In 1995 a few of us looking for
a medical mission work for members of our local
congregation to become personally involved in went
on an expeditionary trip. We found an ideal
opportunity after talking to Tim Rine a minister at
the time in Chandlersville Ohio who had traveled
with a group in Searcy called Partners in
Progress. This group essentially helps Christians
organize medical mission trips all over the world.
We were interested in Guyana South America for
several reasons. It is the only English speaking
country in South America which allowed us to
interact directly with people quickly and it is an
area that is being highly evangelized at this time.
It is a very impoverished country and the need for
medical care is high.
The initial trip went well and
through the years we have gone back to the same
country many times and many members from our
congregation have participated in these trips either
directly or financially or in prayer.
The concept of medical missions
is simple. We go to a place and with the
cooperation of the local church set up a clinic in
their community. Sometimes we’ve used the church
building itself but usually we need bigger
facilities and we’ve many different platforms
including schools (which have allowed us to use
space) and community centers.
In the clinic we provide
optometry services, medical services, and dental
services for free. When the people come to see us
they are asked if they would like to study the bible
before they see the doctor. If they do not we
gladly see them and help them but many do. The
interest in Christ is high in this country!! In a
typical week we will see around 1000-1200 patients
in a clinic that runs from Monday to Friday.
Some of the local Christians
work along with us in the clinic and are excellent
workers doing bible studies and helping us with the
logistics of crowd control and organization. Many
times people will begin lining up to be seen in the
clinic at 4 AM for a clinic that begins around
8:30.
Many people have been brought
to Christ through the work of teams like this that
go to Guyana each year.
