Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the Feb. 5, 2004 edition of the Inland Register)

Two Religious Sisters from Ghana will get much needed medical help, thanks to Chaplain Lynn Riggins of Spokane. The two women had been treating their medical conditions since 2001 with little success.

Two Sisters of Mary, the Mother of the Church, arrived from Africa in Spokane Jan. 29, to be greeted by Riggins “with warm coats.” The women will stay at the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Names.

Riggins began writing letters four months ago, to get help for the Sisters. He knew what to do this time, having helped another Sister in the order in Ghana get surgery in 1992.

Sister Esther Honugah, 30, will be treated by neurosurgeon Dr. Dean Martz for a back ailment. Sister Scholastica Awotsitsi, 38, will be treated by Rockwood Clinic. Other medical providers include PAML, the Physicians Anesthesia Group, Inland Imaging and the Internal Medicine Residents’ group. Sacred Heart Hospital will provide hospitalization if needed.

Riggins worked at a hospital in Ghana for a number of years and became well-acquainted with the Sisters. He took no credit, saying he was “only the Lord’s messenger. These kinds of things just seem to come my way.”