For many weeks missionaries thought that Ebengakam's weakened body would soon give out, then they started to see signs of progress. Now, with the help of the Inapang believers in Papua New Guinea, she is getting the medical help she needs.
When NTM's doctor in Papua New Guinea confirmed the diagnosis of missionaries Bill and Kelley Housley, a plan was devised to get Ebengakam to the hospital. The woman's severely damaged leg would need a skin graft.
"Joseph [Colyn, the mission's supply buyer] went to the hospital … and tracked down a surgeon who could do the skin flap operation and gathered all the needed details to start the ball rolling," the Housleys wrote.
The next question was how to get her out to the hospital.
"We could just call the helicopter in and get it done quickly or we could use the opportunity as a chance for the new believers here to brainstorm about how they could make this happen for their "sister in Christ," wrote the Housleys.
In the Inapang's culture a person without means, such as Ebengakam, is usually left to die. But when Ebengakam became ill, the believers began to rally around her, praying for her and watching as God began healing her body.
"The day she came outside, after about three months inside her hut, everyone was pointing to God as the One who heals," the Housleys continued.
Several Inapang men began to make a plan to get Ebengakam to town. They decided to make a bamboo stretcher and carry her out, eight hours, to an airstrip where she could be transported to the hospital.
"This in itself was a step of faith," the Housleys wrote. "We have been having lots of rain right now (in the middle of what should be our dry season) which transforms our trails into messy sloughs that are extremely hard to walk through -- much less carry a stretcher through."
The continuous rain had some of the people wanting to cancel the trip, but after praying about it the rains ceased and the trail dried out. About 30 Inapangs escorted Ebengakam over the trail that they believed their Heavenly Father prepared for them.
"They literally ran to [the airstrip] in record time," the Housleys wrote. "Bill had a great time that evening together with them eating and sleeping out under the stars and even reading some of their Bible material together. Then the plane came the next day earlier than expected."
Please pray for wisdom for the medical staff as they care for Ebengakam and that her recovery will be a testimony to those who have stepped out in faith to get her the medical help she needed.
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