Medical trips to Liberia supported by community garage sale
The rooms of the Tabernacle are filled to the brim with the donations for their big garage sale. The proceeds from the sale will help fund the congregation’s medical missions to Libera.
They have been sending missionaries to Libera, West Africa for over a hundred years. In fact, one of their pastors was raised in Liberia and her parents were missionaries. The missions bring professional in eyes and teeth to help the communities in Africa.
Mission in Libera – Improved Health
Carol Goodman and Kathy Blomdaho, shared with me the things they have seen and witnessed on the mission trips they have taken.
“They are so humble, these people. They are just so happy that they can see because there are no ophthalmologists over there. So, we take thousands and thousands of glasses, and we do each step from the testing to actual fitting and walking out with smiles. So, it’s a great work. So hopefully you could come and shop because for every 35 cents we’ll pay for prescription glasses.”
“We actually work with a dentist in Africa. He was trained in Africa, so he can do dental work there. We bring a few dental hygienists, which help that dentist.
So, it’s very efficiently done. And we see probably over 300 people in a week’s time, which, you know, when you’re taking teeth out, they all take a little more time.”
A Dentist’s Point of View
Jennifer Couillard has been going on these missions for over a decade. It started as just her, but now it’s a whole family affair with her kids joining in recent years.
“The first time I went there was 2011, and I was the only dental person to go. And I thought I would just be helping the dentist that was over there. But he trained me in to pull teeth and to do a whole lot more. And I was just struck by all the pain and the suffering that they go through over there just because they don’t have… They don’t have medical help.”
“And brought my family. My husband’s been going. He didn’t go on the first trip. He didn’t think he’d be a big help. And then talked him into going on the second trip, and he found out that he could be a big help over there. He’s a mailman by trade, but over there he goes and helps fit people for readers.”
The proceeds are heading towards their next trip planned for January 2025.
The sale will continue tomorrow Friday, 16th, from 8 to 5, as well as Saturday, 17th, from 8 till noon.