On September 4, several members of Kateri Medical Services board of directors traveled to London to honor Archbishop Josiah Fearon as he was commissioned as the new Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.  In this new role, he serves as an ambassador to all of the Churches of the world-wide Anglican Communion, which includes 80 million people in 165 countries of the world.  

Pictured above is 1) Archbishop Josiah, 2) a large group photo with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the former President of Nigeria Osulegun Obasanjo, many visiting archbishops and bishops from all over the world. 3) A smaller group photo with Archbishop Josiah, his wife Comfort and visitors from the U.S. and Canada.

During the service of commissioning, Archbishop Josiah was recognized for his role as a reconciler between different Christian groups and also between Christians and Muslims in his native Nigeria. We have been part of this mission of reconciliation through the work of Kateri Medical Clinic since our inception..

Thirteen years ago, Archbishop Josiah, Rev. Tom Furrer, John Hart and Jim Lawson shared a dream to open a medical clinic in a rural market town of Kateri.  The Kaduna Diocese had been given funds to renovate a building but had no funds to pay the medical staff.  Rev. Furrer, John hart and Jim Lawson agreed to try to raise the funds at their parish Trinity Church in Tariffville, Connecticut. The following spring, they held their first fund raising event, hoping to raise enough funds for one doctor and one nurse for three years.  They needed to to raise $45,000 to reach the goal. In one night, they raised $ 48,000 and the clinic was up and running.  It has continued ever since. The motivation for the clinic has been to demonstrate the love of God through medical care.  Even though the clinic is funded and administered by Christians, we offer medical care to everyone: Christians, Muslims and adherents of African traditional religions. Our main goal is to provide simple , decent medical care to people in need.  A secondary goal is to be a force for reconciliation between adherents of different faiths.  We strive to present an alternative religious narrative of reconciliation (rather than the dominant narrative of violence between Christians and Muslims ) in Nigeria.

We helped a record number of people on our annual intensive medical mission from July 26 through August 8.

All together, we provided medical service to 7,708 people.  Of these about 33% were children.  About 33% were Muslims and 66 % Christians. About 60% female and 40% male.

Eye care was provided to 1,500 people and 894 pairs of presciption eye glasses were given to individuals who needed them.

Dental care was provided your 900 people, including many extractions of rotten teeth.

Counseling and prayer we're offered to 6,500 people. Of these, 204 people made a significant spiritual commitment. (Everyone is offered spiritual counseling and prayer, but if they do not wish to receive it, we provide medical care and medicine as we do with event other patient.)

Several patients who were diagnosed with cataracts we're schedule for surgery at our regular clinic in Kateri.  On September 19 and 20, a team of eye surgeons conducted an intensive eye clonic.  During this two days, 48 people received surgery to remove cataracts. 

This year was our best year so far in terms of the number of people we were able to help.  Thanks to all of our supporters for making this possible.