I now have the ability to post from my phone from anywhere in the world.

"In my mind, philanthropy is not about the money. It’s about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world." -- Melinda Gates

"However, I need some money. $2,500 to go to Africa in January." -- Margaux Wolfington

I am looking at going to Benin, West Africa January 21-31. I will be going with Mercy Ships. "Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978, bringing hope and healing to the forgotten poor by mobilizing people and resources worldwide, serving all people without regard for race or religion." (facebook excerpt).

Donate to: World Care Connections, PO BOX 773, Tiburon, CA 94920

I have been behind on keeping you posted on what my trip to Tanzania consisted of. It was such an incredible trip that it is hard to narrow down so I will be posting several blogs with photos. Our team consisted of 24 medical personnel including a dentist, a surgeon and a vet. For the men that would not come and see the doctors and nurses the vet team gave us another option of reaching out to them. In total we saw 3163 medical patients, performed 26 surgeries, gave glasses out to 365 patients, 18220 prescriptions were given out, 223 dental patients (253 extractions, 7 fillings, 46 exams, 16 cleanings, and 1 surgery) and our vet team saw: 1238 cows, 1200 goats, 235 sheep, 239 dogs, 11 donkeys, 5 cats, 11 chickens, and 1 rabbit. All of this resulted in 1981 people praying to receive Christ and the start of 7 new churches.

The area of Tanzania we were working in was in the northwestern part of the country and bordering into the Seregeti. The villages were very remote and mostly without electricity. We worked out of school rooms and school yards under the trees with tarps hung to protect us from the sun. Any of the buildings you see are the school buildings. We also encountered results of Voodoo and traditional herbal remedies. Many of these are makings left strange patterns on the body. The boy in this photo had markings around his left

nipple on his chest to protect to heal his heart of "running fast". All of his life he has had episodes of rapid heart rate and the Voodoo medicine doctor thought that there was a spell on his heart and made the markings to disspell the curse. Yet his heart still races and he is left with scares. His father brings him to us for some answers and hope that we can help. The motto for our trip was "Bringing hope to a hurting world". I am hoping that we left this family feeling that we gave them some hope. Physically and spiritually.

News from the Serengeti

Serengeti is derived from the Maasai language, Maa; specifically, "Serengit" meaning "Endless Plains"

Margaux called me today from somewhere in the Serengeti. It's so amazing to me that she is able to call me from the middle of a remote area that has never had electricity. What's more amazing is that she met a 99 year old man that had never heard of God. Thanks to this awesome group of medical professionals, he has recieved medical care where normally there is none, and he had finally heard the word of God!!!

She comes home on Sunday, so hopefully there will be more to read in the coming week. Stay tuned...

I don't know if I want to be poetic or just jump for joy at what we have seen or done. Last night we saw 11 albinos that live in fear of attack or kidnapping. They were seen in the evening at the hotel so that they were not out in the sun. They all have terrible vision and multiple skin problems both from the sun. They were all given new sunglasses, sunscreen and any meds that they needed. They all prayed with the pastors to become Christians. We are hoping that they will be able to attend the new church in this area. Today at the clinic we set up in a school yard we saw three additional albinos, one of which was a child. These people need all of our love and support to make a productive and happy life. Now they will experience life with God by their side.

Yesterdays village had a high number of elderly. Todays village had a great number of babies. It is interesting to see the demographic changes in different villages. I am still in love with all the babies. I offered to deliver a baby for a pregnant woman and she just laughed.

I have been able to give shoes to adults and children that have none, and have cuts or sores, through the generous donation of two people. You know who you are.

Tomorrow we will travel into the Serengeti and be going to four different villages and doing clinic. These places will be very remote and it will be interesting to see what is in store for us.

Thank you to everyone how made donations to assist with the costs of this trip. Also, thanks to everyone who has prayed and supported me through this journey of my life.

Blessing,
Margaux

Back in Africa

Margaux is in Africa again! We are asking for prayers for safety of the medical team and the group of albinos that will be meeting with them in secret. These people live in hiding, in fear for their lives because there are still parts of our world that believe in voodoo. Let's lift this group of people up in prayer, so they may feel God's love through the medical team. If Margaux gets the chance to write a blog while she's in Tanzania she will, but they are traveling in some very remote areas and internet access is very limited.

On another note, we are now legally a non-profit organization!!!! We are hoping and praying for big things to happen this year. We will be putting together some fundraisers and possibly an event or two so stay tuned! I can't wait to hear the amazing, joyful, and heart-breaking stories that will come from this trip. I'll conclude by sharing a quote with you:

Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.
Viktor E. Frankl

 

On June 27 I will be leaving to travel to Tanzania, Africa for two weeks. The team that I am traveling with are mostly medical professionals that want to help others. We will be in very remote parts of the country and will have a lot of difficult travel. Even though most of it will be tough I can't wait. I can't wait to, again, see the love and smiling faces of those that have nothing materially and share God's love with them.

World Care Connections is asking for your help. Donations from people like you make these trips possible. Make it possible to help the sick and injured that would otherwise have no care. All contributions are appreciated and accepted at PO Box 773, Tiburon, CA 94920. Large or small makes a difference in the costs incurred to get to Africa and help those whose bodies, minds, and heart need medical or spiritual care.

World Care connections has a hopeful future. As we grow we will need more medical professionals that have a calling to serve in other countries. The most exciting part of starting

this organization is seeing the passion that I have spread to others or come to the surface. Not everyone can go overseas and help but through financial support you do make a difference.

Blessings,

Margaux Wolfington, RN

Many Stars

In Haiti many stars can be seem. In the sky at night and all around us during the day. The stars around us during the day are the orphans. They are the future of Haiti and the most generous caring children I have ever seem. If one is getting candy or a balloon he or she make sure there is one for their friend as well. The older children help care for the younger ones with the guidance of the "mamas". Each mama has 12-15 children to care for ranging in ages from three to fifteen. All of the children look out for each other and are so proud of their mama.

This medical mission consisted of eighteen team members, mostly medical personnel. We immunized 130 children, which received 5 - 6 shots each to have them caught up on childhood vaccines. This was completed in two days. During which time there were many bodies and hearts to comfort. Some of the children would cry out "why, why, why." This broke our hearts for three days until we were told that in Creole why means ouch. These children needed extra hugs and songs to ease their pain.

Through the generosity of a local church here in Tennessee we had about 150 pairs of shoes to take to the orphans. After receiving there vaccines all of the children were fitted for new shoes. Some had old shoes that were too small and there were others that had none at all.

The pediatrician that was on our team was attentive to every child he saw and diagnosed a boy with mumps. He should recover well by controlling fevers and monitoring for signs of further development. We also treated an orphan that suspected pneumonia with high fevers. She was given an antibiotic shot on the first day. The second day she needed IV fluids to rehydrate her and medicine to control vomiting. I sat with here for several hours until she seemed stable enough to go back with her mama. The next day she still had a fever and we monitored her all day but we could tell that she was feeling better because she was coloring while laying on the cot. By the fourth day she had no fever and was up and walking.

After two days with the orphans we spent the next two and a half days seeing the surrounding community. We saw many people and many general illnesses, some pneumonia, suspected TB, neck pain, back pain. These are people that have worked hard all of their lives and show the signs of it. The average age in Haiti is 28. Life expectancy is 45. The illiteracy rate is 53%. The people of Haiti need guidance and support. They have been oppressed by their own government for so long that they do not know that a better life is possible. By supporting the orphans of Haiti maybe a generation of hope will arise.