Our medical team was very successful this year by doing some things differently than we had in the past. We discussed the pros and cons of large teams and treating large groups and made a deliberate decision to go with the small team (8-12) concept. We looked at the advantages of this concept and found many, including the ease of transportation, ease of coordination, less space required to operate in, better ability to cross-train workers, and the ability to go to the locations that are typically denied medical care. It also avoids having so many show up just for free meds ---they travel from other areas when they hear about it. And a big advantage is being more personal with patients. The doctor can visit with them and spend time with them rather than seeing a huge line of folks and feeling helplessly overwhelmed by the masses.
Our first priority was to treat the church members of both congregations that we support. Our next priority was to treat the prisoners at the local state prison. They get no medical care otherwise. After that, we chose EL PIE DE LA CUESTA, a village accessible only by a very rough road. The name means ‘foot of the hill’, and it is an appropriate name. To get medical care requires a long walk or a long, uncomfortable ride.
We used local church members for registration and for explaining to the people how to take their meds. We used Bible Institute students to hand out literature and visit with patients. We used our ministers to teach Bible concepts to them. Those who were interested in Bible study were studied with on the spot. Those who wanted more Bible study were given a New Testament and contact information. We made sure that God got the glory and the church was recognized.
Because of what was done, the prison is now open to our ministers for Bible study, and the villagers said they would welcome the ministers for preaching and Bible study in the future.
We will use this concept in the future. It could be expanded into two teams if each had a doctor and a nurse. Translators are essential, and it is quite helpful to have some others on the team who are at least partially bi-lingual. We are developing a list of equipment, supplies, and medicines needed for the teams and will continually improve the list and the operating procedures.