Over the past 30 years, these hands have healed thousands of patients in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. They have stopped bleeding, removed cancer, delivered babies, straightened bones, reconnected tendons, removed infections, sutured lacerations, and more. They have also folded in prayer over many patients who had surgery at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital.
For years, these hands have been going numb and had trouble during long surgeries, but most recently, the numbness has been constant and even the most basic functions became challenging. These are the hands of Dr. Jim Radcliffe, a mission surgeon who has served at the hospital for more than 30 years.
Dr. Mike Pyle, a former Nazarene missionary to Swaziland who has done a number of carpal tunnel surgeries, recently arrived at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, leading a volunteer team from Olivet Nazarene University.
After reviewing Radcliffe’s case, Pyle put his healing hands to work by praying for the surgery and then relieving the compression on Radcliffe’s median nerve, which was causing his carpal tunnel syndrome. The numbness has already gone down, and Radcliffe expects to use his hands to heal once again soon.
Mike and his wife, Nancy, have been bringing teams of Olivet students to Kudjip for mission experience for five years. The students work on service projects such as painting or building along with building relationships with the national staff. Additionally, the students shadow doctors, help out in the pharmacy, and spend time with the hospital chaplains. Many of the students are pursuing medical education and have an expressed interest in missions. This year’s team was comprised of 22, including Mike and Nancy.
