Our Missionary - Doc Elma

Dr. Elma Jocson, MD

COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH
MISSIONARY ELMA JOCSON

Mineral UMC has its very own "special" Missionary. We support her in a “Covenant Relationship.”

What is a Covenant Relationship? It is when a church commits to an annual support payment to one of the missionaries sent by the General Board of Global Ministries that go out into the world to serve with love and to share the message of our Savior with others.

When we started our covenant relationship with Elma, she was serving in Nepal. She was a surgeon in the United Mission Hospital in Tansen, Nepal. She also did obstetric and gynecological procedures as well as family medicine consultations. She has now returned to her home country, the Philippines to further her training in pediatric surgery. Her instruction is a hands-on training. She tells about a 14 year old boy with advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. He underwent a very difficult operation and is now home and doing well. Elma says,” It’s so amazing to see his recovery, how God healed him physically and let His grace flow to this family.” There are a number of tuberculosis cases in the country.

Look for more information from Elma as we receive it. She looks forward to a continuing meaningful relationship with everyone at Mineral UMC. Even though she is busy, she loves keeping up with correspondence, especially with children. Please pray for Doctor Elma, her projects and for the people of the Philippines.

You can contact Doc Elma at: Email: dokelma@yahoo.comk

Address: Dr. Elma T. Jocson

606 Oval Street Sto. Nino

Marikina City 1800 Philippines

Missionary code: 13980Z

An August 2010 message from Doc Elma, our sponsored missionary doctor who served several years in Nepal, was home in the Philippines for two years for additional medical training in pediatric surgery, and has been reassigned to Ganta Hospital in Liberia

            I’m so happy to note that so many people are lovingly asking about me. I thank you for your love and support to the mission. This is the 1st prayer bulletin as I start my service in Liberia. Although I was on study leave I continued sending my prayer bulletin to friends and covenant churches. This is electronically distributed from the office of missionary Letters in the US, and is called Dok Elma's e-musing. I try to send these prayer bulletins every month, and on extreme emergency I send out emergency prayer requests for my patients. Please, if you'd rather not add clutter to your inbox kindly advise me so I can remove your name in the recipient's list. So here are my happenings.
          1. Its official... I have passed all 3 exams for pediatric surgeons. I’m now a board certified Pediatric Surgeon. Praise be to God! I thought I won’t be able to finish the 3rd part which is the practical since GBGM wanted me to go to Liberia the soonest. As it turned out (by God's time table, I’m sure) their email system is under repair so it took a looooong while for communication to be processed. My emails go through another missionary then to them. It was frustrating and comforting at the same time. Frustrating that it took a long while for decisions to be made. Comforting in that these technology glitches are not dealt with even in New York. It’s still not fixed up to this moment. I will need to be personally present for the oath-taking ceremony in December's Annual Convention. Another opportunity/temptation that needs to be taken to God in prayer - since my mother is due to come to Liberia, I can come home for the oath-taking. This will also give honor to my mother being there as I get to another milestone in Surgery, and we are traveling together to Liberia. Please pray, I need wisdom. It might be a bad witness if I leave after less than 3 months of starting service. So I will assess the situation as I proceed.
          2. I have booked my flights. Since email fails, thank God for cheap international phone cards. I was given the go signal to book. I’m leaving Manila on Sept 7 arriving Monrovia the following day. From Manila to Bangkok to Nairobi to Accra then finally to Monrovia. I'll be serving in Ganta United Methodist Hospital as a general surgeon. Although I am a Pediatric surgeon I will do all range of operations as long as our resources allows us. A supporting church gifted me with big money and I have bought reference books which are not available there. There are none, I was told, since the hospital was looted and burned down when Charles Taylor was still in power. It was only rebuilt and re-opened in 2005. I am told also to bring my own scrubs and gloves. I was trying to bargain on a cheaper kind of sterile surgical gloves. Then I remembered the HIV issue in Africa. HIV: I am terrified! That was a illumination moment- I mean, why would I compromise my safety because of cost when a church has given me money? Thank God for inspiration- I am bringing 100 prs of high grade, thicker (Orthopedic), costly surgical gloves. It may just be at least 90 operations but by the time it’s used up I'll be able to scout for another supply source from there. Or I'll just double-gloves myself. I also was gifted by my Optometrist with hoards of protective eyewear for wearing during ORs. And reading glasses too. Pastor Michelle sent me a puppet of myself. God is so generous!
          3. Something showed up on my pelvic ultrasound, a uterine polyp. I was initially told to just observe it since I have no symptoms. But I have met with another OB Gyn and she told me that for my age and my father's history of cancer, I should have it biopsied. So I saw another specialist again and behold-- it was gone when she did the ultrasound. Gone!!! Isn’t God wonderful? I was keeping cool with that health issue but after the last check up, I was shaking due to stress. I felt really tired. I discovered I was keeping a composed exterior for my mother. Oh well, I am human still.
          4. My mother is well. She is excited with her upcoming (extended) visit to Liberia. She is planning on her ministries to children and women. I have taken her for cardiac consult and she was given clearance. She just had cataract surgeries to both eyes. So she is really getting prepared for her next place of service. She will be 76 in December. These are all our plans but we are open to God's leading and will submit to His will.
          5. I have started packing and repacking. I am trying to tie loose ends and endorse my responsibilities in church. As I say my goodbye for now, please pray for my transition into life in Liberia. I may take with me things I will need but I must always have a heart ready to listen and follow God.
          Thanks for praying.

Elma

E-mail: dokelma@yahoo.com

All about Nepal