What are the benefits of short-term mission trips? Who should be going on mission? What are the disadvantages of going on a Medical mission trip? It is time for me to soliloquy, these thoughts as I prepare to wide up a two weeks medical mission in Nakuru - Kenya. At the moment I am in the comfort of my Guest house thinking about what we as a group have accomplished. Based on the many needs and the problems people have, I kind of think that we have done very little. However, little here little there equals to too much.
In this group are; one doctor and six nurses all of whom have variety of qualifications and specialties. Two of the nurses are forensic nurses, three are women specialty, and one is a general practice nurse working with children. Many people who go on medical mission trips with our team are not medical doctors or nurses. One can go on a trip in a support role like I did as a chaplain and organizer.
Those going on our medical missions have to make arrangements to have someone on call, take care for patients while one is gone. During these medical missions one is giving up income while he or she is gone. There are expenses of going...time away from family. Much of this is true for anyone who goes on our medical missions to Africa.
What are the benefits? You will use the skills you were trained to use. You will have to connect with people and provide what care you can. You won't get bogged down with insurance, h.m.o's, prescription plans, etc.
You can have the opportunity to practice medicine in a different context, and the opportunity to help save many lives. Lives that could have perished if no one make this trip a reality. Skip one of the nurses in this group said; “I never have seen so many patients in such s short time.” This trip was so successful that the group managed to see over 35,000 patients in 9 days. Because of time constraints, the number of people who need health care, and a variety of issues you see, there is a sense of immediacy and urgency, in doing a follow up trip in the near future.
What are other benefits when you join a medical mission trip with us? A better understanding of what it is like in other countries. You realize that other countries and cultures are different. Having lived in the US for close to 10 years today, I have learned that many people have not been outside of the US, which makes their world view different from others who have traveled on missions. This because US is a developed country unlike third world countries. While on missions you will learn that other people have different ways of looking at life and doing things. Your thinking will expand to consider other ways of doing things which you never have before.
This will help you to have a better understanding of people and their universal needs. You will find out that people, though they may look different, are the same all over the world. They have the same feelings, hopes, and desires -- they are human just like you are. Pastor Kelvin McFelin who was on our medical mission on support role exclaimed on arriving at the Airport of exit, “Kei, ( referring to me) why didn’t you tell me there are so many black people here.” Apparently Pastor Kelvin happened to be an African America visiting Kenya for the first time on medical mission and he was thrilled that are many Black people in Kenya. Isn’t that something?
Finally when you join a medical mission you will have more empathy for missionaries and the problems they face. When you experience it, you know what it is like. You will have a greater compassion and concern and be more likely to help. A greater appreciation for what you have at home. Most people will have a more thankful attitude, and less desire to complain about their life, after a mission trip. Most of us have felt sorry for ourselves over insignificant things. We are more apt to realize this after seeing what people in other places face.
If you would like updates on these medical mission trips, please let us know so that we can help you be part of mission for a miracle, something that will charge your life and your view of the world in general.
Our Second mission for the year 2011 is under way in September.
