Medical Mission Trip

"Missions is less about the transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there" -The Velvet Elvis

In the past week, I have heard about, prayed about, talked about, and decided to attend (God-willing) a medical mission trip to India.   The medical clinic that I have been volunteering at for the past (almost) year is taking a team to Durgapur, India to help in a clinic that was established there in the past year.  Dr. Sabback, a retired surgeon who is one of the medical directors of the Dream Center Clinic and who has been on many medical mission trips, went there a couple of years ago and has been a part of getting the clinic started, funded, and now, occupied.  A local team of doctors and nurses staff the clinic most of the year, but extra help is always appreciated!

Those of you who know me well or have been reading my blog know that I have a passion for medicine and for reaching out to people in need, especially physical need!  There are so many people in the world suffering from diseases that are curable and injuries that are fixable.  I have been wanting to go on a medical mission trip ever since I decided I wanted to go into medicine in high school.  Now that I have some training, my EMT certification, and a smidgeon of experience under my belt, I think I actually might be able to be of some service to the people in need in this area of India.  Dr. Sabback assured me (after a timid email asking if I'd just be in the way, as I am not yet IN medical school, nor am I a nurse) that medical mission trips are the perfect place to learn more and do more!  And so...I'm now attempting to get together the necessary funds and paperwork to make this long dreamed-of trip a reality.  

The trip is January 13-22, 2011, which is just two months away.  There is a lot ahead of me between now and then...finishing up finals, graduating from undergrad, raising money for this trip, and getting a visa for India.  If you have any fund-raising tips, please let me know!  I would really appreciate your prayers and any advice from those of you who have travelled to India before.  Pray that our team would be effective in caring for these people's physical needs, as well as their spiritual ones.  Pray that we will have the tools, medicines, and knowledge available to us to make a true impact.  Pray that the planning and pre-work all gets done in time for take-off on January 13!  And most of all, pray that God's will will be done, one way or another, regarding this trip!