The mission of the Church of the Nazarene has always been to preach the gospel holistically. Offering healthcare to needy communities is a tangible way to reflect God’s love. Believing that this approach can change lives, the Church of the Nazarene in Guinea-Bissau began work in the community of Uabe, located about 80 km from the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. 

The roads are so hard to navigate that it takes up to four hours to get there. But the effort has been worth it, as God is using this project to impact lives in a profound and transformative way.

In mid-February, missionaries Ezequiel and Susy Ramirez, along with a team of four doctors, decided to spend a Saturday afternoon, the night, and then a Sunday offering medical care. When the team arrived after their long journey, more than 94 people were already waiting. Some had arrived the night before, enduring the cold under a campfire.

The medical team was able to perform ultrasounds and electrocardiograms, and 78 people were treated for various conditions and given medications. The day ended when night fell as there was no electricity in the area to continue.

Along with the medical outreach, the women of the church and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries took the opportunity to evangelize and converse with those waiting in the queue. In addition, they offered water and cookies since many spent the day without eating. The local Nazarene Youth International and Nazarene Discipleship International ministries held activities with hundreds of children and shared Bible teachings.

In the middle of the night, the team could hear people gathering around the campfire to get their spot in the queue for the Sunday medical outreach. When dawn broke, more than 30 people were waiting. This moment profoundly moved the team and made them understand that the need was greater than they imagined.

As the doctors began to attend to the patients, the rest of the team talked with those waiting and listened to their stories. One person had traveled more than 36 km to receive medical attention. Other people explained that they thought they were going to die because they couldn’t travel the 80 km to the city to receive help. These stories touched the hearts of the medical team and the missionaries. Throughout the second day of the clinic, 58 additional people were helped.

The leaders of this village, grateful for the attention received, contacted the local pastor to offer a piece of land where a church and clinic could be built, a gesture that was repeated by at least three other communities.

The church in Guinea-Bissau requests prayer because in contexts like these, traditional beliefs and the harmful rituals of other “doctors” continue to be a threat. But despite the difficulties, the church is convinced that God’s love is at work in every corner of these communities.

--Church of the Nazarene Africa Region