STORIES

Getting Personal with Our Patients

February 24, 2014 By steve@genesisch.org

Originally written by Steven Reames

I am always amazed when I make the time to sit down with the people we serve. The stories of individual change, challenge, and triumph humble me. It’s a very personal thing for people to share honestly what has happened in their lives: some are very reluctant to talk and others will go on for a long time. Just this past week, I sat down with a video camera to capture just a few personal stories that illustrate so many of our patient’s journeys.

One man was thrown out of a high paying job as a metropolitan-sized city police officer because he blew the whistle on shady dealings. Since then, he has come to the clinic and is finding a healthy way to cope with his loss and get help for his diabetes.
One woman who, because of her poor health, didn’t think she would live long enough to see her son get married. Not only did she get to do the mother-son dance with him, but now her second son is engaged and her health has improved markedly.
One man who decided to quit smoking here because the clinic gave him meaning back in his life.

We will be featuring some of these stories at our upcoming annual dinner, where you’ll get a snippet of the life transformation coming about because of amazing community support.

2014 Dinner & Auction Wrap-up

February 10, 2014 By steve@genesisch.org

Thank you for your generosity!

The 2014 Faith Hope and Love Dinner and Auction was a smashing success, thanks to the generosity of both those who gave at the auction as well as those who gave for it. With over 250 people in attendance, the gala event helped raise more than $73,000 for the annual fund of Genesis World Mission. This allows us to continue our work bringing empowerment to remote villages like Burangi Kenya as well as to the neighbors in our own backyard in Boise Idaho.

We were challenged to think about treating with love, moving beyond just charity care, which involves a deeper relational committment to those in need. Not only did we hear stories of transformation by our patients, staff and board members, but those who attended have now become part of the story. To find out how you can deepen your investment, please call us at 854-3942.

Transformation begins with Relationship

January 24, 2014 By steve@genesisch.org

originally written by: Steven Reames

The goal of Genesis is not just to assist people in their time of need. It is to start with the need as a springboard for a relationship that leads to health transformation through an empowerment process.

There are some people who just need temporary health assistance and that is fine. But usually, the people we are helping have been in their desperate circumstance for a long time. The most loving thing we can do to assist them is figuring out why and together coming up with solutions to change that.

This is not an easy task because long-term problems require long-term investment and assistance in people’s lives, with successes and setbacks along the way. But it is well worth it.

We have seen the smiles of people who suddenly have an “AHA!” moment. Recently, we introduced our wellness wheel concept to a patient at the Garden City Community Clinic. As this woman began to see how different aspects of her life affected her health – relationships, recreation, food choices and so on – she sat back in her chair temporarily stunned. “Why didn’t you tell me this four years ago when I first came to the clinic?” It’s the beginning of a new phase for her as she starts on a pathway of holism.

It was about the same time, in 2009, that we began our work in Burangi and the road we’ve travelled – literally and figuratively – is not usually smooth or straight. But once again, we have seen dramatic changes during that time: people with new income opportunities, men whose livelihood is regained through medical treatment, a decrease in cholera related to flooding. The hope is even brighter as the assistance we’ve given them on their access road comes to completion.

Your investment and contributions have made this kind of change possible and we’re glad to have you partner with us in the work.

2014 Dinner & Auction Preview

January 1, 2014 By steve@genesisch.org

Faith Hope and Love Auction and Dinner
Sunday March 2, 2014 4-7 PM

We are looking forward to this Sunday’s Faith Hope and Love Dinner and Auction. It will be a time to celebrate the transformational work of Genesis World Mission in individuals and communities. In case you’ve never attended our event before, we want to help you get prepared too:

Proudly Sponsored by

What to Wear: Generally men dress “informal” (see here for standard definition!) and ladies dress “informal” to “semi-formal.”

No tuxes or black ties are necessary, but feel free to dress as fancy as you like too!

When:

Sunday March 2nd

4 PM Social Hour and Silent Auction

5 PM Dinner, Program and Live Auction

Where:

The Riverside Hotel Ballroom

2900 W Chinden Blvd in Garden City

Free parking on the East Side of the Hotel towards the Connector

Things to Bid On:

Got the Need, the Need for Speed? – Here’s your chance to be in a real cockpit, in the air, flying in aerial combat engagements.
SCUBA Dooby Do Ya Wanna Go to Mexico – Open Water SCUBA Lifetime Certification plus two tickets to Puerto Vallarta and a 3 night stay at the Casa de la Ventana Bed and Breakfast.
All Seasons Adventure Pack for 4 – overnight package for four including dinner out, tickets to the Steelheads hockey game, two hotel suites, and a hot air balloon ride in Boise.
Gourmet Meal Prepared in your Home – enjoy the services of Saint Alphonsus’ Executive Chef Vern Bauer in your home for 5-6 people paired with some high quality wines.
Gas BBQ, Steaks and Garden City Beers – learn from a chef how to prepare the ultimate steak as you break in your new stainless steel grill with your buddies.
Exquisite hand blown glass vase flower arrangements
Adventure days, unique artwork, gift certificates and service packages
$25 Wine Wall sponsored by The Muse Wine Bistro. Take your chances at pulling a very nice wine from the wine wall. Even the average wines are really good! This year you will be able to enjoy your wine at the event or take it home to enjoy later.

Tickets: If you have RSVP’d, your name is your ticket into the event. No physical tickets are issued.

Table Hosts: If you are a table hosts, please email us your table guests name by Thursday in order for us to expedite their entry. Also, please forward this information to your guests as well.

Payment: If you haven’t paid yet, you can do so at the event. We can receive cash, checks, and major credit cards.

Above all, thank you for taking your Sunday afternoon to join us. We are so grateful for the community of engaged supporters like you that are investing in the future of health for people in real need.

Dental MASH Unit

December 27, 2013 By steve@genesisch.org

In late September, Garden City Community Clinic organized the a half-day Dental MASH
Outreach. Through this project, we were able to see 62 of our pre‐screened patients in a single day, utilizing the services of 80 volunteers. This helped clear our waiting list at the Garden City location so that we are able to respond to emergency and acute dental appointment needs more quickly. Services rendered were calculated at about $38,700.

The partnership included Carrington College, Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation, United Way of Treasure Valley, Saint Alphonsus, College of Western Idaho, Idaho State Dental Association and several area dental suppliers.

We are eager and planning to repeat the event again in April. To find out how you can volunteer, please visit our volunteer page.

Development of “Wheel of Life” Tool

December 24, 2013 By steve@genesisch.org

After several meetings with patients about what factors affect their health, the Garden City Community Clinic is designing a wellness wheel called the “Circle of Life.” Over the years, we we have discovered that our patients repeatedly come up with the common areas of that impact their health. For the first time we will provide a unified tool that will assist them to identify their areas of strengths and needs.

Ultimately, the “Circle of Life” will provide patients and our medical team a holistic roadmap for an individual’s health. We will point patients to the many resources that we have available directly and through other community resources.