DECEMBER 2008

HEA LI NG PE OPLE .
Our Corner of the World
w ww .g en es is w or ldm iss ion .org

MOMENTS IN THE WAITING ROOM BY COURTNEY CROSSLAND

We recently asked volunteer Courtney Crossland to sit in the waiting room and
gather some stories from patients sitting there.
From the very moment I stepped into Genesis World Mission I have felt an
overwhelming sense of reassurance and inspiration. Bright smiles greeted me at the
window along with an eagerness to do all they could to make me feel welcome. No one

AROUND THE CORNER.

would have guessed that this place here on the edge of Garden City has become such a
peaceful refuge to so many who are struggling. Even now as I write this in the waiting
room, I am in awe of the vast spectrum of medical assistance offered here.
Just a moment ago a couple left who were both retired from the Air Force. The very Friendly Clinical Asst. Jessica
idea that these two served our country for many years and currently cannot afford basic medical care simply breaks
my heart. They came to the clinic for the first time today and were able to leave with all their necessary
medications and education. Every week there are many who come to the Garden City Community Clinic for the
first time, seeking medical attention and finding it, along with toothpaste, Nicorette gum, various hygienic supplies
and complimentary magazines.
One of the returning patients in the clinic is a missionary from Russia who began having medical problems a
few years ago and was forced to move back to the U.S. with her husband and four children (all under the age of
(Continued on page 4)

SHORT TERM MISSIONS: ARE THEY WORTH ANYTHING? MICHELE MILES, PA-C,MS
Benson’s proclamation was like a bowl of fresh
“Doctor, do you remember me? I’m Benson.”
water cleansing the grief in my mind. Nine months

AROUND THE WORLD.

His face lit up with a great smile. He was earlier I met Benson as a patient in our medical outreach
distinguished by a small scar transecting the right eye to Kirasha, Kenya. After treating him for an infection, I
brow. His right jaw protruded more than the left which asked if he was saved. He said no but was willing to
prompted my memory. listen to my Gospel presentation. He didn’t want to
commit his life to Jesus then. Thankfully, this day was
“Yes, Benson. I do remember you,” I responded
different.
while rising from the wooden stool to greet him. “I
remember that we prayed for your family and for God’s “Well, that’s great news Benson! Jesus so loves you.
love to fill you. Is there anything I can help you with today?” I asked
How are you?” him thinking he was here for another infection. All day
It’s good to see my heart had been grieved by the new HIV infections.
you!” They were coupled with stories of horrid atrocities
suffered by the day’s patients who had escaped the
“Doctor, I’m
recent post-election violence.
saved! Today I
prayed with the “No, Doctor. I’m fine. I heard you were here again.
Pastor and I’ve I knew that it was time to give my life to the Jesus. So I
come to tell you, came and prayed with a Pastor. I am saved now and I
I’m saved!” wanted to tell you!” I grabbed his hand in mine and
(Continued on page 2)
Michele Miles playing with children in Kenya

215 W. 35t h Street • Garden City, Idaho 83714 • www.genesisworldmission.org • 208.384.5218

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS CONT. FROM PAGE 1
together we laughed in the joy of our Lord. As Benson
walked away, waving with the smile still broad across his
face, I lost my composure, thankful to watch this
conversion.

remained skeptical.
Mission work has always been at the center of my
heart. I have bookcases full of the autobiographies of
men and women who’ve gone to foreign lands with the
Gospel. Missiology and exegetical works on what works
when and where, revival manuals and more – you name it
and I have probably read it. I’ve been to several
continents, lived on the island of Hispaniola, and studied
linguistics with SIL. I’ve been without—without—water,
food and electricity. Twice, I’ve been robbed at gunpoint,
twice assaulted, three times on planes that nearly crashed.
And I know the favor of God. I’ve been protected, fed,
and ministered to by countless folks whose languages I
couldn’t understand.
I’ve witnessed plenty of the ugliness of the
human nature in Christian friends. I’ve watched leaders
fight for “territory” as they built new churches and clinics
across the street from other churches and clinics.
Differences and denominations crying, “We were here
first!” So when I joined a team traveling to Kenya four
years ago, it was in hopes that there was something better
taking place in Africa than what my previous experiences
had shown me.
During a second trip to Kenya in June 2006, new
friends in Boise built the first floor of a new medical
clinic. I cautioned my friend, “Yes, but are you prepared
to see it close down in a year or two?” For I had
witnessed many clinics being built by good-hearted
Americans only to see
the clinic abandoned and
useless two weeks later.
Developing countries
need equipment,
medicines, and
appropriate staff.
On my third trip to Kenya, I watched the dedication of
the Mercy Medical Clinic in Ndumberi. To the Glory of
God, it was a collaboration of five different ministries
who came together to serve their Kenyan brethren. Still, I
These trips to Kenya were “short term.” Two to three
weeks of intense ministry fully dependent on Jesus Christ,
and on Kenyan leadership and collaboration. Every trip
has had its highlights – salvations, miracles, strategic God
- appointed meetings
with community
leadership. It wasn’t
until trip number four
that I accepted that
“short term” mission
trips are indeed viable
and fruitful.
I was walking up the
hill, talking to God about the joyful reunion with Benson,
when he told me that sustained relationships are indeed
fruitful. He pointed out Benson and the last time I met
him, how He had loved him all year. My prayer is that I
have learned this lesson well. God’s work does not
depend on the length of stay one spends on a foreign land.
Rather, it is simply being obedient, responding to His
call, and meeting the needs of His people. All people
need the encouragement and saving grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
I have had four exciting and exhilarating short term
trips to Kenya which have superseded the love and
realities of living “long term” with our brothers in foreign
places.


Benson’s honesty in saying “not now” 15 months ago
gave me an opportunity to see that God’s Word goes out
and does not return void. We have the privilege of
continuing the work of Mercy Medical Clinic in
Ndumberi. It is ours to visit short term but God’s to
sustain. Until He tells us otherwise, we must continue to
encourage and respond to the needs the Clinic has there
and here. We must tell them and show them Jesus.

DENTAL CLINIC PLANS GO FORWARD IN KENYA

Rapid progress is being made to open the doors of the Mercy Medical Center for
dental patients for those in the community of Ndumberi, Kenya. Edith, clinic
administrator, is consulting with a Christian dentist and the building renovations are
well underway. The thoughtful and generous donation by the daughter of a recently
deceased local dentist will provide much needed dental supplies for the clinic. The
Kenyan staff is excited and looks forward to providing dental services which will
provide even more opportunities to meet spiritual needs as well. One patient
recently went through counseling sessions there and said, “I feel a new lease on
life. It has regenerated and revolutionized me and I will never be the same again.”

DECEMBER 2008 2
 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT : MARTIE HAWKINS
When Martie Hawkins
started volunteering at Genesis
in February 2008, her
nickname amongst staff
quickly became “Volunteer
Rock Star.” With a lifetime of
nursing experience, she was
willing and eager to help out
with our GAPMed program.
This is the process by which
we apply directly to drug companies on behalf of patients
for free medications. Currently, Martie processes new
prescription applications and reviews changes to
prescriptions.
Volunteering multiple times a week also introduced
Martie to other organizational needs. Since then, she has
assisted in acquiring donated supplies and medications
from hospitals, clinics, and assisted care living facilities
that have been used at the Garden City Community Clinic
and on international projects. Martie is a home health care
nurse, a certified wound specialist and frequently testifies
in malpractice trials. Rock on Martie!
FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY DINNER
Every year, our closest supporters gather to celebrate
faith, hope and charity at our annual dinner and auction.
The event will be held at the Doubletree Riverside on
February 20, 2009 at 6 pm. It is our premier fundraising
event. Our goal is to raise $75,000 to sustain current
operations. This would exceed last year’s event income by
$10,000.
However, we are unable to meet these goals without
your help! We are looking for volunteers to help in a
variety of areas and level of involvement such as item
solicitation, guest reservations, decorations, etc. If you are
interested in getting involved, please contact Volunteer
Coordinator Kristal Smith 384-5218, x 21 or email to
volunteer@genesisworldmission.org

VPN REC EIVES H E A LT H CARE H EROES AWA RD

In October, the Idaho Business Review announced
that the Volunteer Physicians Network received the Top
Honor in the Advancements in Health Care category at
their annual Health Care Hero awards banquet. 2008
Three honorees were chosen in each category and one
of lower-income, uninsured people in our community
honoree was given the Top Honor. The category of through increased access to charity specialty care.”
Advancements in Health Care honored a program that
was “primarily responsible for the development of a Since its launch in 2006, the Volunteer Physicians
process that could save lives or improve the quality of life Network has facilitated nearly $1,000,000 in services to
for a significant amount of people.” lower-income, uninsured Ada County patients at no cost to
them. This program relies on the generous contributions of
In a letter of recommendation on VPN’s behalf,
over 165 specialist physicians in the Boise area. We are
Family Medicine Residency of Idaho CEO Ted Epperly
thankful for the compassionate care these physicians are
stated, “In just two years, VPN has already demonstrated providing for these needy patients.
a significant capacity to save lives and improve the health
*Logos courtesy of Idaho Business Review

WELCOME NEW VPN SPECIALISTS

Since June the following specialists have stepped forward to become part of the
Volunteer Physicians Network:
STEVEN CASOS , MD SHARON OSTER, MD
ASHLEY DAGOBERV, DPT R YAN VANDEGRAFF, MD
RENEE DEVELLE , DC MICHAEL MCMARTIN, MD
GEORGE MUNAJIRJI , MD KEVIN KRAFFT, MD
JENNIFER MILLER, MD R ODDE COX , MD
JANAT E. O’DONNELL, MD VIC KADYAN , MD
DECEMBER 2008 3
GARDEN CITY COMMUNITY CLINIC NEWS
WAITING R OOM CONT...FROM PAGE 1 MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS SOAR
eight!). As we spoke she shared with me how much of a Among Ada County safety-net clinic patients, 38% of
blessing the Clinic had been to her, and the excellent them said they had a mental health problem in the past
overall care provided to her in this tough time of their five years that kept them from seeking a job. With a social
lives. worker now on staff directing Clinic activities, we have
stepped up our efforts at meeting this gaping hole in
Another regular is a senior citizen who has been
services for this patient population.
coming for three years. Thrilled with the care she receives
here from the volunteer medical staff, she could not run Dr. Andy Olnes, a psychiatrist at the Veterans
out of good things to say. The Clinic has prevented Administration , has served as our volunteer mental health
multiple trips to the E.R. for her with numerous medical director since 2006 and continues to see an increased need
issues ranging from early detection of her diabetes to for case management and counseling with our patients. In
assuring full mobility and X-rays after a fall she took last response, the clinic now has a psychologist, an increased
year. number of social workers available each month, and a
Masters in Social Work intern from BSU to coordinate
I’d like to leave
resource referrals. We have also have a valuable
you with one of the
partnership with the United Methodist Counseling Center,
last things she said to
which provides low-cost to free counseling services.
me in regards to this
Clinic: “You just Dr. Olnes is on site twice a month for medication
can’t get better care.” reviews and we are better equipped to assist our patients
Not only are you who struggle with depression or other mental health
being assisted needs. We are limited in the number of patients we can
physically here, but, see and the severity of cases we can accept, but are excited
through a genuine about the developing program and its continued growth.
support system, your By balancing the health care needs with mental health
emotional well-being needs, we are wrapping around our patients to provide
is shaped as well. Foreground: VPN Coordinator Katie Fisher physical, mental and spiritual healing.

DENTAL CLINIC PICKS UP THE PACE

Since the completion of our dental facility remodel services in years,
this spring, we have been able to add eight dentists these patients often
alongside Dr. John Hisel. Dr. Hisel has led the require hours of
development of our dental care as volunteer director for care. We average
four years. four patients a
week who receive
Thanks to the KTSY funding (see story on page 5),
basic dental
we’ve been able to add a part-time dental assistant, Nicole
services, including
Herrmann, to help recruit and facilitate volunteers, order
fillings,
supplies and fill-in when volunteer assistants can’t be
extractions, and
found. We have also experienced a rise in dental
root canals. Dental Asst. Nicole Herrmann & Dr. Rob Ririe
hygienists who would like to participate and we are now
exploring adding hygiene to our list of services. Our goal is to open up more hours as more dentists
become available. We’re very thankful for these dentists
Currently, our dental services are prioritized to
who have come on board to help us out: Drs. Stephen
existing GCCC medical patients with pain, infection, or
White, Mark Smith, George Lewis, Jack Klure, Eric
those whose oral health care compromises their general
Hoidal, Rob Ririe, Bart Eisenbarth and Daniel Bruce.
health. Since many of them have had no access to dental

PLATINUM SPONSOR

F A M I L Y H E A L T H C A R E
Karl Watts, MD
Gregory S. Lewer, MD 10255 W. Overland Road
A. Patrice Burgess, MD Boise, Idaho 83709
Scott Shappard, DO 208.367.7205
Julie M. Clark, PA-C

DECEMBER 2008 4
NEW FACES ARRIVE AT GENESIS WORLD MISSION
We are pleased to welcome Eagle
family physician Vicki Wooll, MD
MPH to the board of directors this
month. Vicki is no stranger to Genesis
World Mission, serving on medical
mission trips to India, Kenya, Ecuador
and Mexico. Dr. Wooll obtained her
Masters of Public Health at UCLA
and studied medicine at the Central University of
Venezuela. She performed her medical residency at the
Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi,
Texas.
Dr. Wooll has a huge heart for international work,
is the current president-elect for the Ada County Medical
Society and has served on the board for the Idaho Walk to
Emmaus. Her husband Bill Arnold, PhD is a psychologist
in private practice who volunteers at the Garden City
Community Clinic. (see related story on page 4.)

hires as the volunteer coordinator with
Longtime board members Craig Quintana and
Michael Rice have fulfilled their terms of board service
and are moving onto other activities. We appreciate their
many years of service and talents they brought to Genesis.
One of the unique characteristics of Genesis World
Mission is how many younger people pass through our
doors as volunteers into medical training or graduate
school. This is also true of our staff and about every two
years we usually complete another big cycle. (We’re fi-
nally OK with this—it is a great privilege to be a training
ground for so many brilliant minds with grand plans.)
This year was no different. Former VPN Coordinator
Julie Lucero started at Idaho State University in the Phy-
sician Assistant Program. Former clinical assistant Ally-
son Coonts left us to continue to prepare for application to
medical school.
Two more P.A. studies bound employees joined us
this summer: Katie Fisher as the new VPN Coordinator
and Jessica Strong as clinical assistant. Our new part-
time dental assistant Nicole Herrmann is currently study-
ing dental hygiene.
Kristal Smith rounds out our new
paramedic and overseas medical mis-
sions experience. What a great team God
has assembled to keep the work moving
forward.

KTSY BIKE RIDES BIG FOR DENTAL CLINIC

swung through Twin Falls to
By the time about 100 people had finished the KTSY
visit the KTSY sister radio
Bridge the Gap Bike Ride on August 17, it was already
station, KTFY.
over 90 degrees. Families, children, solo riders, and even
some tandem bikes made up the crowd who rode in Over $17,000 was raised
support of Genesis World Mission’s dental programs. to help sustain the Garden
Riders chose from 3, 15, 31 and 62.5 mile rides in Canyon City dental clinic and to help
County. kick start the establishment of
dental services at Genesis’
One of the riders was Christian musician Mark
sister clinic in Kenya. (See
Schultz who did a 65-day, 3500 mile ride across America
story page 2.)
in 2007 to raise funds for widows and orphans. After this
ride, Schultz performed for a crowd of 200 that had Organizers Jerry Woods,
gathered on the lawn at Gem State Academy where the Brian Yeager, and Craig
Christian musician Mark Schultz
bike ride had started and finished. Nowaski were pleased with
the turnout for a first-year community ride event. Last
On Monday, about a dozen cyclists started on a five-
year, Jerry and Brian rode the Caldwell-Hailey route
day ride from Caldwell to Hailey as part of the event.
alone to raise funds for Project Patch in Garden Valley.
Each of the riders raised at least $350 for the ride, which
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Downtown Boise Eagle Health Plaza Park Center
927 W Myrtle St 323 E Riverside Dr 161 E Mallard Dr. Ste 130
Meridian Saint Alphonsus MRI (Opening Jan 2009)
2929 E Magic View Drive 1055 Curtis Rd

DECEMBER 2008 5
 Non-Profit Org
US Postage
PAID
Permit #845
BOISE ID

215 W 35th Street

Garden City ID 83714

C OMMUNITY IN VES TMENTS

RECENT CORPORATE AND F OUNDATION SUPPORT
$17,632 from 89.5 FM KTSY Bridge the Gap Bike Ride for support of Garden City Community Dental Clinic and expansion
of dental clinic at PEFA Mercy Medical Center in Kenya
$50,000 from Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation to pay down Genesis World Mission’s mortgage principal
$7,500 from St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center to support Volunteer Physicians Network and Garden City Community Clinic
$1,000 from IDX Pathology to support the Volunteer Physicians Network

H ONORARY AND M EMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Memorial Donations In Memory of Bill Dunn made by: Boise Vista Lions Club, Lu Dean Krajnick, Harold Nelson,
Barbara Sullivan and Mary Lou Ward
Mark and Kelli Fredback In Memory of Lloyd Wilson
Pete Swanstrom In Memory of Ann Swanstrom
Marti Lunn In Memory of Judd & Tryg Lunn
Judy Troyer and Ellen Harper McGarr In Memory of Bjorn Laufman Heen
Gene and Janis Cathcart In Honor of Tami Reames
Thomas and Kristin Goodwin In Honor of Mr. & Mrs. James Richel
Thomas and Kristin Goodwin In Honor of Kyler Daron
David and Beverly Taylor In Honor of Firefighters