 Lawrence and Li-Ling Tan (serving with SIM)
Project Walkabout
Bolivia is still one of the poorest countries in South America and has some of the worst health statistics in the region. People who live out in the countryside suffer the most in terms of poorer living conditions, poor accessibility to cities and poorer health as a result. When people get sick in the countryside it is hard for them to travel in to the city hospitals to receive treatment.
Doctors and nurses who work in country areas are often inexperienced and poorly supervised. It is difficult for them to obtain relevant continuing education in order to improve the quality of healthcare they provide.
As a result of what the Tans have learnt from working in Bolivia for the past 8 years, they have decided to take healthcare to the people in the country area and also to take medical education to the country doctors so that Bolivian health workers can be better trained at what they do.
Country Churches
Evangelical churches in Bolivia are growing at a fast rate. Many small churches are springing up with people zealous and excited to get together and learn God’s Word. Church leaders are enthusiastic but frequently lack Bible training and need to be nurtured and encouraged themselves. In country areas Christians sometimes face persecution, opposition and isolation. During their trips to country towns to train rural doctors, the Tans would also like to visit the church leaders in the area as well to pray with them and encourage them, providing training and mentoring where necessary as well. When local churches reach out to surrounding communities on evangelistic campaigns it is often helpful to accompany them with health care so that non-believers can see that the Christians really care about them in a practical way.
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