing their plans.
In a recent OSEELC newsletter, editor TONGA Paul reported: “Financed by a
$25,000 grant from Global Health Ministries, the Palliative Care Project started in
January 2008 with the help of Matthew. The coordinator of the project is a nurse,
Mr. KALNIME Remy, with the assistance of Mr. TABEBOT William BESEM, a
social worker, under the supervision of Dr. EMAKAM Eric. The Palliative Care
Unit is working in collaboration with all the services of the Hospital, and deals with
each patient’s social, spiritual, and medical needs. May this wonderful initiative
soon grow in service beyond Ngaoundere Protestant Hospital to the other two
hospitals of OSEELC!” Cameroon, Ngaoundere Hospice: 09XX-D1040.
"ELCT Power Project" continued of Illembula, and developed an excellent
Survey reports have now been report for strengthening health care
completed for several of the hospitals programs there. Dr. Peterson brought
and submitted to GHM for review and word of the opportunity to protect the
consideration. To date, three ELCA hospital’s medical equipment through
Synods have committed to this project the Power Surge Project, and his home
in support of their sister church’s church, Emanuel Lutheran in Dayton,
hospital. The first project to be IA, took up the challenge and by March
completed is at Gonja Hospital in the had raised the $11,000 needed. Attending
Pare Diocese. The ELCA SE Iowa a celebratory worship service to dedicate
(SEIA) Synod took action last year and the congregation’s gifts to this mission
raised the necessary funds. The were GHM board members Ruth
equipment was purchased by the Ehrhardt, R.N. and Momo Wolapaye.
ELCT’s Health Care Technical Services
(HCTS) and installed by Henry
Sommerfeld, a biotech missionary from
the Bavarian Church, and Todd Byerly,
SEIA missionary. As Todd writes,
“Henry and I installed the projection
equipment just before Easter. Gonja,
with some very good and expensive
equipment, suffers many power dips,
surges, brownouts and cuts weekly. For
now, we feel secure in knowing the At Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dayton,
critical equipment such as two portable Iowa. L-R: Rev. Adam Dichsen; Ruth
x-ray machines, an ultrasound machine, Ehrhardt; Dr. Tim Peterson; Carlene
Embree; Craig Peterson, Emanuel
oxygen concentrators, suction President; Western Iowa Synod Bishop
machines, operating light, sterilizers, Michael Last, and Momo Wolapaye.
hematology and chemistry analyzers, We give thanks to God for all responding
CD4 counters and are protected. Thanks to this important project that will protect
be to God for God’s people responding!” life-saving equipment and enhance the
healthcare ministries of the Lutheran
In other developments, the ELCA SE Church in Tanzania. Additional surveys
Minnesota Synod has raised funds for a have now been completed at Bumbuli
project at Iambi Hospital in the Central Hospital, Ilula Hospital, Nyakahanga
Diocese. Work at IIlembula Hospital Hospital, Lugala Hospital, Ndolage
in the Southern Diocese will also begin Hospital, and Machame Hospital. We
soon. In 2006, Dr. Timothy Peterson pray the Spirit will guide and encourage
and Carlene Embree, R.N., collaborated other ELCA Companion Synods to hear
with GHM in conducting an assessment this call and respond as well.
 Page 2
Page D
GLOBAL HEALTH
Statement
2007 Annual Report Summary

of Activities
What is Global Health Ministries? GHM provides a-gift
Years ended
of life -- physical
GLOBAL HEALTH

December
and spiritual -- through Lutheran 31,
May - June C2008
GLOBAL HEALTH MINISTRIES

2002
health care and
work across
May - June 2008

2001
the world by providing project financial
support, locating and shipping urgently needed medical supplies, recruiting health care personnel, and funding the training of national health care givers.

email: ghmoffice@cs.com • Internet: http://www.ghm.org

763/586-9590 • 763/586-9591 (FAX) Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
GLOBAL HEALTH MINISTRIES PAID
7831 Hickory Street NE Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN 55432-2500 PERMIT #4872

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

May - June 2008 Page 4

Shipment to Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is an island nation rich in natural resources, Indiana. Connie facilitated communications with the ELC-
spectacular scenery, and a fascinating mix of cultures with PNG Overseas Office in Lae to complete the needs assessments
people from over 800 language groups. The Evangelical of the area health centers. Connie was assisted in these efforts
Lutheran Church of PNG is the second largest Church in PNG, by PNG Church Women's Office staff, Lakele Tetac and Ruth
dating back to when the first Lutheran missionaries planted Marsipal, whom she met at a Lutheran World Federation
their roots in 1886, and now with over 1 million members from Women’s Conference a few years ago.
a total population of 6.1 million. In order to serve its people in
a holistic manner, the ELC has its own education, health, and Doug Hall, Director of Cafe and Fairmont Rotary Club,
development departments as well as HIV&AIDS, Women’s, Connie Milner, and Scott Lien, GHM’s Director of Operations,
Youth, Lands/Finance and General Church Divisions. will visit PNG in August for two weeks to assess the shipment
and distribution of supplies to the various health centres and
In support of Lutheran Health Services in PNG, and at the hospitals. Following this trip, a gathering of Papua New
request of the LHS office in Lae and Madang, Global Health Guinea supporters is planned to report on their findings.
Ministries shipped a 40’ container on April 5 of basic medical Designated gifts for the PNG health ministry can be made to
supplies, midwife and hospice kits, rolled bandages and baby PNG General, 60XX-G0000.
blankets, and much more. Supplies were assigned to Gaubin
and Yagaum Hospitals, Bagabah Health Centre, Begesin Health
Centre, Biliau Health Centre, Hote Aid Post, Kambuku Health
Centre, Mapor Health Centre, Primary Healthcare, and LHS
Offices in both Lae and Madang. Theological textbooks from
Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, were included for Senior
Flierl Seminary in Finschhafen. And in partnership with the
Fairmont Rotary Club in Fairmont, MN, and Cafe (Computer
Access For Everyone), one hundred IBM P3 and P4 computers
were included for the Madang Rotary Club in support of
several secondary schools in the Madang area.
Months of planning, emails, and conference calls preceded the
shipment, especially with Connie Milner, Director of Materials Confirmation students from Granite Falls and Watson Lutheran
A complete
Management copy ofDaughters’
at King’s our audited financial
Hospital statements for 2003
in Madison, and Granite
Churches, IRS Form
Falls,990 is available
MN. pack the recenton request.
PNG container