She kneeled on the ground with her hands in worn-out flip-flops, crawling on all fours. Even with her head raised, she could only see her mother’s knees. Seynabou said to her mother, “Please give me a glass of water”. With a furrowed brow, her mother gave her a glass of water and muttered: “Seynabou, how long will I have to raise you? You live worse than a dog…”

Seynabou Senne crawling at their house.

In September of 2023, Priest Gilbert from the Brazil missionary team came to Seynabou’s home. The priest examined her hands and feet. Seynabou, who had been crawling on the ground due to a muscle and bone condition. For many years, she had severely deformed hands, and her knees were calloused. The most valuable thing in Seynabou’s home was the dirty mattress, which was placed on the floor for Seynabou to crawl up and down easily.
Seynabou’s world was limited to the space in front of her. For 35 years, she never dared to imagine that she could walk freely. Her dream was simply that one day she could get water from the table for herself and raise her head to speak with everyone normally.

https://africacriesout.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Former-Seynabou-2.mov

Seynabou was like the girl depicted by American painter Andrew Wyeth in “Christina’s World”: On an autumn afternoon, a woman in a pink dress lay in a vast field, reaching towards her home on a distant hill. She had no freedom, no dignity, no hope, and no happiness.

“Christina’s World” by Andrew Wyeth

Pastor Gilbert felt that the most important thing was to give Seynabou a wheelchair, allowing her some degree of freedom. If she could sit up and look at everyone in the eye, she would have human dignity. But where could he find a wheelchair? Priest Gilbert posted a request online, and Pastor Anna saw it and immediately replied, “We have one!”

Seynabou in a wheelchair.

This change was brought to Seynabou by Dr. 赵壮志 (Steven Chao MD/PhD) and Dr. 阮艳姬 (Khanh Nguyen MS/MD), a couple from the Africa Cries Out team. In April 2003, they traveled thousands of miles, bringing seven wheelchairs from California to Senegal, Africa. These wheelchairs alleviated the urgent needs of several African patients, and Seynabou was one of them. Dr. Chao is a neurology professor at Stanford University, and Dr. Nguyen is the emergency and geriatrics director at Stanford-affiliated Veterans Hospital. In 2023, the two doctors, along with their three children and niece, joined our team. Their family was the largest in the 2023 Africa Cries Out team. They always keep a sincere smile on their faces while serving the people of the leper village and many other jungle villages.

Dr. 赵壮志 (Steven Chao MD/PhD) and Dr. 阮艳姬 (Khanh Nguyen MS/MD

Drs. Chao and Nguyen with their children.

The 2 doctors and their family, volunteering their time and service to Africa Cries Out, 2023.

I asked the couple, isn’t it better for your family to go to Europe to see the Mona Lisa or go to the Sahara Desert to see animals? It’s expensive to come to Senegal, and the schedule in the Africa Cries Out team is tiring. The children’s education will also be affected. Why make such a choice? Dr. Chao said, “I came to the United States from Beijing with my parents when I was in high school. I graduated from the University of Chicago Medical School, and thanks to the grace of God, I was fortunate to be in the medical field. Although we have never seen the Mona Lisa or the animals in the Sahara, my wife and I feel that providing voluntary medical care and service to the suffering people in the world and experiencing the hardships of the world, will be more meaningful”. Dr. Nguyen nodded in agreement, “I was once a Vietnamese refugee. My family sailed through a rough sea, struggling at the brink of death. I tried to seek refuge from camps in Thailand and the Philippines. I was finally accepted by the United States which opened a new chapter in my life. Steven was a classmate of mine in medical school, and now working at the same hospital. Both of us can understand the despair of the poor. Our goal is to serve them. We take our children around the world to cultivate their compassion and help others”.

In 2023, Dr. Chao and Dr. Nguyen’s family, after flying for more than 30 hours, arrived at the Africa Cries Out base.

Our team plans to set off for Senegal on March 7, 2024. We already have more than 120 medical experts, professionals, and young people signed up to participate. Dr. Chao and his family of five will work with us once again. We welcome everyone to support us, either with money or participation. If you have already registered, please establish an Africa Cries Out club in your school with your children. You can raise funds or help collect items needed by the African people: old phones, computers, good condition sports shoes, vitamins, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other supplies. Please bring the items directly to JFK Airport in New York on the day of departure. If you cannot go to Africa, you can still help by collecting items and sending them to Jun Xu, MD, 1171 E Putnam Avenue, Building 1/2nd Floor, Riverside, CT 06878.

Thank you, Africa welcomes you!

Africa Cries Out team’s photo, 2023.

Translator: Jeffrey Hu

Editor: Doris Cruz

The post I Crawled Like A Dog For 35 Years Report 202321 By Jun Xu, November 20, 2023 appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

I consider myself a “good person.” Who doesn’t?

I’m kind, I study hard, and I walk the dog. I even put money in my church’s offering basket.

I lived in such complacency for my entire life. While I wasn’t necessarily wrong about being “good,” my lifestyle became passive and my worldview fundamentally one-dimensional. I studied for tests and took notes for the next. I finished my to-do lists to begin another. I interacted with the same people yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Sure, I was polite to everyone, but why know them past their superficial facades? Why explore a topic that isn’t relevant to school? Why complicate my busy life with issues that aren’t mine? Subconsciously, I believed everything I experienced, knew, and owned was all that ever was, and ever will be, until, by chance, outside forces changed them. My world consisted solely of my pertinent realities. For sixteen years, I comfortably surrounded myself with like-minded people from similar cultures.

One of the chance occurrences that altered my small world ended up transforming my static mindset and life as well. Through non-profit Africa Cries Out, a group of Chinese-American physicians who travels annually to Senegal, Africa to provide healthcare to those who otherwise have none. Taking an interest in the mission, my physician mother invited me to accompany and be her assistant last March.

Next thing I knew, I was carrying a luggage full of medicine aboard a plane destined four thousand miles away.

Medicines that were donated to Africa Cries Out that we brought from the USA to Senegal.

A classroom in Dakar, Senegal was used as a consultation area during the medical mission last March.

No amount of writing could adequately tell my story of the sandy, wastelands of Senegal. Every day, I felt great sympathy, fear, gratitude, and grief from the living conditions I previously saw only in pictures. Old cars crowded streets lined with destitute homes. Clean water, plumbing, and sanitation were luxuries. Safety was never guaranteed. With heartbreak, I compared the perception of healthcare in Senegal to cosmetic surgery in America: time-consuming, frivolous, and for the rich. Despite battling STDs, worms, and even cancer, the patients we treated showed great gratitude and kindness.

Patients calmly wait for their turn to be attended to by the volunteer doctors and medical team.

Patients being seen by the volunteer doctors and other members of the medical team.

Honestly, I did not expect how people with such a distinctive culture would behave, but I was amazed at how they neither ridiculed us for our differences nor idolized us for flattery; they simply treated us as neighbors. Amidst their appalling poverty – children playing in filthy roads, spigots leaking muddy water, penniless vendors haggling noisily on every street corner – they lifted our spirits and inspired in us perseverance, sharing their culture through music, tourism, food, and dance. They graciously accepted our services and donations, offering companionship in return.

I will never forget the day we visited a small Christian church in the busy city of Dakar, the capital. A few children were playing in the narrow street outside the church. I approached them and asked if my friends and I could join in. They were thrilled and began a game of soccer. None of us were very good at it, but we had so much fun. I bought out my instant camera and showed the children how it could print a small picture. They were immediately captivated and asked to take many photos with us. I realized this was probably the first time they had ever had a picture taken of them, much less kept the photo. Fascinated, they huddled around small photos of their bright, smiling faces and talked excitedly, thanking me and asking for more. Of course, I agreed, and we posed many more times for the camera. Then, my friends and I went inside the church, since the service was beginning soon. Instead of leaving us as I thought they would, these children gathered around the church and watched us worship and give thanks to God. They thanked us many times for the pictures and held them tightly. My heart was heavy to say goodbye. These precious children were a beautiful projection of the hearts of the patients we later treated. As much as we impacted their lives, they changed mine. How trivial my personal concerns were in such a place as this, I thought. What a wonder it is that these people live on the same earth as me and my problems.

Playing with street children in Dakar, Senegal.

Street children hanging around us during Gospel service.

Street children posing and taking pictures with us.

A photo that we gave out to the fascinated street children who took pictures with us.

A view of beautiful Dakar, as beautiful as its people.

In my ten days in Senegal, I finally realized the extent of the world was by no means limited to the bubble of complacency I created for myself, which subconsciously diminished my scope of compassion. With shame, I remembered how often my issues took priority over my pity for the disenfranchised, as they didn’t affect my personal life. Walking through the slums of Senegal with the most impoverished people transformed my pity into respect and empathy. Unfamiliar with security and luxury, the people I met truly understood the value of service and generosity. There, I discovered a significant purpose in devoting my life to such service and became passionate about someday working as a physician in developing countries where quality healthcare and medical equipment are scarce. The strength, gratitude, and hospitality I experienced inspired me to look beyond my comfortable life of personal priorities and familiarity to enhance my global perspectives. I learned that there’s more to life than being busy. There are global issues to address, worldviews to explore, things to learn, and people to serve. Senegal, particularly this Africa Cries Out ministry, has definitely changed my life. It made me think more of others instead of thinking only about myself. It made me want to do good not only to benefit myself, but to benefit other people as well.

The post How Senegal Changed My Life Report 202320 December 1, 2023 by Joy Yang appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

What is the meaning of life? Many people say it is money, family, and health. These answers are generally correct. However, the heroes and philanthropists in the Africa Cries Out team have found a deeper meaning.

A week ago, the expansion project of the Africa Cries Out Base Hospital began. The hospital, built more than 20 years ago, was where one of our heroes Dr. Faye worked until he died in a leprosy village in 2017.

Dr. Faye at work.

Taken March 25, 2013, the medical team of  the Africa Cries Out Base Hospital at  Dr. Faye’s office.

This year, we treated more than a thousand medical and 161 dental patients at the base hospital. Because of limited capacity, we had to use the auditorium of a technical school as a temporary outpatient clinic.

The technical school auditorium being used as our temporary outpatient clinic.

In March of next year, more than 100 people from the medical team who signed up as volunteers will arrive at our base camp in Senegal. To help more people, we must expand the base hospital. Our initial budget was $80,000. However, we have already spent over $200,000 to purchase necessary materials and supplies, including a well-drilling machine that was used to provide the water supply in our base camp in Senegal. Recent additional expenses were for our 52 students at the technical school who graduated last June 2023. This additional cost far exceeded our budget.

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Our prayers were answered when a philanthropist, upon hearing about our hospital expansion, donated $60,000, which enabled us to start our base hospital’s expansion immediately.

Five joyful graduates of our technical school, with the guidance of our engineers, are helping with the base hospital’s expansion.

Higgidio now works as a computer teacher at the technical school and is also one of the leaders in this expansion project. With the help of the base hospital, he went to Brazil for four years of computer studies. After graduation, he returned to the base to continue serving, and there he met his wife. Now his wife is studying nursing and will join the medical team at the base hospital after graduating next year.

Alfred and Moudou are two students who were sent to the Nicole Sisters’ farm to learn organic vegetable planting techniques. They are now responsible for the daily management of the base’s plantation and also teach students planting techniques.

Domingos has been working at our base for 15 years, learning construction, carpentry, and hydroelectric technology. He is in charge of the hospital expansion project.

Ngor is a graduate of architecture from our technical school, working in construction at the base camp since 2018.

Most of these young people that we took in had never taken a train, seen a movie, eaten a hamburger, or used a computer or a cellphone before they came into our technical school. If we have not taken them in and without learning at our technical school, they would have remained in the jungle or dying in the remote villages. It is you, my dear brothers and sisters, who have changed their lives with your love and support. How fortunate they are to have experienced your support at a critical moment in their lives. We also have heroes, like Dr. Faye and Anna Mushi in our Africa Cries Out team, who have selflessly given us their youth, time, and service, changing our and other people’s lives in the process. We have hundreds, if not thousands, of compassionate individuals like you, contributing knowledge, time, and money and actively participating in our ministry. Without your involvement, Africa Cries Out would not be able to achieve anything.

In Africa Cries Out team, we have heroes like Dr. Faye and Anna Mushi who have selflessly given us their time and service, have helped us to be better, changing many lives as a result.

Mrs. Anna Bola – A Hero Embracing Leprosy, Tortured Girls, and Refugees – Dr. Xu Jun’s 2018 West Africa Journey

Building the Eden of West Africa – Ms. Nicole Duman’s Memoir

Africa Cries Out are fortunate and grateful for the hundreds, if not thousands, of caring individuals like you, contributing knowledge, services, and money, and actively engaging in our ministry. Without your involvement, we would not have been able to achieve anything.

So, what is the meaning of life?

It is to dedicate oneself to make a change for the betterment of others. It is to serve, to do good, to do the right thing, and to leave the world a better place than when you found it. It is to help others, just like what Dr. Faye and Anna Mushi did. Life is to change other’s lives with your own. Life only happens once, and a lifetime of giving is better than a lifetime of taking because it is better to give than to receive.

My dear friends, what is more satisfying than seeing someone’s life change forever because of your wholeheartedness? Let us ponder on the meaning of life and dedicate ourselves to changing the lives of others.

If you are moved and willing to support our African ministry, please write a check to Africa Cries Out and send your donation to Jun Xu, MD, 1171 E. Putnam Avenue, Riverside CT 06878 USA. You will receive a tax-exempt receipt recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. You can also send your donations via Zelle: Africacriesout@gmail.com, and via credit card online transaction at https://africacriesout.net/ (credit card companies may charge a fee), and you will also receive a tax-exempt receipt recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

We promise that 100% of your donation will be used for the African people, and not a penny will go to administrative expenses.

Jun Xu WeChat: jun9174343767

Email: Africacriesout@gmail.com

Public WeChat account: LifeExploring (人生天路)

Website: https://africacriesout.net

Author:Jun Xu

Translator: Jeffrey Hu

Editor: Doris Cruz

We are looking for professionals to help edit our website both in Chinese and in English, create short videos, manage public WeChat accounts, etc. If you have talents in these areas and are willing to contribute to Africa Cries Out, please contact us at the above email/WeChat

The post Africa Cries Out Report 202317 What Is The Meaning Of Life? By Jun Xu November 1, 2023 appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

Dry and waterless land

In Africa, water is undoubtedly scarce and precious! The latest report from the World Meteorological Organization in 2022 shows that approximately 250 million people in Africa will be severely affected by water scarcity, with estimates of up to 700 million people displaced by 2030. By 2030, three-quarters of African countries are unlikely to have sustainable water resources. Senegal, located near the Sahara Desert, has many semi-desert regions in the central and eastern areas, where the highest temperatures during the dry season can reach 45°C. In rural areas far from cities, water supply facilities are often old and inadequate, leaving the basic water needs of villagers unmet year-round.

Therefore, drilling into underground water resources has been a long-standing dream and a continued goal for Africa. However, drilling a well in Africa is truly challenging. The cost of just a set of professional drilling equipment, including a drilling rig, air compressor, and large truck, can reach over $200,000. Such high costs have prevented us from putting our dream into practice, but our determination has never wavered.

Living Water River

After years of prayer and waiting, our dream has finally come true this year, thanks to God’s grace and the support of kind-hearted people from around the world. On April 26, 2023, a professional drilling rig and air compressor arrived at our base, and on August 5, our large truck safely made it to the site. We hope that the “living water source” that flows from God will nourish and irrigate this dry land.

On April 26, 2023, Pastor Anna joyfully welcomed the drilling rig and air compressor.

On August 5, 2023, a brand new large truck arrived at the Africa Cries Out Base. Pastor Anna and Pastor Paul took a photo together with the truck, their hearts filled with indescribable joy and gratitude.

The Dream of Well-Drilling

Looking back at the journey we have walked, praying and waiting for the dream of well-drilling, it has been filled with God’s grace and blessings. Despite the immense challenges, we firmly believe that with Him, nothing is impossible!

In May 2001, Pastor Anna went to the leprosy village of Fadiougue, Senegal, where she lived for ten years. During her time there, she witnessed firsthand the water scarcity in the leprosy village. She fundraised from Brazil and provided the village with a well.

In November 2003, on the day when the water well in the leprosy village started flowing, the villagers held buckets and basins, celebrating the realization of a long-cherished dream passed down through generations.

In 2013, we arrived in Guinea-Bissau and took a photo in a village where children were playing in a garbage heap while a mother went to fetch water. Many West African villages cannot afford the high cost of drilling a deep-water well, so they make do with what they have. They don’t wash their hands before and after meals, and they may not bathe for a week, leading to the spread of gastrointestinal infections, skin diseases, and countless deaths from diarrhea and dehydration. Their infant mortality rate is only 50%, and the average life expectancy is only 50 years. If someone lives to be 30, they have reached the end of their life with little hope. Therefore, a well is as crucial to a village as a source of life itself!

On March 9, 2018, we successfully drilled a well at the Africa Cries Out Base. At that time, we couldn’t afford to purchase drilling machinery, so we had to hire a company to do the drilling. The drilling company initially quoted $12,000, and there was no guarantee that they would find water on the first attempt. If they needed to drill again, we would have to pay the same high cost. After negotiating, we finally agreed to start with $9,000 for a trial drilling at two locations. If they couldn’t find water, we would have given them $9,000 for nothing. With faith, we signed the contract, and to our gratitude, they found water on the first attempt, and the water quality met all requirements.

This well, like a living spring given by God, completely resolved our water problem for the 171 members of the 2023 volunteer medical team and the patients at the Africa Cries OutBase. According to expert estimates, this well can meet the water needs of over a thousand local people. Thanks to God’s grace, this experience has made our prayers for the dream of drilling more urgent and filled with confidence!

Entering the nearby village’s gold mine, they are over-exploiting underground water.)

To drill a deep well in Senegal, it costs around $10,000, and it needs to reach a depth of 30-50 meters to find water. This is mainly due to over-extraction, pollution, and lack of regulation of underground water sources. In recent years, especially with the discovery of gold mines in Senegal, gold mining requires a significant amount of water for washing, and wealthy capitalists, local chiefs, and a greedy government have drained the villagers’ only wells for profitable gains. This has made it even more challenging for the villagers to access water and afford the drilling costs, leaving them in a dire situation.

Grace Overflowing

We have witnessed and experienced these tragic situations firsthand, and the water shortage continues to worsen. We pray to God, and we appeal to Christians and compassionate individuals worldwide to help these suffering people. We also know that if we don’t change their living conditions and provide them with wells to address their water needs, much of what we do in Africa would be in vain. While our medical teams can provide temporary treatment for their illnesses, it cannot fundamentally improve their quality of life. The adverse living conditions caused by water scarcity, unhealthy habits, and the source of diseases persist. We want to drill wells for them and pray for God to make a way!

Thank you to all our brothers and sisters and compassionate individuals. In a short amount of time, we have received donations totaling over $200,000. There were generous contributions from entrepreneurs, and some brothers and sisters donated the money they needed for their own lives. Regardless of where the donations came from, they all came from hearts filled with love and passion. To improve the lives of the people in Africa, to change their lives, and to sow the seeds of blessings on African soil, many brothers and sisters and compassionate individuals have offered both their love and money.

Our team in China immediately began purchasing professional equipment and transportation tools. Our brothers responsible for import and export overcame many challenges, provided customs clearance procedures for free, coordinated with shipping companies, and successfully delivered the drilling machinery to Senegal. We are deeply grateful and recognize that God has been at work throughout this entire process, performing wonderful deeds through the environment and people involved!

Well, gush forth with water!

Let those who sing and dance proclaim,

 “My source of water is in you,

I will sing to the well,

I call to the depths, ‘Rise up swiftly!'”

The Africa Cries Out Team expresses gratitude to every compassionate friend and donor. Without your contributions and support, we could not have taken each step. Without your encouragement, we could not have continued our journey. Thank you for joining us in spreading love, light, and warmth to the world. It’s because of you that the world can become a better place!

We are currently seeking professional talent to help edit our website, work on content in both Chinese and English, create short videos, manage our public WeChat account, and more. If you have skills in these areas and are willing to contribute to the Africa Cries OutTeam, please contact us.

If you are willing to support our Africa ministry, please write the check to Africa Cries Out, and mail to  Jun Xu, MD,1171 E Putnam Avenue, Riverside, CT06878, USA, you will receive a tax deductible receipt from IRS.

Zelle: Africacriesout@gmail.com. Credit card to https://africacriesout.net/，however, there will be transaction fees associated with credit card donations. You will receive a tax deductible receipt from IRS

Our team solemnly declares that 100% of your donations will be used for the African people, and we will not have any administrative expenses.

Jun Xu wechat ：jun9174343767, email : Africacriesout@gmail.com, Public Wechat ID：LifeExploring

webpage：https://africacriesout.net

Editors: Hao Wu

Editing team: Wu Hao, Liu Hui, Guo Yuanchun, Duan Xiaohong, Cao Juanjuan, Grace Huang, Yang Zhifeng, Rachel Zhang, Daniel Xu

The post Africa Cries Out Report 2023016 Years of Dreams Come True appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

After 9 months of a strenuous full-time study, the fourth batch of the Africa Cries Out Technical School, celebrated the graduation of 52 students in June 2023. This group of students started their journey at Africa Cries Out Technical School in the second half of 2022, and according to their own wishes, chose the majors offered in school: English, French, electrical engineering, civil engineering, hydraulic engineering, mechanical engineering, printing and dyeing, sewing, and cooking. These majors are certified by the Senegalese National Ministry of Education, and students who complete their studies receives a diploma issued by the Africa Cries Out Technical School. After the students graduate, they undergo and complete a six-month internship program, after which they will obtain a license to practice their chosen field.

This year, there has been a major breakthrough in the composition of students at the Africa Cries Out Technical School. For the first time, we have welcomed female students to live on campus. In a country that is 96% Muslim, it is immensely difficult to convince a family to let their daughters leave home and live in school. Even as all fees are waived for female students, it is still difficult to get family support. Thanks to the Lord for being wonderful. Although it took a lot of convincing and persuasion, we are very happy to have 12 female residents this school year. They are like seeds in the technical schools. As their lives improve, they will one day influence and encourage other girls to join our Africa Cries Out Technical School.

Since the establishment of the Africa Cries Out Technical School, we have received strong financial and all-round support from caring people all over the world. We are very grateful for their love and enthusiasm that allows us to persevere without any worries. Our student fees are all fully supported by the Africa Cries Out Foundation, including tuition, accommodation and meals, which cost us $2,200 per student this year. The total expenditure for school year 2022-2023 of the Africa Cries Out Technical School is approximately $114,400, including the cost of hiring local teachers.

We sincerely thank everyone for their support! Through the many years of operating the technical school, we recognize and acknowledge that without the continuous donations from the caring people who were touched by our mission, we would not be able to achieve the technical school to what it is today. Although the development of the technical school is still in its early stages, with the graduation of the fourth phase students, we believe that our students will disseminate the blessings and teachings of the school to help the school improve and become better. We dream that one day, we can make our technical school an excellent local university.

Report from Pastor Anna: 9 Months of Companionship and Sharing

As we enter into the last week of the school year at the technical school, our hearts are filled with gratitude to the Lord for all He has done so far. There are many emotions in our hearts when it comes to the upcoming separation from our spiritual children. We are so proud to see the growth and changes in their lives.

Yesterday, we had our last service. We visited the Bethel Church in Dhaka where they had their final service, which was a huge blessing to our students.

On Saturday, we went to eat lunch with the students. Many of them were Muslims, and after nine months of companionship and the preaching of the gospel, most of them have chosen to receive the best blessing they could ever have.

This is the last outing that we will have with the dormitory students. During these nine months of intimate exchange, we completely opened ourselves up to the children, devoting ourselves to serve these young people as if they were our own children.

At this moment, we are about to welcome tomorrow’s graduation ceremony, a graduation full of blessings.
We are all so excited!!! We rejoice for our children. They have learned the needed skills and are about to embark on a new journey. However, we are also very sad as graduation also means that we will be separated from them. It seems as if these students of the fourth phase of the Africa Cries Out Technical School just began, yet they are now finished. But with hope in my heart, the next batch will be here soon!

This is a very special day. It is our students’ graduation ceremony!
Rich and surging emotions swell in everyone’s heart. This whole experience has been so wonderful! They have been looking forward to this day, and everyone, as well as their families and pastors were all so proud of them in achieving their goal of successfully graduating. We fought another good fight, and every volunteer felt a sense of accomplishment. God was glorified in everything. Thank you to the Lord for walking with us all the way until now. Thank you to God for putting words of encouragement in our hearts through prayer and helping lead us to overcome one challenge after another, and complete this arduous task together.

Pastor Anna’s report allows us to see that all the efforts and dedication, like a trickle, merge into a stream, irrigating the dry hearts, nourishing the empty brains, and bringing life changes to the Africans. The joy in our hearts is unparalleled.

The Change and Hope That The Lord Brought

Thank you to the Africa Cries Out team and to our supporters. This school only exists because you believed in the vision given by the Lord. The lifetime help for these children is huge, and will surely pay off in heaven. There are 52 students this year. In addition to training them in technological skills, we have also changed their lives. Please take a look at the photos of some students before and after enrollment. In their eyes, you can see God’s blessings. Thank you for your support and trust.

Editor: Vivian Hor, Doris Cruz

The post Africa Cries Out Report 2023019 Africa Cries Out Technical School: The Graduation of 52 Students, June 30th 2023 by Jun Xu, MD appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

Author:  Sarah Souza

This past March, I had the opportunity to serve with the AGWV church and volunteer with Africa Cries Out as a medical assistant in Senegal. During my time on this trip, I was confronted with the harsh realities faced by people living in third-world countries. Two weeks was enough for me to realize what people endure due to poverty, economy, and agricultural instability. This experience shaped my view of the substantially different living circumstances outside the United States and allowed me to be filled with compassion for the less fortunate. With compassion, I was able to serve the villages wholeheartedly while witnessing the Senegalese people live and survive on their day-to-day.

Driving through the different city neighborhoods and villages, I gaped at the buildings and houses and noticed similar themes in different parts of Senegal. Most homes and buildings were made of cement, cardboard, wood, and bamboo; in other villages, many lived in houses held up by sticks and tarps. Even if the homes were exteriorly furnished, they provided no internal support or living space, leaving people with no choice but to sleep on the ground without a proper bed. Due to the polluted cities covered in filth and waste, many people needed proper medical attention and traveled long distances to receive care. Several people walk on foot to reach far destinations. In fact, on the first day of clinicals, numerous people admitted to me that they arrived by foot or bike from far villages. I was amazed by their determination since several of these individuals arrived at 6 a.m., which to me highlighted their desperate need for medical help.

While seeing patients with doctors, I learned a lot about the variety of medical conditions people struggle with in Africa. Even children struggle with great medical conditions and diseases due to a lack of vaccines and micronutrient deficiencies. When we visited a village called Djin Djin in Kedigou, we saw several chicken pox patients and cases of leprosy where people had missing limbs. Among the patients with severe medical conditions, we also saw a lot of other patients with complaints of joint and body aches. However, they could not afford to buy medicine to treat those illnesses or problems. Seeing people’s lack of resources regarding medical support and health was disheartening, especially since many of them were incapable of buying medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, two very common and accessible medications in first-world countries.

Fortunately, I also had the opportunity to spend some time and observe inpatient care at the Senegal Hospital with some of the surgeons who attended the trip. During my time in the hospital, I gained insights from the doctors and watched a few surgeries. This offered me the chance to compare our U.S. hospitals with the Senegal hospitals. The hospital lacked the technology and resources compared to first-world hospitals when it came to not only surgeries, but patient care. We left some of the instruments brought from the U.S. for surgery at the hospital, and according to one of the residents, the hospital we served at was known as one of the best hospitals in Senegal; I can’t fathom how the other hospital facilities are equipped.

My time in the hospital was very invigorating; it was exciting to watch and scrub into surgeries. The two types of surgeries I witnessed and scrubbed into were myomectomy and hysterectomy (surgery of the uterus), which is a major surgery in the U.S. In the U.S., patients are put under anesthesia to feel no pain during surgery; however, in Africa, depending on the surgery, the patient only receives local anesthesia due to the hospital’s budget. In all the surgeries I witnessed, the patient only received local spinal anesthesia. This was very peculiar to witness; I can only imagine the patient’s fear during the surgery. When comparing the rest of the operating room with the U.S., the Senegal O.R. lacks a lot of surgical instruments, lighting, and monitors that are seen regularly here in the U.S.

After speaking to the residents and students who attended the hospital, I soon discovered that medical education in Africa is extremely expensive. Although attending medical school here in the U.S. is costly, African students have to pay more. According to the residents, not only do students have to pay for their education, but they also must pay for their residency program. Whereas here in the U.S., students are paid during their residency. These programs in Africa are extremely underpaid; while residents pay to learn, they are not guaranteed a spot in the hospital they attend. This was astonishing to learn since I aspire to attend medical school one day, and I can’t imagine not only having to pay for my education; but also having to pay to be a resident after graduating. In Senegal, residents are also moved from hospital to hospital every semester due to the hospital’s funding, and only very few have the opportunity to complete their residency program in the same hospital. Unfortunately, this shows that healthcare in Africa lacks patient support and education for upcoming healthcare workers.

This trip was filled with many impactful moments and memories. What impacted me the most was serving with the doctors and hearing people’s struggles. It was unfortunate to learn that many patients struggle with the same disease or pain for years due to a lack of finances and resources to receive help. However, this trip truly opened my eyes to not only be grateful for the resources we have in the U.S., but it also gave me a greater desire to want to further help with these mission trips and help those in need in Africa. This trip not only inspired me to want to help the less fortunate, but it motivated me to keep pursuing medicine and keep pushing to one day fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor. I will forever remember this trip as the first trip that molded and pushed me to stay in the medical field.

The post Africa Cries Out Report 2023018 My Experience Serving in Senegal by Sarah Souza appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

Author: Xu Jun, April 15, 2023

Many people ask me, “I’m not a doctor, what can I do in your medical team?” Based on our 11 years of experience in Africa, your work can be divided into two categories: joining the medical team on-site in Senegal and providing assistance in the United States to help Africa. With dedication, you can definitely make a significant contribution in Senegal.

First, by joining the medical team, you can do the following:

• Participate in organizing the team’s reception work. This year, we need to arrange accommodation and logistics for 171 people, which is a tremendous amount of work. Anna Mushi and the base staff have set the following tasks:

• Accommodation: Precisely arrange beds for each person. Teenagers do not stay with their parents, but those under 13 must stay with their parents. Couples cannot stay together.

• Meals: We mainly cook our own meals and try to avoid eating outside to ensure hygiene.

• Translation: We have 26 doctors visiting three villages each day, along with dentists, gynecological surgery teams, and documentary teams. We require many translators who are proficient in French, English, and the local Woolf language. Translators who meet these criteria are expensive and difficult to find. In the end, we managed to secure 22 translators.

• Transportation: We rented two large buses and utilized two vans and Anna’s car from the base to fulfill transportation needs, including purchasing supplies, airport transfers, and filming documentaries.

• Purchasing: Meeting the food and daily necessities requirements for 171 people involves a significant amount of purchasing and transportation.

Having the above outline is excellent, but how do we execute it? The Brazil and US teams sent a preparatory team a week in advance to the base, diligently implementing each project. If you have time, you can join us in the preparations for next year.

Some people asked me, as a Chinese, how could we, who are not doctors, participate? This year, the Chinese members of our team are familiar with the name Jack Yang. Last year, he brought his son Jason to Senegal, and a deep sense of compassion burned in his heart. This year, he brought his son to Africa again.

Jack himself is an elite in the American business community. When he visited Senegal last year, he voluntarily joined our team and provided valuable advice for the development of the base. The picture shows Jack meeting Mr. Backwell, the US Economic Consul in Senegal.

This year, Jack actively participated in our work. First, he helped us with registration. Over 90 people registered this year, but many canceled later, while others requested to join at the last minute. We needed to keep track of the number of people, their gender, age, and handle various individual questions and requests. Thanks to Jack’s patient registration and careful answering of questions, our registration process went smoothly. Each person at the base received name tags, accommodation assignments, and grouping, and Jack played an indispensable role in making this happen.

Jack played a key role in logistics support this year, relieving the pressure on organizers and allowing us to focus on other important issues.

Mrs. Xiaohong, upon meeting us at the airport, immediately began actively serving our ministry. At JFK Airport in New York, our luggage was overweight. She, along with her daughter Rachel, found a way to reorganize everyone’s belongings. In the end, she even negotiated with the Senegal airport manager to allow all the luggage to be taken on the plane free of charge.

Mrs. Xiaohong, along with other non-medical volunteers, also provided logistical support for our team.

Assisting children in guiding patients.

Our non-medical team also has a responsibility to adhere to the principle of “not leaving anyone behind.” They always count the number of people getting on and off the bus to ensure that every adult and child returns on the bus.

Upon returning, our non-medical team immediately helped us hold a general meeting and a youth team summary meeting to review and learn from the experience for the next year. They also made specific suggestions, such as conducting English teaching at the base to provide more opportunities for interaction between young people and local students.

Secondly, if you are currently in the United States, there is even more you can do for the development of Africa Cries Out:

Help us raise funds. Every year, we support 40 technical school students by providing free room, board, and tuition. The annual cost per person is approximately $2,200, so a total of $88,000 is needed for the 40 students. This is our annual fixed expenditure. If you can find families willing to support one or two students each year, we can provide the students’ names, photos, and contact information, allowing your children and friends’ children to grow together with them.

Assist in the construction of our campus. We are waiting for a local company to repair our Wi-Fi connection. Once the Wi-Fi is established, we need teachers to remotely teach English, French, computer, and other engineering courses.

Help us with the construction of our hospital. We are fundraising to build a simple hospital with operating rooms to prepare for next year’s medical team’s visit to Africa. We hope to purchase medical equipment from China and establish simple gynecology, ophthalmology, abdominal surgery, and orthopedic surgery rooms.

Assist our well-drilling team. We are in the process of purchasing drilling machinery and handling related procedures. If you have expertise in this area, please help us.

Help with our farm. We currently have a farm and a chicken farm, and we have employees working there. We would be grateful for any guidance you can provide.

• There are many other projects that we cannot tell you about at the moment. When you arrive in the area, you will feel a sense of passion urging you to think and a never-dying flame of love burning in your heart. Naturally, you will come up with ways to contribute to Africa. This feeling is also the driving force for many of our volunteers to come back again.

Some people have asked how we manage a team of 171 people flying from the United States to Senegal, with various staff members. How do we ensure the team’s safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, and so on? Just thinking about coordinating airport pickups and drop-offs at different times can be overwhelming. How have we managed to arrange all of this? How has Africa Cries Out been able to sustain its presence in Senegal for 11 years?

The answer lies in love and a sense of responsibility. When you have love in your heart and you see poverty, you feel that love is a responsibility. When you use your mind and hands to bring forth the springs of love in barren lands, you feel that love is a responsibility, a mission bestowed upon you by God. You fulfill this responsibility with love and manifest your compassion through your sense of duty.

Editors: Hao Wu

Editing team: Wu Hao, Liu Hui, Guo Yuanchun, Duan Xiaohong, Cao Juanjuan, Grace Huang, Yang Zhifeng, Rachel Zhang, Daniel Xu

The post Africa Cries Out Report 2023012 I’m not a doctor, what can I do in Senegal appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

Author Dr. Zhao Rong,  March 2023

Thanks to God for giving me the opportunity to participate in this medical mission. I have been following this mission led by Dr. Xu for a long time. Since becoming a resident physician, I have had the idea of participating in a medical mission. Finally, after completing my residency training and obtaining my medical license, the COVID-19 pandemic ended.

This year is the first time Dr. Xu’s medical mission has a surgical team. At the beginning, I was the only anesthesiologist who signed up, and I was very uneasy psychologically, as this would be my first time going to Africa alone to practice medicine. So I prayed urgently to God, and soon Dr. He joined, followed by Dr. Wang. During the preparation phase, many commonly used drugs were not available. At that time, Dr. Jiang, who had participated in medical missions before, and Dr. Wang, both said that having the drugs for spinal anesthesia was enough. At that time, I thought they were very bold. Because it was my first time participating in a medical mission, I brought all the emergency drugs. Before each surgery, Dr. Jiang, the gynecologist, and Pastor Felix, who accompanied us, led the surgical team to pray for the patients. One of the sentences impressed me deeply, which meant “healing and saving people is not because of our own efforts, but because God has given us such ability.” This surgical week, we mainly performed spinal anesthesia or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Occasionally we used drugs to raise blood pressure. At this time, when I recalled the prayer before the surgery, I really felt that what we were doing was in accordance with God’s grace. As Philippians 2:13 says, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Thank you for God’s grace and power.

The surgical team is in the operating room in Senegal

The surgical team is at Pastor Felix’s house

The influence of volunteer doctors on the next generation

Before I came, I saw a lot of information about volunteer doctors. I was particularly impressed by Dr. Xu’s leadership of the volunteer doctor team, mainly because the activity also had arrangements for teenagers. Especially when Dr. Xu spoke from personal experience, talking about the changes in his own son before and after participating in the volunteer doctor activities. My child is in the teenage stage, usually indifferent to things around her, and tends to ignore them. She is the kind of person who wouldn’t even lift a finger to help if an oil bottle fell on the ground. This is also the main reason why I chose to participate in this volunteer doctor activity.

First of all, I was surprised that my child was willing to come. Because I had previously sent her to learn horse riding, and she did not like it because it was hot and there were many mosquitoes, which are basically characteristics of Africa. This volunteer doctor activity brought significant changes in my child. I was in the surgical group, living in the city, while my child followed the large team and lived at the base. On Monday morning, before 7 o’clock, my child sent me a text message saying that she had a stomach ache and vomited. I asked if she could still go to the leprosy village, and she said she could, without any problems. Then she said that another child in the same room had a similar symptom, so I asked her to go to the internal medicine team to see if she needed medication. I had prepared electrolyte drinks for her to prevent dehydration, and finally, she used them to prevent dehydration. She did everything according to my instructions, without any hesitation. This surprised me again. Before coming, I was very worried that my child would be intimidated by the conditions and mosquitoes in Africa and might withdraw. For this reason, I specially called Dr. Xu to communicate. In fact, even if my child was not feeling well, she was still optimistic about going with the large team. Thanks to God’s protection, she arrived safely at the leprosy village and was able to quickly recover and participate in the team’s work.

Another thing also made me feel that my child was growing up and learning to care for others and take responsibility. On the last day of Friday, she sent me a text message, saying that she was with Dr. Vicky (a radiologist) seeing patients. There was a young woman among the patients who said that she had been pregnant a year ago, and all kinds of tests showed that the fetus was no longer there, but she had not resumed menstruation, and she felt that the fetus was still inside her body. Due to language barriers, these fragmented pieces of information seemed unreasonable. Dr. Jiang, the gynecologist, was humorous and said that we were a dream team. The radiologist was seeing patients on-site, the teenager was passing on information, and the anesthesiologist was conducting remote consultations. Finally, with the help of Dr. Jiang, they decided to let the patient and the internal medicine team return to the base together, and the surgical team would examine the patient at the base. Although the information my child conveyed in the process was initially fragmented and illogical, I felt that my child was very concerned about this patient, and she tried various ways to help the patient. When she couldn’t figure it out, she immediately knew to consult a specialist doctor, and her actions were very methodical. It was very different from her usual indifferent attitude towards things around her at home. When I saw my child on Friday night, I noticed that she had lost weight, but there was confidence and happiness on her face. She also said that unforgettable phrase, “I will never complain again…” This sentence left a deep impression on me. It was Dr. Xu sharing his reflections on his child’s first experience of volunteering in Senegal. It reminded me of the words of Bible about the relationship between parents and children. Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” And in 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Youth are learning how to receive patients

Thanks to God, and thanks to Dr. Xu for his years of faithful service to the Lord. Not only have the people of Senegal been blessed, but also us, the participants.

Author bio: Rong Zhao, female, anesthesiologist at Jersey Shore Hospital in New Jersey.

Editor: Hui Liu

Editing Team: Liu Hui, Wu Hao, Guo Yuanchun, Duan Xiaohong, Cao Juanjuan, Grace Huang, Yang Zhifeng, Rachel Zhang, Daniel Xu

The post Africa Cries Out Report 2023013 Senegal Medical Mission – Let us be blessed together appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

Author Jack Yang

On the evening of March 16, 2023, at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, my older son Jason and I set off for Senegal, a West African country, to begin our second mission trip along with many other volunteers.

After taking off, as I sat on the plane and looked out the window at the quiet night, my heart was filled with countless emotions. Reflecting on my decision last year to embark on my first trip to Africa, I was filled with a complex mix of curiosity and concern. I had both a strong desire to help the impoverished and yet significant worries about the rampant virus and social instability in the area. However, after ten days of providing medical assistance, I gained a deeper understanding of the people living in this land of yellow soil and formed strong bonds with my fellow volunteers. Therefore, as I set foot on this journey once again, my heart was filled only with anticipation.

Compared to last year’s team of fewer than twenty people, this year’s team is on an unprecedented scale. We have a total of one hundred and seventy volunteers, including twenty-six doctors and thirty-four students. The youngest student is only nine years old.

Ample manpower allowed me, as a non-medical member, to engage in conversations and collaborate with the accompanying students during our breaks while assisting the team. It gave me the opportunity to witness the admirable qualities and progress displayed by these students throughout the activities.

The stark contrast in living conditions was a tremendous shock for these children from the United States. The outdoor environment was engulfed in a haze of yellow dust and sand, with temperatures reaching nearly forty degrees Celsius(equivalent to 104 degrees Fahrenheit). Indoors, there was no air conditioning, and students found themselves sharing rooms with complete strangers. Hot water for bathing was non-existent, and they must endure mosquito bites during the night. Initially, most of the children reacted with astonishment, and a few even struggled to accept the circumstances. However, after the initial surprise worn off, they swiftly adjusted their mindset and adapted to the new environment. They took the initiative to introduce each other and quickly become close “comrades.” They set aside their exhaustion from the long flights and jet lag, immersing themselves in sorting medications and preparing medical equipment.

Adding to the challenge is the early wake-up time of 5 a.m. to prepare breakfast for the team. Before the sun rises, students sleepily gathered in the kitchen, spontaneously forming small groups to collaborate on cooking. Apparently some students have never set foot in a kitchen at home, yet the experienced ones took the initiative to provide on-site training. With great enthusiasm, they work tirelessly, and in less than an hour, a nutritious breakfast for over a hundred people was made ready. 

There were endless thatched huts with leaking roofs, lack of food and clothing, and polluted drinking water. Both adults and children were severely malnourished, their bodies emaciated. The majority of the patients we encountered suffered from various inflammations and unexplained pains, enduring prolonged agony without the means to seek medical care. It was a completely different world, as one student put it: everything he took for granted back home simply did not exist here. The students began to comprehend the sheer misfortune of living in such conditions. Their empathy was fully awakened, and they wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to assisting the doctors to diagnose and treat the patients.

The doctors were enthusiastic about teaching the students through practical demonstration. They not only shared medical knowledge but also encouraged students to analyze medical conditions, write prescriptions, and even perform basic surgical procedures. Through this application-oriented learning process, the children’s interest in medicine was sparked, and they began to recognize their own worth. As a result, many of them developed a desire to study medicine and save lives in the future.

They are kind, thirsty for knowledge, and ready to assist others. They quickly formed strong bonds with the student volunteers. Despite the language barrier, the friendship between these two groups of young men and women was quickly developing. The volunteers distributed shoes, computers, and mobile phones they collected from their hometown among their new friends. In a heartwarming gesture, the vocational students wholeheartedly invited their new friends to their gratitude ceremony, where they danced together in harmony.

The ten-day journey in Africa quickly flew by amidst the team’s busy schedule from morning till night. During this trip, the team provided medical services to nearly 2,500 patients across eleven villages. The gynecology team successfully performed eight surgeries, while the dental team conducted tooth extractions and fillings for 160 patients. The dedicated teenage students selflessly donated the items they had collected in their spare time before their trip: 1,000 pairs of new flip-flops, over 300 pairs of sports shoes, 55 laptops, 70 mobile phones, and 10 wheelchairs. All of these generous contributions were given to the local residents, making a significant impact on their lives.

Upon leaving, many students expressed that their journey in Africa had given them a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. They realized that life is not solely about personal success and satisfaction but also about helping others and progressing together. As Jason aptly put it, “I feel so lucky that I will never complain again.” As a parent accompanying these students, I am deeply impressed with their resilience, unity, and compassion when faced with challenges. This journey has made them value everything they have and appreciate the sacrifices their parents and families have made for them.

These young men and women, driven by a common goal, came together, endured hardships, and formed strong bonds of friendship. They now inspire one another to make a difference in the lives of the needy ones. Although what they did now may seem simple, they are like a beacon of hope for those in desperate need. Their acts of care and selflessness will serve as a source of inspiration for their peers, encouraging them to embrace love, persevere, and strive to create a healthier and more beautiful world for all.

The post Africa Cries Out Report 2023017 Returning to Africa appeared first on Africa Cries Out.

Author Cyan Ding, 10th grade, Davis Senior High School, CA

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. I never would have thought I would enter Africa before college, much less serve on a medical missionary trip. 

Thinking back to how this journey began, I find myself astonished at how fast it ended. Not only did I learn much about medicine, but I also found much personal growth. Let me take you along with me through each step I took in this adventure.  

3/18.

My first day at the base. We finally arrived at the airport in Dakar, capital of Senegal after a transfer flight from San Francisco to New York. Senegal is one of the most awe-inspiring yet foreign places I have ever been. Coming from California, I did not feel affected by the arid, dry climate Senegal had. But the lack of buildings and the desert terrain was quite new to me. After getting introduced to the home and conditions I would be living in for a reasonable extent of my stay, the new norm gradually began to set in. I would have to get used to not having air conditioning, clean water, or as-comfortable living conditions. This would eventually become a testament to my adaptability and perseverance. 

3/19

It is midnight. Jet lag had me waking up sporadically. A lack of sleep due to outside noise was a common theme throughout this trip. Before I knew it, the clock ticked 6 am, and it was time for breakfast duty. The youth made scrambled eggs for the rest of the group, and everyone enjoyed the modest breakfast. This would be one of the better breakfasts I would have on this trip. The rest of the day was spent visiting one of the local churches, a fun experience with enjoyable music and singing. Afterwards, we visited the House of Slaves on Gorée island and learned about the history of the African slave trade. The next day I would be waking up at 5 am, and I was drop-dead exhausted.

3/20

Today we departed on a 12-hour bus ride to Kedougou, our first stop in treating patients. The base there was minimal but contained enough amenities to sleep comfortably. However, through a mistake in the shower, I ruined a full set of clothes I had packed and had to sleep in the daytime-clothes of the previous day. We slept on mattresses on the floor. 

3/21

We woke up nice and early and departed to a hotel where the rest of the team slept. After concluding breakfast there, we drove to the village where we would be treating patients. Throughout the day, I learned how to triage, take patients’ blood pressure, and write prescriptions. Shadowing doctors here was quite interesting, as I got to witness some casualties of leprosy; some patients had multiple limbs amputated due to bacterial infection. We treated upwards of 200 patients. After getting lunch and treating a few more patients, we returned to the hotel and settled for repose. 

3/22

Wednesday already. I cannot believe how fast time flies. Looking back on the time I’ve spent in Africa so far, I could not believe that I was already used to this place. Cold showers, groggy mornings, the dusty and dry air, and all the living conditions I resided in. It all seemed to blend into drawn-out, tiring days of sunrise and sunset. After beginning the 13-hour bus drive, I quickly found myself nauseous and carsick. But thanks to the caring doctors on the bus, I survived, only vomiting a few times. This was my first experience with acupuncture too. I can personally attest to the beneficial effects of this treatment. 

3/23

Today, we departed to a different village to treat more patients. An estimated 250 patients were treated on this day, and in gratitude, the village chief gave us a tour of the village he resided in. In a place so arid, I marveled at the beauty and lusciousness of the village that the chief and village men had managed to create.

3/24

The last day. After a filling breakfast of bread, we headed to the final village. Everyone was here now for the treatment of a final batch of patients, and I rotated across assisting a few different doctors. Patients came in and left with a prescription paper. Some youths played with some drums, and we handed kids lollipops. I conversed with a translator, and learnt about the common dialect the natives spoke. Later that day, the surgical team returned, and at dinner, everyone at the base enjoyed a bountiful meal. The youth gifted the local students their computers, and I can still remember the hopeful and grateful smiles on the students’ faces. 

This trip was an incredible experience. I experienced my first time shadowing doctors and seeing patients. It was also my first time living alongside people from a whole different world than me and coming to an understanding that although they were not born in a privileged household like I was, they too have the driven mindset to improve the world they live in.  

One adventure ends. But another one begins as life returns to normal, and I find myself searching for ways to contribute to Africa Cries Out and to do my share to better this world.

Editor:  Rachel Zhang

Editing Team: Liu Hui, Wu Hao, Guo Yuanchun, Duan Xiaohong, Cao Juanjuan, Grace Huang, Yang Zhifeng, Rachel Zhang, Daniel Xu

The post Africa Cries Out Report 2023016 Journey to Africa appeared first on Africa Cries Out.