The Great Physician

Anyone who has gone on a mission trip knows that it is not a vacation or a cross-cultural experience. It is a trip with a specific mission. According to Scripture, the mission isn't necessarily feeding or clothing the poor, or healing the sick. It's about sharing the Gospel.

That concept can be hard for medical professionals on a mission trip.So often people come with medical problems that cannot be helped by the team – they need managed care, or care that requires hospitalization. However, what I, and I believe others have learned from our mission trip experience is that we can give each person who comes to the clinic comfort, hope and show them the love of Christ and hopefully plant seeds…seeds that will bloom and grow into a relationship with Christ.

Giving medical care to people who have none is rewarding but to bring the Good News to someone who has never heard it or is searching for hope is our true mission and the one that captures our hearts.

We can take comfort in knowing we have a Great Physician who heals us! His cures are radical but the illness never returns. We are not healed for a short time but for eternity. He makes us new. There is nothing we can struggle with that He can’t cure– no sin so large that His Grace won’t cover.

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

While we ran 4 clinics in 4 different areas in the region of Guerra, treated over 800 patients, dispensed 3,000 plus prescriptions, gave away thousands of vitamins, and sent people home each day with food for their families it all pales in comparison to the healing properties of sharing the love of Christ Jesus with the people of Dominican Republic.

 

God's Children

Friday, January 20, 2012
After a long hard week of daily medical clinics and prayer time with the beautiful Dominican people, we visited an orphanage. This was a special orphanage, all the children are HIV positive but year after year we have had the privilege of watching them grow and in most cases, thrive. The children love to play games, balloons, bubbles or just kicking a soccer ball.  They want to be loved and hugged – maybe just a bit more than most children as they are isolated and forgotten.  Due to lack of education, the Dominican people are afraid of them so they have little contact with anyone outside of their compound. They do get medical care from the government with doctor visits on a regular basis.  They are schooled at the orphanage.  As some of the children that we first met  6 years ago have grown to teens (Praise God), an additional home was secured just a block away.  Several of our team went to that compound to play basketball but not before a few of the boys came down to greet us!

We painted nails, played duck, duck, goose, spun around with bubble wands, and laughed at attempts to hula hoop.  Handing out hugs, toys and love was the highlight of our trip. Quickly our time with these precious children came to an end.  As we gathered in a circle to pray for health and safety, our hearts were busting with love, although we did not want to leave them, we left knowing that we will see them again.

God Bless them everyone!  Marie Wertz

Let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  1 John 4: 7-8

“For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua1:9

As I sit here in the Santo Domingo airport alone waiting for my flight back to NYC; I realize what an impact this week has made. The Dominican people were impacted by the good news of the Gospel, through the avenue of medical care. We conducted clinics this week in four different villages. As usual, we went to a different village each day. The last two days were particularly powerful for the team. On Thursday, we went to a somewhat dangerous neighborhood in Santo Domingo to run clinic. We had the local police serving as security. The location made “crowd control” extremely difficult. Despite the challenges, we were able to treat 210 patients that day.

On Friday we ran clinic in the new clinic building on the Word of Life property. The clinic is very nice, and was a welcome change from the poorer working conditions of the previous days. The clinic is located in a farming area, and the people are very friendly. Friday was particularly powerful for me because a number of my patients prayed to receive Christ. Being the “resident Episcopalian” of the team, evangelism is not something I’m all that comfortable with. I had several “holy moments” on Friday, where I was reminded Christ is ever present.

Saturday was a special day. We headed to the AIDS orphanage that we go to each year. It was good to see the children growing up, despite their medical problems. Those children serve as reminders to me that we can overcome challenges and live a good life. Now, I will sit and wait for my plane home to NYC, where snow awaits…

Peace,
Josh Weaver, EMT

Frailes-Dominican Republic Mission Day 3

Hi to all!

It's about 9 pm DR time and boy are we whipped!  Today was exhausting in the best possible way you can imagine.  We went into the city and set up clinic at an elementary school. It was a very different experience from yesterday, with new surroundings, illnesses and people, but wonderful just the same.  We saw approximitately 275 people and have the honor of saying we saw everyone who came (even though there were about 50 people who didn't receive tickets) We saw teachers, students, mothers and infants and were again overwhelmed by the graciousness of the Dominicans. 

Most of the children, both yesterday and today, were more than anxious to talk and play with us, and boy are they curious about everything!  The children were having the time of their lives playing with us with balloons, bubbles and the classic "Head, shoulders kness and toes" and they LOVE to take pictures and then see themselves on the screen.  We are all yet again amazed at the abundance of joy they have. It's a wonderful reminder to not only embrace your inner child, but appreciate the small things in life.  

We have developed a wonderful sense of teamwork, both with the American group of 19 and with Kenneth and his team.  While today was fun, it was also very hectic and extermely loud.  Throughout it all, everyone kept a smile on their face, their head in the game and loved on the Dominicans, and we couldn't feel better about it.  Tomorrow we're not entirely sure what we're in for.  We know we'll be going into a city near the capitol and should see more than we saw today, it's an area very much in need.  We're heading in bright and early so we can set up and see as many people as possible. We're all tired but thrilled to see what tomorrow will bring us. 

More to come manana!  Hasta luego!
-Beth Moran

Tuesday Day 2 First day of clinic in the DR

We had a great first day.   We set up clinic in a house (definitely a new experience) and with the help of some locals of the village, the team was able to transform the vacant, four room home into an incredible and efficient work space and barrier for Christ's love. After the setting up and preparation was complete, Kenneth gave the gospel to about 80 people. The emotions that filled us all just watching Kenneth's passion for both the Lord and the people of the DR was not only empowering, but also indescribable.
The group worked together so well for it being the first day as a team. It was like we had been together all week.
Between all the stations, everyone was able to help out and be apart of the process in a way unique to themselves. Triage was our job! We were able to see every patient, including holding all the babies! It was so amazing to see how the Dominican Republic culture resembles our own - making it much easier to relate to them all despite the language barrier.
It is about 10 o'clock our time and some of us are sitting in the common room of the hotel and others are getting ready for bed, some already fast asleep, we're sure. But we can speak for all of us when we say that the experiences today have truly filled the voids in our hearts that some of us have been neglecting for so long. God really does work in amazing ways. Like the Islanders here would say, Buenos Noches Amigos, voy a hablar contigo manana! (goodnight friends, we are going to talk to you tomorrow) With love - Sarah Jane Ramos and Margaret Moran

Monday Day 1 Tampa to Dominican Republic

Buenos Noches Familias y Amigos! It is approximately 9 o'clock our time and we wanted to let everyone know that after a long day of early morning travel and multiple flights, we are safe in The Dominican Republic. Although we encountered some bumps here are there, our team of 19 was able to successfully get through customs with our numerous bags of medical supplies. Fortunately, our contact here was waiting for us with open arms, making the process much easier over all - a blessing we are all truly grateful for.
   
       We are currently gathered together in the common area of the hotel counting out vitamins for Jubee Boca Chica - our first clinic which we will be putting together tomorrow.  We will be working out of a house that was originally built to serve as a summer home but was never completed... (We aren't too sure of it's exact set up so there will be more on that tomorrow) Likewise, our game plan for tomorrow is still not set in stone, but not to worry, because God has it all planned out :)

On top of our safe travel, our accommodations have turned out wonderful.  We are staying at the Playa Esmeralda Beach Resort right smack dab on the beautiful beaches of the Island. It is all inclusive hotel providing all you can eat food for breakfast and dinner and unlimited amounts of bottled water.

After dinner we met with Kenneth and Valerie, the local missionaries, and got our briefing for the week. It was a comforting time for the whole team to come together emotionally, getting excited for the busy week ahead and the incredible opportunity to spread the word of God to the natives of the island.

Blessing to all! -Sarah Jane Ramos and Dianne Swisher

2012 Dominican Republic Medical Mission Team

Beginning Monday, and for the next five days, our small group blog will be utilized by the Dominican Republic Medical Mission team.  Each day, a member of the team will post to the blog their reflections on the day. 

On my first mission trip, I had a journal titled “Everyday People,” by Frank Nelson.  The devotions in this journal helped me to submit myself to the extraordinary things God had in store for me on that trip.  Some of the things I took away from this 7-day devotional were:

We are ordinary, everyday people, but God has called us to do more, Paul tells us in

2 Corinthians 4:7:

^“7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

The team will set up medical clinics in four different villages in the region of Guerra. The team has chosen to place their ordinary lives -- their sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking-around life--and place it into the hands of the Master Potter.  God will shape and use each of us in extraordinary ways!  Check back each day next week to see how God has shaped us to be the people He wants us to be!

For I know the Plans I have for you.......

On January 6, 2010, our small group wrote out New Year’s resolutions on a piece of paper, rolled it up, tied it with ribbon and placed in a glass vase.  The idea was to have the vase in view so that each Thursday when we met we would be reminded of our resolve.  Eventually the vase was moved to another shelf and I am not sure if any of us gave the tiny slips a further thought.

 When we met last Thursday, we pulled out our slips and pondered whether or not our resolutions were met.  Some of us renewed those resolutions and some made new ones. The vase was then placed on the shelf.

On the wall in my dining room is a hand-lettered sign with this scripture:

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Today, as I was dusting and moving that vase around I was drawn to the sign…”For I know the plans I have for you..”  God’s plans not mine – So in addition to the resolutions I wrote on that slip of paper sitting in the vase, I mentally added one more—Submit to the Lord, His plans for me are much greater than I can ever imagine!

Breaking Free

Our new study is “Breaking Free” by Beth Moore.  In this study we will be walking through the book of Isaiah, a book about captivity of God’s children the faithfulness of God, and the road to freedom.  Beth tells us that “A Christian is held captive by anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled Life God has planned for her.”

Beth encourages us to memorize Galatians 5:1 and say it until the truth is engraved upon our soul~

^“1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Why is this verse so important?  Paul’s letter to the Galatians has been called by many “The Magna Carta” of Christian liberty.  Galatians shouts to believers “you’re free!, “you’re free! Free from bondage of law, free from the tyranny of trying to earn God’s favor.  You have been set free by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.  I am so glad that we are embarking on this journey together.

The Great Unknown

I love the song “This is the Stuff” by Francesca Battistelli. 

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

We’ve all been there -- lost keys or cell phones…but have you ever lost your blog?  Well, I didn't actually lose our blog but I did lose the ability to post to the blog. After 2 frustrating days of contacting Google support, trying every password I have ever used, and logging on to hundreds of support groups -- in the middle of my little mess, God reminded me how big I’m blessed and told me just to start a new blog and “A Full Measure of Grace” was born. 

I hope you will follow our journey as we follow Jesus!

BTW our old blog is still there  http://faithinactionblog.blogspot.com/

  Check it out and if you find our password would you let me know?