As many of you know, Pastor Jon and Nell’s son-in-law, Steven Hevelone Byler, has parents who are AIM (Africa Inland Missions) medical missionaries to Sudan in Africa. We have prayed for them and enjoyed the various visits that they have made to our church. This Christmas season Christine and Steve will travel to Sudan to spend Christmas with them. We thought this might be an excellent opportunity to support the Bylers in a tangible way. We asked them if there was anything they might need them that the church could supply. Here is their response:

Dear Nell and Jon,

I have given much thought to your suggestion that your church could be involved in helping our ministry here. I am excited to know that they would like something practical to do! I wonder if this idea below would work.

As Phil is a doctor, we get many requests for assistance in diagnosis and treatment, even though this is not his primary task. Sometimes our supplies run low. Perhaps you could restock our supply with items which it is hard for us to get here. We often do the rapid tests for malaria for team members or close friends or workers, treat malaria (when drugs not available in the local market), clean wounds and sores, and other problems.

We can buy malaria test kits, malaria treatments, antibiotics and pain meds in bulk supply from Nairobi or Kampala. So probably, I think, if the church group would collect ACE wraps of various sizes (mostly the narrow ones), bandaging tape that does not need scissors, some q-tips for using in wound cleaning, quality large band aids that really stick, gauze bandage rolls (this is very useful here and lightweight for transport), and neosporin / triple antibiotic / hydrocortisone ointments.

If someone wanted to add some funds for purchasing the bulk test kits and drugs that also would be helpful! (We cannot get benadryl here--so some of that which is available over the counter there!)

I can assure you and the church that whatever amount arrives (and we could send some with a team in January if there is too much for Steven and Christine's luggage), it will be used well! If we are overstocked, we will share the supplies with some of our nurses who are in more remote areas (who likewise are always getting requests for help)!

Thanks for the interest and support and prayers you have shared with us.

Phil and Linda Byler

So if you would be interested in Thanks Giving to Sudan please consider bringing one or more of these items to church and putting it in the Thanks Giving basket:

• ACE wraps of various sizes (mostly the narrow ones)
• bandaging tape that does not need scissors
• q-tips for using in wound cleaning
• quality large band aids that really stick
• gauze bandage rolls (this is very useful here and lightweight for transport)
• neosporin
• triple antibiotic
• hydrocortisone ointments
• benadryl

If anyone wants to add some funds for purchasing the bulk malaria test kits and drugs that would also be helpful. If you would like to give money make the check out to the church. We will combine funds and issue one check.

God will bless them through our giving, and God will bless us as well!