November 26, 2007

Dear Friends:

It has been another full 12 months for the Mia and Stan Topples. With such a variety of activities and places, it is good that we get ourselves realigned with the message of Christ’s coming and His purpose in our lives at the end of the year. We have recently been reading biographies of Martin Luther and John Calvin. They were models of focused lives.

Sharing worship with an Anglican community in Kenya.

A special week in Oslo with Mia’s family, less a dear brother-in-law, got us started off in January. Following this, we flew south to Ethiopia, discovering how our Korean brothers and sisters labor for the sake of the gospel in the Myung Sung Medical Center in Addis Ababa. Aside from dermatology and orthopaedics, we were involved in speaking for staff retreats and worship services. In addition, we were able to open the door for translation of a basic book of Christian doctrine into the Amharic language.

Once again, we joined the Methodists in their mission hospital in Maua, Kenya. The number of crippled children lined up for surgery were more than ever before, and Mia saw a steady rise in the number of skin patients coming for treatment. Wherever possible we combine the clinical with teaching opportunity.

HIV/AIDS patients are a steadily increasing part of mission hospital and church programs whereever we go in Africa. The dermatology clinics frequently are a discovery ground for new cases. Not only physical disease but poverty, orphaned children, and social stigma are the spin off. Thanks to generous funding from the West, heightened awareness, and well organized campaigns, the incidence of HIV infection is dropping. Kenya has dropped from 8 percent to 6 percent, so there is still a long way to go.

Patient just prior to surgical removal of life-threatening sarcoma.

Stan was able to spell the orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. John Kingori, at Kikuyu Rehabilitation Orthopaedic Center for a long vacation in October and November. Two weeks of this time we were running on a souped-up schedule with two volunteer, hard-working orthopaedic surgeons from New York—Drs. Kerr and Carpenter. Mia was staying in shape running up and down the hill several times a day, seeing skin patients at the General Kikuyu Hospital. The new management chairman for Kikuyu seems capable, dedicated, and determined to correct a lot of deficiencies. Leadership is a crucial need.

Our last week in Africa this year was spent with over 30 fellow PC(USA) missionaries. Those who gathered on the Kenya coast for a week of retreat and reflection serve the church in eight African countries. One could sense a heightened sense of calling and of identification, even discovery, with the indigenous Christian communities of this continent. Hardly a century ago Africa was known as the “Dark Continent,” but it has now become the most highly concentrated Christian population in the world. Poverty, disease, and corrupt government is apparently not a deterrent to spread of the gospel!

In addition to the months abroad, God has watched over and blessed our days in the United States. Stan was honored with an award and speaking opportunities at Emory University in conjunction with celebration of the 50th medical school class reunion. Children and grandchildren make us constantly aware that we must trust God in a generation that has snares and delusions scattered abroad like landmines.

May our Christmas and yours be truly in honor to the Babe and the King.

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 332