A mission of Mercy

There has been a great deal of “Unleashing” going on recently! I wanted to take this opportunity to share the story of Barb Gipple. Barb and her husband Randy are both active members here at Calvary. Barb is a practicing dentist with an office in Mediapolis, Iowa and Randy is a practicing Orthopedic doctor right here in Muscatine. Barb has been an active missionary on two Guatemala trips, with Iowa Mission of Mercy in Waterloo, and Give Kids A Smile in February. Recently Barb had the opportunity to spend two weeks on a Mercy ship docked in Benin, West Africa. Barb and I spent some time e-mailing in the past two weeks, which gave me the opportunity to ask her a few questions about her trip and her views on missions.

1. What kinds of mission work have you done?

“My missions work has centered around dental care for the most part. The two trips to Guatemala with the Calvary teams, Iowa Mission of Mercy last October in Waterloo, Give Kids A Smile in February at the Mediapolis office, two weeks with Mercy Ships—Africa Mercy in May in Benin (West Africa)”

2. Why do you feel called to serve in this way?

“The Lord convicts each of us differently and this is just an area of my life where I feel the message is loud and clear. I wish there were a few more areas like that!”

3. Where was your most recent mission trip?

“May 3-5 I served as a general dentist with Africa Mercy docked at Cotonou, Benin (West Africa). The dental clinic was off ship in the village of Akpakpa about a 20 minute drive.”

4. What did you do on this trip?

“I did patient exams, placed restorations – both amalgam and composite, pulled teeth and referred fractures and tumors to the ship for radiographs and potential surgery either there or back at the clinic with the staff dentist, Dag Tvedt.”

5. What was the most uplifting part of your trip?

“At the half-way point of the trip I went with a group of 13 to an orphanage to show the children The Jesus Film—kids version (in French, which is the official language of Benin). We hung a sheet out to project on and God held back the rain. It was a beautiful thing and an encouragement to me to see these children singing and dancing and worshiping my Jesus. Their Jesus.”

6. What was the most difficult part of your trip?

“Jet lag. I left home at 3:30 Saturday morning and arrived at Africa Mercy at 8:00 Sunday night (there’s a 6 hour time difference). This made it hard to work Monday morning.”

7. Would you do this trip again?

“Yes. Randy was supposed to have gone on this trip but had to stay back and get crops in. He is slated to serve early next year and I hope that there is an opening for me to serve at that time as well. It hasn’t been decided exactly where the ship will be ported—maybe the Congo?”

8. How do you feel this work fits with our desire to Unleash relentless love on a broken world?

“Dental care is hard to come by in Western Africa even if you can afford the services. Patients wait in lines all day and while they wait they hear the gospel and receive encouragement. Some of them have been in pain so long that they feel that it is normal.”

9. What other areas are you currently serving in?

“I have been helping Pat Fox in the Candy Store in KidZone getting totes ready. I helped on a team for Rebuilding Together Muscatine and used a little bit bigger drill than I normally use!”

10. Do you have any advice for those considering a mission trip?

“You do not have to be a health care provider to serve with Mercy Ships. Go to their website : jobs@mercyships.org and see what is available right now or call them at 1-800-772-7447. If God is giving you a nudge shouldn’t you step out in faith and serve?

What a great example of how we can use our time and talents to serve God and help others. Way to go Barb!