Singing and Cents

A few years ago, our Pastor of leads in the area of worship approached me with an Idea about combining worship and helping our local nonprofits out. Out of that conversation ... our ALM (a little bit more) concerts were born. In a few weeks, we will be doing our eighth concert. This time around, we are helping out Good news health clinic. The following is a article written about the clinic.

Good News Health Clinic

A couple weeks ago, Clyde Olar, 24, a Romanian immigrant, was fixing a wall outside his home, using a tile saw to cut a stone so it would fit into the structure.

That’s when a piece of rock flew off the stone and struck him in his left eye, which swelled up, according to his American-born wife, Priscilla, 20.

Although the husband and wife are employed, they don’t have health insurance and delayed having Clyde’s eye checked due to lack of money.

However, a relative referred them to the Good News Community Health Center in Rockwood, which treats folks without health insurance.

Patients pay $10 per visit, a fee they also can pay through community service — volunteering at a food cupboard, for example — if they don’t have the money.

Clyde had his eye checked out at Good News and was referred to an eye specialist, the couple says. As they sat in the clinic after their visit, with their 9-month-old daughter, Giselle, the couple noted their gratitude to Dr. Robert “Bob” C. Sayson, the clinic’s director.

“He’s just such a great guy,” Priscilla says. “He’s a man of God.”

Caution to the wind

Sayson, known as “Dr. Bob” to his patients, is humbled by any praise.

“I should really say this is the Lord’s clinic, not mine,” he says, noting he and his wife, Alice, decided to live on their savings and devote their lives to the poor back in 2007 when Good News opened.

“If we take care of God’s poor, won’t he take care of us?” he says, noting the nonprofit clinic relies on donations and more than 40 volunteers to exist.

Sayson brings a wealth of experience to his position. The Filipino native has medical experience in his homeland as well as China, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, and practiced internal medicine in Gresham from 1991 to 2006 before opening Good News in 2007.

Sayson notes his experiences working with the poor abroad, as well as with Compassion Rockwood, an annual health-care outreach event supported by many East County churches and organizations, inspired him to establish Good News.

Although the center is faith-based — its emblem shows the cross of Jesus between those of the two thieves crucified with him — its staff treats “Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Pagans” as well as Christians and nonbelievers, the doctor says with a smile.

“We always respect people of other faiths,” he says, noting the clinic’s patients include the homeless, the unemployed and the working poor.
Body and soul

Kristine (who asked that her last name not be used) has just finished up another appointment with the staff at Good News, and notes she’s recovering from addiction to cocaine.

She’s needs medication to deal with such ailments as severe migraines and anxiety and has seen other doctors over the years, but prefers Sayson because he doesn’t just prescribe medication — he spends time talking to her about her life.

“He’s just so gentle, and he doesn’t judge, and he’s just really easy to talk to,” she says. “We got to talk about where I was, what I’m going through, what I need — and I got a flu shot, all for $10!” Sayson carefully prescribes medication, she adds, noting addicts like her can actually wind up falling back into substance abuse if their doctors aren’t diligent about monitoring their use of prescription drugs.

“This is a healthy relationship for me,” she says with a smile.

Before, after

Talk to the folks who volunteer at the center, and they repeatedly note the deep sense of satisfaction they get from seeing homeless people regain their sense of dignity, the poor their sense of security and the anxious their sense of peace.

Barb Carlson, who attends Sayson’s church, Good Shepherd Community in Boring, spends time at the clinic walking patients through the steps they need to take to improve their health — losing weight, quitting smoking, that kind of thing. She is always moved by the financial plight of the patients.

“The tremendous cost of medical bills would make it literally impossible for them to get the help they need without this place being here,” she says.

She adds she delights in making the drive to volunteer here each week.

“This is probably the most loving, supportive environment that I have been in,” she says. “It’s pleasant to be here. It doesn’t feel like work.”

Jerilyn Rathke, nurse volunteer coordinator, enjoys seeing lives transformed and recalls one former patient who was homeless and looked it when he came into the center his first time. Weeks later, she ran into him at a local store.

“I could not believe how healthy looking he was,” she says. “He just looked so happy.”

“I wish we could take before-after pictures,” Leah Anderson, one of the center’s office managers, adds. “Because it’s so amazing how people’s lives change — not just their appearance, but everything about them.”

Good News Community Health Center, 18000 S.E. Stark St. / 503-489-0567 / goodnewschc.org

So, come and join us help another great place out and worship our lord.

Date: October 16
Time: 7:30 pm
Place 27132 SE Stark Street Troutdale Oregon 97060

Have a Great day