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Justice in healthcare can take many different forms. It is a vital subject that every provider and practitioner needs to grapple with. In this post, we’ll cover a few of the common questions that will come up over the course of a healthcare provider’s work.  We’ll look at justice in healthcare as it relates to a time of a pandemic, social determinants, mental health considerations, and health disparities that often arise and exist when there is injustice in healthcare.  #1 We must understand justice in healthcare during a pandemic. Dr. David Stevens wrote about this topic in A Christian Healthcare Worker's Response to COVID-19.  Justice in healthcare is a tough topic, but it’s compounded during a pandemic, and it quickly becomes way more difficult to discuss. Allocating limited resources raises the ethical issue of justice—how do you treat patients fairly? How do you care for people—especially when so many more people need life and death care—and quickly? Dr. Stevens offers the following advice: First, you always want to be as impartial as the situation allows. Second, do the best you can for the most people with the resources you have. Third, without enough time, personnel, supplies, or supplies, at some point you will be forced to decide who gets and who doesn’t get your limited resource. You have the moral obligation to be constantly working to get the resources you need, so you won’t have to continue to make utilitarian decisions. Lastly, be sure to continue reading for more wisdom in the area of healthcare during a pandemic. #2 We must understand social determinants of health. According to Healthy People 2020, “Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.”  This is an issue of justice in healthcare because professionals must be committed to looking at the whole person, not just the malady. If a person is born and lives in an area with pollution, crime, violence, a poor education system, and few job opportunities, their health concerns will stem from those social determinants. Hospitals, clinics, doctors, and practitioners must be prepared to address these social issues if we want to see widespread improvements in health. #3 We need to understand mental health. Undiagnosed and untreated mental health disorders can lead to an array of serious ramifications including substance abuse, homelessness, interpersonal violence, and more. Ensuring that patients can access healthcare is vital. This might look like hiring community health workers to help navigate difficult systems or accepting patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Helping those who have difficulty navigating complex healthcare systems is a way to ensure that there is justice in healthcare. #4 We must consider health disparities. Another way to focus on justice in healthcare is to concentrate efforts on eliminating the health disparities we see that are based on race in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Community- and faith-based organizations, employers, healthcare systems and providers, public health agencies, policymakers, and others all have a part in helping to promote fair access to health.”  The population health impact of COVID-19 has exposed longstanding inequities that have systematically undermined the physical, social, economic, and emotional health of racial and ethnic minority populations and other population groups that are bearing a disproportionate burden of COVID-19. According to the National Institutes of Health, although significant progress has been made in narrowing the gap in health outcomes (NCHS, 2016), the elimination of disparities in health has yet to be achieved. Despite overall improvements in health over time, some health disparities persist.  For example, while national infant mortality rates decreased overall by 14 percent from 2004 to 2014, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives have an infant mortality rate that is 60 percent higher than the rate for their white counterparts (HHS, 2014) and in 2013, infants born to African American mothers experienced the highest rates of infant mortality. Sadly, African Americans were 30 percent more likely than whites to die prematurely from heart disease in 2010, and African American men are twice as likely as whites to die prematurely from a stroke. Addressing these persistent health disparities in every way that you can is another way to fight for justice in healthcare.  There are so many more issues facing us when it comes to justice in healthcare. However, trying to learn and start to address these four areas, from how we handle these issues in a time of a pandemic, social determinants, mental health considerations, and health disparities, we’ll begin the process of creating a world where there truly is justice in healthcare.

Have you ever thought about being a missionary doctor? If you have, odds are good you’ve quickly jumped from thinking about being a missionary doctor to asking these common questions.  In this post, I want to give you details on the role of the missionary doctor. I’ll cover four of the most common questions from what a missionary doctor is, what a missionary doctor does, we’ll look at some missionary doctors who are currently serving, I’ll cover how missionary doctors make a living, and what’s often required to become a missionary doctor.  Question 1: What is a missionary doctor?  According to Reach Beyond, a Global Missions Health Conference exhibitor, a missionary doctor is: Someone who has earned their medical degree and can practice medicine.  The ability and desire to live and work overseas Sensitivity to cross-cultural issues A willingness to work with local partners A tolerance for uncertainty Imagination to see and explore opportunities that may arise A desire to mentor and coach other medical professionals The ability and desire to raise missionary support and/or be self-funded A commitment to serving long-term in the mission field A willingness to learn the local language Question 2: What does a missionary doctor look like? Missionary doctors can look very different. You might find them living anywhere in the world. They may live and work anywhere from a jungle clinic to a state-of-the-art facility in the middle east. The missionary doctor may be a male or female and from any country. In short, if you have the skills, education, and experience—you can be a missionary doctor! Question 3: Who are some missionaries currently serving? There are many missionary doctors serving all over the globe. I’ve highlighted a few of them below.  Dr. Tim and Kathy Rice: You can read about Dr. Tim Rice and Nurse educator Kathy Rice about their hospital and service in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tim is the medical director of Vanga Evangelical Hospital and continues to serve as a doctor on the faculty of the School of Medicine at Saint Louis University. Kathy directs the nursing school as a registered nurse and educator. The Rice's aim to train the next generation of Congolese doctors, nurses, and health administrators in Christ-centered, whole-person care, empowering them to use the limited resources available to restore life and health across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Jon Yoder: Dr. Jon Yoder is the resident doctor at a hospital in Mattru Jong, Sierra Leone.  The hospital belongs to the national church of Sierra Leone which is a United Brethren global mission. Sierra Leone lies on the west side of Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. The average life expectancy is 45 years old. It is most known to Americans for the tragic war in the 1990s, blood diamonds, and most recently for the now resolved Ebola crisis. Every person has his or her story of how they survived during these tragic times. Many people fled the country and some went into hiding. However, Sierra Leone is now at peace and well. You can read more about Sierra Leone and Dr. Yoder. Kiersten Hutchinson: Kiersten Hutchinson has served at Karanda for the past 18 years, not as a missionary doctor, but as a physician assistant with TEAM. She describes her journey from short-term trips, to reluctance and doubt, to full-time missionary work. In addition to stories of missionary doctors, I wanted to point out Karanda Mission Hospital: Karanda Mission Hospital was established in 1961 to meet the needs of mission stations in the Zambezi River valley which were established as churches and then, as the abundant health care challenges were seen, small dispensaries/clinics were developed along with churches and finally schools. To help the clinics, the hospital was built. Karanda is in a remote area of Northern Zimbabwe nearest to Mount Darwin. Its location is approximately 124 miles from Harare, the Capital of Zimbabwe. Question 4: How do missionary doctors earn a living? Missionary doctors may earn a living in a variety of ways. For example, some doctors are paid by the hospitals they are working for. Others may have to raise all of their own support from friends, family, or sending organizations. Most will do a combination of support raising and salary from the hospital in which they serve. Additionally, some mission organizations will do their own fundraising, and doctors may only have to cover a portion of their living expenses. There are many variations to earning a living and you can find something that works for you and your needs.  Question 5: What is required to become a missionary? In most cases, becoming a missionary means you’ll have to meet some basic qualifications, such as age, education, experience, and/or faith-based requirements. Next, you’ll want to reach out to members of your community about mission work and about how you can do some independent research of your own. After finding the right fit, it's all about completing the application process, any training involved and continuing to point to God with your skills, experience, and life. I hope this post has been helpful for you in answering some of the most common questions surrounding becoming a missionary doctor. 

A resounding YES! Now, I have more to say. So keep reading! But, yes, after years of personal experience and all of my work in serving missionaries and mission-sending organizations, the answer is yes. Medical mission trips are worth it. Keep reading to find out why I think it’s completely worth it to serve God by going on medical mission trips.    I’ve seen several positives from medical mission trips over the years. Here are just a few positives to consider:  1. Medical missions allow you to get out of your comfort zone and see the world from a different perspective. This is true for the person who travels on medical missions trips and the people who end up being served.  2. Medical missions can provide even more sympathy, compassion, and selflessness in the individual who is going. This not only fosters character-building in you but can go a long way in developing a heart for service. Once you see the needs, you’ll be more apt to see how you fit in with helping meet those needs. 3. Medical missions can give you an opportunity for more hands-on clinical experience. For instance, in a developing country, you might be asked to take vital signs or record patient history, things you might not have the opportunity to do as a premed back home. 4. Medical missions can help you and as you consider your calling to go into a medical missions career.   Aside from these reasons, I’ll start by saying, God can use medicine to heal physical bodies and ailments. Think about it, when Jesus walked the earth, He was known as the Savior who healed people—and not just of their physical maladies, but also their spiritual longings. But yes, Jesus healed people from their physical ailments. Let’s not forget how amazing it is that Jesus cared to physically heal people. And, may we not forget how powerful it is that God has given you the skills to possibly join Him in His work and heal others with your gifts and experience.   As healthcare professionals, medical mission trips are absolutely worth it. Why? Because they can change lives forever. Here is one story, found on MedicalMissions.com, from the country of Togo. You should know that Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) is part of this story: It’s difficult for many people to see how medical missions fits with church planting. But in Togo, they fit hand-in-glove. “I thought: if someone like Jesus Christ died for me, just to save me, it’s really something interesting,” says Gaglo. Togolese pastor Anani shared the truth of the gospel with Gaglo—now a physician’s assistant—around the time of the construction of Hôpital Baptiste Biblique (HBB) in Tsiko, Togo which opened its doors in 1985. It was at that time that the words Pastor Anani shared with Gaglo made sense. He recognized himself as a sinner in need of a Savior and he knew that the only Savior was Jesus Christ. “I was one of the six first baptized, like a fruit of this hospital.” A small Bible study had then begun for the new Togolese Christians. They studied the Bible and discussed its truths with the missionaries. Out of this Bible study, the Togolese worked with the missionaries and began a church about one year later just a short walk from HBB’s campus.  Through the sharing of the gospel in both the hospital and in the neighboring town, people from the community were also accepting the truth that Jesus Christ alone can save. The gospel continued to spread to the neighboring village of Adeta, and the Tsiko church continued to grow. It was decided that a church should be planted in Adeta since so many villagers from that area were in attendance. “This is a long story,” Gaglo says. “The Lord called me and I am serving at the second church [Adeta] as a pastor.”   As more people come to know Christ as Savior, Pastor Gaglo and the Adeta church are praying about planting a new church in another nearby village. God has been using HBB to touch the lives of the Togolese. Through their physical needs, God leads them to the hospital. While there, they are presented with the truth of the gospel.  Though successes are being celebrated often, there is still much work to do and still so many that have not yet heard the gospel. Not all that have not heard will come to the hospital. One way they can hear is through the discipleship of those that have believed and the planting of churches in the villages to which the patients return. HBB has served tens of thousands of patients, but the demand has long ago outpaced its 50-bed capacity. By God’s grace, the HBB Vision Project will help renovate, enhance, and expand the hospital, support surgical and medical programs, and help train Togolese and other Africans to use medical evangelism to become highly-skilled, kingdom-minded surgeons who can also effectively share the gospel.   More about ABWE: ABWE began 1927 by a medical missionary. Now almost 90 years later ABWE's nearly 1000 missionaries serve in 70 countries. There are three tertiary care hospitals, 2 in Togo and 1 in Bangladesh. ABWE is interested in medical students, residents, practitioners, physical therapists, pharmacists, PAs, nurses, CRNAs, FPs, Internists, surgeons, ob-gyn, pediatricians, PAs and APRNs. ABWE hopes to generate interest in various levels of medical providers for short and/or long term opportunities. Learn more about ABWE and find more stories. The contents of the above letter was written by Hannah Strayer & Liz Ortiz. The full letter can be found at the post Multiplication through medicine.

What is international medical relief? International medical relief can happen when there is a disaster in a country. Or it can be a supplement to the regular healthcare delivery system. A third option for international medical relief is teaching and training indigenous women and men so that they can work to build up the healthcare system in their own country There are many countries that lack a fully functional healthcare system. For example, the top three countries with the most need for medical relief are as follows: Republic of Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone has the dubious distinction of being the worst country in providing healthcare to its citizens, with a score of 0.00 on the World Health Organizaion’s health systems performance index. There are only about 22 physicians for every million people, and about 60% of the rural population does not have adequate access to clean drinking water. Life expectancy at birth is about 54 years. For the 6 million people who live here, they need help. Republic of the Union of Myanmar: With a score of 0.138/1 on the WHO health systems performance index. This makes it the second-worst country in the world in providing healthcare. Located in Southeast Asia, Myanmar is bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, and Thailand. Myanmar’s spending on health care as a part of its GDP (0.5% to 3%) is among the lowest in the world, and it receives the least amount of international aid per capita. The average life expectancy is 50 years. There are only 6 doctors for every million citizens. Central African Republic: With a WHO health systems performance score of 0.156/1, the Central African Republic (CAR) is the third-worst country where health care is concerned. It is a landlocked country in Central Africa enclosed by Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, DRC, The Republic of Congo, and Cameroon. The average life expectancy is just 49 years. Sanitation problems and lack of clean water are major sources of ill health in this country. Is there faith-based international medical relief? Some international medical relief is purely medical, offering medical services and supplies to countries that lack adequate care and access. Other services can be faith-based and combine physical and spiritual well being. If you are interested in faith-based international medical relief, here are a few Bible verses about healing for encouragement as you consider how you might best serve: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” —Psalm 147:3 “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” —Luke 10:9 “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” —Matthew 4:23 “When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.” —Luke 9:11 If you’re interested in faith-based international medical relief, here is a list of short-term mission trips you can go on. Are there internships for international medical relief? Yes! There are many options for serving in international medical relief through internships. Here are a few of the top places to research for internships. Mercy Ships a ship-based international health care organization, Mercy Ships provides surgical interventions, education and capacity building, and other healthcare services through its hospital ship and related healthcare and capacity building programs and partnerships. Crew serves on the ship from as little as 2 weeks up to a number of years. Over the last three decades, over 30,000 volunteers have served on a ship. Christian Medical & Dental Association (CMDA): CMDA Placement Service is dedicated to bringing together healthcare professionals of Christian faith for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. YWAM: YWAM’s Ship equipped ministries are committed to reaching those who are isolated and have limited or no access to the resources that sustain and build a life. People who pay their own way, willing to sail into remote areas, work hard each day, return to their bunk onboard each night knowing they helped others discover more in life. You see such gratefulness in each of their eyes. Whether receiving a simple pair of glasses, enabling them to go to school, or back to work, immunizations, health care education, clean water technology, and other options are all part of what YWAM Ships brings. Where can I go for a list of careers in international medical relief? If you are considering a career in international medical relief, it’s important you know you have options. One great way to research the types of jobs you may be interested in is by going to the Medical Missions Jobs Board. There, you can check out the full job listing and you can narrow your search by filtering through various options. How else can I help with international medical relief? If you are not able or prepared to take a short term trip or make a career out of international medical relief, then you might consider giving financially to an organization that does work you appreciate. Blessings International provides pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and medical supplies to mission teams, clinics & hospitals Cure International treats conditions like clubfoot, bowed legs, cleft lips, untreated burns, and hydrocephalus. Without treatment, they will have little hope for the future. Many will die from their conditions unless Cure steps in to help.  Medical Missions Outreach is a group that provides a beautiful blend of quality, ethical healthcare, and eternal spiritual care. Community outreach is effective and sustainable through local church partnerships. MedSend removes the obstacles of student loan debt to allow healthcare professionals to pursue their calling in medical missions. Everyone knows that medical school can be prohibitively expensive. That is why MedSend enables highly qualified and dedicated healthcare professionals to serve spiritually and physically needy people around the world in the name of Christ. We do this by making their monthly educational loan payments while they serve. What else should I know about international medical relief? We’ve covered a lot in this post. I hope it’s been helpful and will serve as a reference as you consider where God is calling you to serve. Here are just a few more resources as you’re thinking about what you can do next to serve.  Listen to this podcast about the Bible and Missions. And this podcast from former CMDA President Dave Stevens on the 10 most common questions to ask before becoming a missionary. These are just a few of the ways to get involved in international medical relief. I want to encourage you to keep searching and exploring the ways God wants to see you involved in His work!

Now that we can finally start thinking about traveling again, let’s talk about travel vaccines. In our modern world, over one million people travel internationally every single day. In many countries, vaccine-preventable diseases are still common even though they may not be common in North America. Without vaccines, epidemics of many preventable diseases will return, resulting in increased illnesses, deaths, and a lower quality of life for anyone affected.  In this post, I want to help you by answering five common questions related to travel vaccines. Question 1: What is a vaccine? A vaccine is a way to make your body stronger by using the natural defense system. A vaccine trains your immune system to create antibodies to a particular disease. According to the World Health Organization, vaccines only contain killed or weakened forms of the germs that cause the disease, so they do not put you at risk for complications. Question 2: Why are vaccines important? Vaccines are important to protect us from over twenty diseases found throughout the world. It is estimated that these vaccines save up to three million lives each year. When we get vaccinated, we are protecting ourselves, but we are also protecting those around us. Some people who are very ill cannot get vaccines, so they depend on the larger population to eradicate the disease. Questions 3: Why are vaccines important when traveling? Vaccines are important when traveling to ensure the public health of a different country. You don’t want to bring a disease to them. Likewise, you don’t want to get sick from a disease that has not yet been eradicated in that country. Question 4: What vaccinations should I be thinking about? There are many vaccinations you should consider before traveling. The following list is just a few to think about and why they are important:  Cholera: Generally spreads through contaminated water or food. Anyone who is visiting a rural area with potentially unclean water or low resource medical centers; medical workers who could come in contact with bodily fluids; people with certain at-risk health factors. Hepatitis A: Infects the liver, usually spread through contaminated water or food. Unlike other Hepatitis, it does not become a chronic condition. This vaccine is recommended for everyone over the age of one year old. Japanese encephalitis is found throughout Asia and is spread through mosquito bites. It occurs throughout east Asia, so it is recommended for anyone traveling to that area of the world as well. Polio: a potentially deadly disease that enters the brain and the spinal cord and can cause paralysis, permanent disability, and death. Spread through person to person contact, including food and water, coughing, and sneezing. The CDC recommends everyone receive the Polio vaccine. Rabies: transmitted through animals and often deadly once symptoms are present. Spread through the saliva of an infected animal entering a person’s bloodstream. Rabies is found all over the world, so if you plan to travel to a location with elevated levels, vaccinate before you go. Typhoid: spread through contaminated food or water. Caused by Salmonella typhi, it is an acute illness that can result in death in up to ten percent of patients. Almost all international travelers are recommended to receive the typhoid vaccine, especially if traveling to an area that has drug-resistant forms of the disease, which includes large parts of Africa and Asia. Yellow Fever Vaccine is required for entry into many countries, including Ghana and Brazil. It is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is present in South America and Africa. It has a high mortality rate, which is why it is sometimes required for entry into particular countries. Other non-vaccine conditions to think about before travel: Traveler’s diarrhea, malaria, Dengue, and motion sickness.  There are things you can do before and during your trip to treat and protect yourself: Take care when eating and drinking - only drink/use safe water Wash your hands often Be sure food has been cooked thoroughly Peel any fruits or vegetables before eating and wash with clean water Consider an antimalarial drug before you go. Malaria is considered one of the deadliest diseases in history, with 400,000 deaths each year. Protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants, utilizing mosquito nets, mosquito repellent, and keeping windows closed. For motion sickness, be prepared with a medication that can treat symptoms, utilize visual fixation, avoid reading while moving, and sleep while moving in order to avoid the symptoms. Find more information at Passport Health USA. Question 5: When should you get vaccinated? According to the Centers for Disease Control, You should consider getting vaccinated at least a month before you travel. See your doctor when you start to plan your trip abroad. It’s important to do this well in advance. Why? Because your body needs time to build up immunity. You may need several weeks to get all the doses of the vaccine. Your primary doctor may not stock travel vaccines. You might consider visiting a travel medical clinic. You’ll need time to prepare for your pre-travel appointment. If the country you visit requires a yellow fever vaccine, only a limited number of clinics have the vaccine and will probably be some distance from where you live. You must get this vaccine at least 10 days before travel. More resources about vaccinations:  Listen to the audio from a talk called Vaccines in the U.S.: Facts & Practical Tips. Listen to a talk called Travel Medicine: what to know before you go on a short-term medical mission trip. Learn more from the CDC about Travel Vaccines. Find more information about travel and vaccinations at PassportHealth.

If you are interested in full-time missionary jobs, you have come to the right place. There are many ways to do missionary work full time. In this post, I want to cover some types of work you can do full time, some priorities for you to consider, some challenges, how to connect with other missionaries and offer you some additional resources as you consider full-time missionary work.  What are some full-time missionary jobs? Here are just a few examples of full-time missions work you can do: Medical missions: You can go as a general practitioner, as a specialist, as a nurse, or as a therapist. There are hundreds of ways to engage in healthcare missions. You may also want to focus on medical education and training for indigenous workers Business as mission: Taking your current job and doing it in an underserved or unreached area Teaching overseas: Many people choose to teach overseas as a way to be in community with people that don’t know Jesus Church planting: Traditional missionary work that focuses on planting a church in an unreached area and discipling community members in the life of Christ What should you do first if you’re interested in full-time missionary jobs?  The first thing to do is to find a sending agency that does this professionally. Be sure to ask lots of questions and do lots of research. Prepare yourself by looking into some kind of training - possibly start with the Blueprint e-course on mission preparation. What are the challenges facing full-time missionary jobs? Watch out for these common challenges when it comes to full-time missionary jobs. How can a missionary best prepare for these challenges? These are a few of the common challenges I’ve seen over the years in working with missionaries and sending organizations. The challenges are great—from isolation to learning languages. We’ll talk about a few of the challenges below. But, understand, while the challenges are great, we serve a great God. Burnout: we’ve written about spiritual burnout in detail before. It’s important you understand what it is, how to know if you’re experiencing it, and what you can do to overcome it. Spiritual warfare: We are often unaware or reluctant to realize that some events are beyond our control and there is a spiritual battle taking place. Often, when you are doing God’s work and serving Him, you will face difficulties. Sadly, some of the most difficult problems you will see come from fellow missionaries and not from the people we are sent to care for. This will be tough on you in every way.  Children in Missions: It’s important to educate children while also seeking to involve children. While it can be a challenge, there are some vital ways you can involve children in missions. For example, you can teach children about missions. Make it fun. Tell stories of missionaries and how God used them. Pray for other missionaries. God can create a heart of missions and missionaries through your kids learning to pray for others. Have your kids be around other missionaries. Maybe it’s as simple as sharing a meal together with other missionaries.  The point is to have your children be exposed to others and their hearts and struggles. The more children see God work in other’s lives, the more they will be likely to see God at work in their own lives. Lastly, model with your kids how to love God and serve others. My guess is, you’re already doing this. But, just in case, it’s worth noting, be sure to explain to children why you’re doing what you are doing. Lead by example and by word.  There are many other challenges, from marriage in missions to the missing family "back home" and caring for elderly parents. There’s the feeling of being “between” and not “belonging anywhere” or not knowing international guidelines and standards for things such as relief, development, and clinical care. Maybe you have student debt and are wondering how you will ever pay it off. There are so many challenges, it’s tough to talk about them all here.  Remember it is the Father’s world and the Father’s job, not ours. We are just the physical expression of what God is doing in the areas we serve. Yes, there will be challenges. But, God has overcome all of these challenges—and so can you—with His help. How can you connect with other full-time missionaries? It will prove important for you to connect with other full-time missionaries over time. You will need mentors who have gone before you—who are steps ahead of you. Ideas to help think through these challenges: Make an appointment to meet with a veteran missionary. Write out several questions beforehand (that deal with the issues we described above) and make note of their answers on this worksheet What resources for full-time missionary jobs do you suggest? When it comes to resources related to full-time missionary jobs, there are several options for finding help. I suggest starting with the following resources for tried and true help and encouragement:   Mission Training International (MTI): MTI’s vision is to see cross-cultural messengers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ experience effectiveness, endurance, and personal vitality. Christian Health Service Corps: Christian Health Service Corps is a ministry of Christian doctors, health professionals, and health educators serving the poor in places that have little or no access to healthcare. Each year, we bring compassionate, life-saving health services to hundreds of thousands of families around the world. Our doctors and health professionals are often the only access to care for young families in poor communities. https://www.healthservicecorps.org/training/ On Being a Missionary by Tom Hale Beyond Medicine: What else you need to know to be a healthcare missionary by Dave Stevens Looming Transitions by Amy Young Cultural Intelligence: Read this article for understanding cultural intelligence

When it comes to counseling for missionaries, there can often be a lot of barriers and confusion. My hope is to address some of the bigger questions and offer some helpful resources as you think through counseling and missionaries.  Question #1: What is counseling? Counseling addresses the emotional, social, work, school, and physical health concerns people may have at different stages in their lives, focusing on typical life stressors and more severe issues with which people may struggle as individuals and as a part of families, groups, and organizations.  There are various types of counselors: Rehabilitation counselor: These counselors work with patients to manage the physical and emotional effects of disabilities and illnesses..  Substance Abuse counselor: These professionals help clients recover from various types of addictions, drug dependencies, and other destructive behaviors.  Mental Health Counselor: These counselors provide treatment to diverse patient populations experiencing mental and emotional conditions, anxiety, addiction, and other disorders. Spiritual guidance counselor: These counselors, who typically hold a master's degree, base their practice on spiritual or religious beliefs and principles integrated into secular clinical approaches. Child pediatric counselor: Working in clinics, schools, and social services organizations, these counselors diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders and traumas in children Suicide Counselor: Suicide counselors identify at-risk individuals, assess how much danger they pose to themselves and others, diffuse crisis situations, and develop an appropriate treatment.  Marriage and Family Counselor: These professionals use their counseling training to help individuals, couples, and families cope with relationship issues, such as separation, divorce, and abuse. Grief Counselor: Often referred to as bereavement counselors, these specialists help people move through stages of grief after losing a close family member or friend. Behavior Analyst: These highly-trained therapists treat children and adults on the autism spectrum and those with ADHD, brain injuries, and other behavioral or developmental challenges. Question #2: Why should missionaries consider counseling? There are several reasons why missionaries might consider counseling. For example, the life events missionaries go through are often exacerbated by the fact that they are living in a foreign country and everyday life tasks can be more challenging and frustrating simply because there are consistent unknowns.  Missionaries are often isolated from family and friends and without a support network. Grief can creep up on a missionary without even realizing it due to the loss of home, security, friends, and “normal” life. If not handled well, these feelings of stress, grief, and isolation can lead to harmful mental health.  Question #3: What about counseling for missionary kids? Kids are often described as “resilient” and can easily handle transitions, languages, and life changes. However, these dramatic life changes can have lasting effects on kids.  ACEs are adverse childhood experiences and can have long-term health effects if not addressed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says:  “ACEs can have lasting, negative effects on health, well-being, and opportunity. These experiences can increase the risks of injury, sexually transmitted infections, maternal and child health problems, teen pregnancy, involvement in sex trafficking, and a wide range of chronic diseases and leading causes of death such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and suicide.” I want to give you a few resources that should prove handy when thinking through serving God in missions and counseling.  First, Richard Bagge and Samuel Thielman have a talk on resilience and sustaining global workers. In this first part of two, they discuss missionaries and other overseas Christian workers and how they are subject to unique stressors, and providing proper support for this group requires a commitment from sending organizations. Despite the fact that in the past mental health problems in missions have been neglected, mission organizations have developed an increased capacity for supporting missionaries. This presentation describes the best practices for behavioral health support. They point out how organizations have reduced stigmatization, developed sound procedures for evaluating, supporting, and triaging missionaries and their families who develop psychiatric problems. They also review current medical thinking about resilience, compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization, and burnout and discuss how these concepts can be used to inform medical support for expatriate Christian workers. The next resource I want to share with you comes from Roger Brown. He points to Dr. Samuel Thielman’s presentation at the Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC) on Resilience, endurance, and doing God’s work in hard places. You can download the PDF and the presentation slides for reference.  Finally, I want to direct your attention to Dr. Karen Carr’s breakout session from GMHC. Carr is a Clinical Psychologist for Barnabas International and discusses the topic of how medical missionaries can be resilient in the midst of trauma and stress. Drawing on principles from psychological research and Christian scriptures, Carr’s recorded workshop explores factors of resilience for those working in high-risk, high-stress cross-cultural work. You will discover what enhances resilience and what contributes to decreased coping.  Carr’s workshop introduces practical resources for responding to stress and trauma with resilience, grace, and perseverance. After you listen, you’ll be able to identify incidents of trauma and common sources of stress in cross-cultural medical workers. You’ll know how to identify factors that contribute to resilience in cross-cultural medical workers. You will be able to identify factors that decrease resilience in cross-cultural medical workers. And, you’ll also learn about resilience factors to increase coping when working in high-stress environments. My hope is that answering these questions and reviewing these resources will help you cut through any and all confusion as it relates to counseling for missionaries. God has called you to serve Him. My hope is this post will help you think through counseling and missionaries—so you can serve Him more faithfully.

Missions in the traditional sense of sharing the gospel with a group of people has been around since the beginning of Christianity. That is the way it spread from one country to the next. The church is experiencing explosive growth globally. But, when most mission agencies were founded in the mid 20th century, leaders spoke about 1.6 billion who would live and die without hearing the Gospel.  Today, according to the Joshua Project we’re facing 3.14 billion who are considered unreached. All of this points to the fact that we are going backward in missions when we consider the birth rates in the world. One of the most telling statistics, from Lausanne, is that observing the life of a Jesus-follower is the primary reason a person decides to follow Christ.  What does this say to us? Well, for one, it says our mission efforts are still largely only on the fringes of society. We are not in the neighborhoods, the workplaces, the communities where people live. I believe this is a great opportunity for missions. We must realize the history of missions and fit ourselves in God’s story of serving others. What skills, passions, gifts, experience do you have that God might use to take you somewhere where a person has no access to the Gospel?  I want to point out some of the global marketplace pioneers and how they helped inspire the good work we see today in medical missions. Then, I want to give you one present-day example of a group that’s doing global marketplace missions well. My hope is that you’ll read, get inspired, and consider how God might be calling you to help in missions. Modern mission work focused on the native peoples in North America. In Europe, William Carey’s Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians, to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens (1792) became the “charter” for Protestant missions and produced the Baptist Missionary Society.  In 1793 Carey went to India. His first letter to England stirred by the Evangelical Revival resulted in the formation of the London Missionary Society (1795). The Scottish Missionary Society (1796) and the Netherlands Missionary Society (1797) soon appeared.  Anglican evangelicals organized the Church Missionary Society (1799), and many others followed. There are so many we could mention. Here are a few that come to mind: Adoniram Judson: (1788–1850) An American Baptist missionary, who served in Burma for almost forty years. Translated the Bible into Burmese and established a number of churches. David Livingstone: (1813–1873) was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. Perhaps one of the most popular national heroes of the late 19th century in Victorian Britain. Protestant missionary martyr, working-class "rags to riches" inspirational story, scientific investigator and explorer, imperial reformer, anti-slavery crusader. Charlotte (Lottie) Moon: (1840–1912) was a Southern Baptist missionary to China with the Foreign Mission Board who spent nearly forty years (1873–1912) living and working in China. As a teacher and evangelist, she laid a foundation for traditionally solid support for missions among Baptists in America. William Cameron Townsend: (1896–1982) was a prominent American Christian missionary who founded, Wycliffe Bible Translators and Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL International), both of which remain active and focused on producing translations of the Bible in minority languages, and on facilitating literacy in minority languages. But what do all of these people have to do with the Global Marketplace of today? There is a new way of doing missionary work and it does not look anything like these famous missionaries of the past. Just like these missionaries utilized the tools and resources available to them at the time they lived, modern global marketplace missionaries are doing just that, in the 21st century. Like the missions' pioneers above, we could talk about so many examples of serving God and loving others today.  Here is one example that comes to mind who are helping folks on the global scale today:  One such group that is diligently working to bring about this new form of global missionary work is Scatter Global, and they believe that you don’t have to choose between work and mission. They are mobilizing Jesus followers from many professions to intentionally pursue their vocation in the least-reached marketplaces of the world.  Who does Scatter Global serve? PROFESSIONALS: God made people with interests, abilities, and passions. A person that uses their professional skills is one of the ways God can show himself to the world and use it as a blessing.  For example, Bradley, a nurse in the Middle East said of Scatter Global:  “I had been Googling nursing jobs overseas but had not found any solid opportunities. I looked at the Scatter Global website and ...the first opportunity [I saw] was a nursing job in the place I had been praying about. I started reading the book Scatter and felt God’s clear direction to apply for the position. I was contacted a few weeks later for an interview and now I’m working as a nurse here.” STUDENTS: Students are studying to make the most of the gifts God has created in their lives. Students can join Scatter Global to get experience, guidance, and preparation for taking their job overseas. CHURCHES: Professionals and students who can use their professional pursuits as a platform for living the Gospel among the least reached exist in churches all across the US. Scatter Global can help them go. I hope this look back in history and the look at an example today will encourage you so much that you are strengthened in God’s grace. That you love God and serve others faithfully. 

What follows in this post is everything you ever wanted to know about tropical diseases. We’ll look at the most common questions around tropical diseases, why it’s important to know about it, the history of tropical diseases, some resources for you as a missionary, and finally, your role as a medical missionary related to tropical diseases and why it’s important for you to know about it.  What is a tropical disease?  Tropical diseases, generally speaking, are infectious diseases that thrive in hot, humid conditions. There are 17 neglected tropical diseases (sometimes referred to as ‘NTDs’) found in several countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. NTDs are especially common in tropical areas where people do not have access to clean water or safe ways to dispose of human waste. What are some examples of tropical diseases?  Examples of tropical diseases include malaria, cholera, Chagas disease, yellow fever, and dengue. Why are they important to know about and understand?  According to Baylor University College of Medicine, tropical diseases are diseases of poverty. They are the most common afflictions of the “bottom billion” the 1.3 billion people who live below the World Bank poverty level. Although tropical diseases are generally thought of as exclusively occurring in developing countries, new evidence indicates that the poor living in wealthy countries also are affected by tropical diseases. For instance, in the United States, tropical diseases such as Chagas disease, cysticercosis, dengue, toxocariasis, and West Nile virus infection are now widespread. These infections are treatable and preventable. Tropical diseases encompass diseases that result from poverty, poor sanitation, infrastructure, and inadequate health resources. Lack of availability of clean water and food made with unhygienic practices add to the morbidity of these diseases. Many international relief efforts focus energy on these areas of community development in order to curb the spread of tropical diseases which are unnecessarily killing people. What is the history of tropical disease? Ancient physicians, including Greek physician Hippocrates and Roman medical writer Aulus Cornelius Celsus, wrote about malarial diseases, and modern molecular analyses of Egyptian mummies have suggested that malaria was present in ancient Egypt.  After the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Europeans discovered yellow fever, a disease present in tropical Africa and South America. Scientific interest in the identification and classification of tropical diseases emerged in the 19th century, when increasing numbers of Europeans and Americans, as a result of exploration and colonial expansion, were brought into contact with infectious diseases in tropical and subtropical climates. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many tropical diseases were found to be transmitted by vectors, such as mosquitoes, fleas, lice, snails, and other animals, and some diseases were linked to contaminated food or water. Eventually, the pathogens (disease-causing organisms) for many tropical diseases were identified; they include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the significance of tropical diseases grew despite the fact that much had been learned about prevention. Because of population growth, increased migration, tourism, and the breakdown of public health systems, tropical diseases re-emerged and new strains, such as ebola broke out. What is the role of the medical missionary? What can you do after knowing about tropical diseases? There are several things you can do:  Understand tropical diseases: educate yourself and learn from those that have gone before you Care about tropical diseases:  you could choose to ignore tropical diseases since they are not present in most of the developed world Care about those in our world who live in poverty and do not have the appropriate resources to prevent and treat tropical diseases Provide compassionate, informed care: whether short term trip or long term service, tropical medicine is a great way to engage and serve across a wide swath of the globe What are some resources for the medical missionary? According to one of our frequent GMHC speakers, Dr. Samuel Palpant, one of the best resources for up-to-date information and a look at travel medicine and current epidemics: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or www.who.int  Dr. Palpant also recommends the following books and resources on tropical diseases and medicine:   The Travel and Tropical Medicine Manual by Christopher A. Sanford MD MPH DTM&H et al Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine by Andrew Brent  Where There is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook, Revised Edition by David Werner Peters' Atlas of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology by Laura Nabarro, Stephen Morris-Jones, et al  Dr. Palpant Tropical Medical Cases: Non-Surgical Dr. Douglas Collins Neglected Tropical Diseases Dr. Charles Mosler Treatment of Tropical Diseases that Make It to the United States

Does being a medical missionary mean you have to go overseas? Is serving in the United States any different than just living your normal life in America? In this post, we want to cover all things related to medical mission trips in the USA. I want to give you three areas where you can serve and some options for you to consider as you think about your role. My hope is that you will be encouraged and challenged to serve and use your skills in the US. Here are several areas where you can serve in medical mission trips in the USA: #1 Rural hospitals and clinics For one example, see Dayspring Health Center in Appalachia where GMHC speaker and resource contributor, Geogy Thomas serves. God started to impress upon Geogy the plight of the rural poor and the disparities of the healthcare system in America. That took him to a rural clinic on the Kentucky/Tennessee border. In 1952, times were tough in rural Appalachian communities due to the closing of many of the local coal mines. Medical services were meager at best. The story of Dayspring began in this setting. The United Mine Workers Association and the American Medical Association worked with local community leaders to address the lack of adequate health care.  The first full-time physician began seeing patients in August 1954, charging $2 a visit. Today, patients are still being seen in this underserved area, where the staff promotes full health—physical, spiritual, mental, and economic—of the communities they serve. #2 Urban clinics One example of an urban clinic is Christ Community Health Services, where healthcare staff are filling the physical, spiritual, emotional needs of the underserved, the uninsured, and the homeless in the Memphis, Tennessee region. Christ Community strategically entered Memphis communities over 25 years ago that had become deficient in resources and services. Many of the neighborhood residents lacked access to healthcare resulting in manageable health issues going untreated and undiagnosed. Christ Community is standing in the gap, delivering quality healthcare and spiritual healing to those in their community who need it most. When patients enter the doors of Christ Community, they feel the love and hope for their lives and their healing. Patients who enter the doors of Christ Community are treated with dignity and respect, along with spiritual healing and the opportunity to experience God’s love in prayer. #3 Faith-based clinics One example is Lawndale Christian Health Center, where the mission is to show and share the love of Jesus by promoting wellness and providing quality, affordable healthcare for an under-resourced community in the Chicago area. The median income in Lawndale is $22,383 and the clinic was started because members of a local church had virtually no access to healthcare in their area.  Members of the church and neighborhood began to hold meetings to discuss ways they could meet the needs of their own community. At the top of their list was a desire to address the lack of affordable, quality healthcare services in North Lawndale and on the West Side of Chicago.  The church was able to buy a building, a small clinic, and a full-size basketball court for the community to enjoy. Today, that dream has expanded to over 100 medical providers across six clinic locations. The organizational values of Lawndale are an extension of the Christian Community Development philosophy, embodied by the “3 R’s”: Relocation, Reconciliation, and Redistribution: Relocation is a focus on ‘living among’ in order to clearly understand the issues that face a community. Reconciliation is the value at the heart of the Christian Gospel and includes both a reconciled relationship with God and with each other. Redistribution happens when resources are fairly and justly distributed among a community facing injustice. Additional options for service in the USA. The Center for Disease Control has statistics in infant and maternal mortality by race in the US. In 2018, infant mortality rates by race and ethnicity were as follows: Non-Hispanic black: 10.8 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 9.4 American Indian/Alaska Native: 8.2 Hispanic: 4.9 Non-Hispanic white: 4.6 Asian: 3.6 The U.S. has an official maternal mortality rate of 17.4 deaths per 100,000 births in 2018. Wide racial and ethnic gaps exist between non-Hispanic black (37.3 deaths per 100,000 live births), non-Hispanic white (14.9), and Hispanic (11.8) women. Now, according to Healthy People 2020, health disparities, such as infant and maternal mortality, are health differences that are closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantage.  The social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health. Resources that enhance the quality of life can have a significant influence on population health outcomes.  Examples of these resources include safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety, availability of healthy foods, local emergency/health services, and environments free of life-threatening toxins. There are many options to serve in the US. Noting the statistics above, the US is in desperate need of loving, compassionate healthcare providers. Join a community like Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF), where about half of the people who make up the CCHF community work in secular settings—community health clinics, universities, residency programs, and so on. They are there because of a conviction that this is where they are meant to serve Christ’s mission to bring healing and comfort to the poor, and to represent His kingdom in word and deed. The other half of the CCHF community work in faith-based clinics that strive to provide distinctively Christian care. Each clinic has a unique idea about what it means to deliver Christian care, but everyone strives to be authentic to their calling in Christ. Lastly, for a few more ideas on how you can serve in the U.S., if you are considering a residency program, consider a faith-based program such as In His Image Family Medicine Residency, where they focus on the underserved, Via Christi Family Medicine Residency, where they train doctors to effectively serve the poorest and most underserved people of this world., or Cahaba Family Medicine Residency Program, which has both an urban and rural track. My hope in reading this post is that you note that being a medical missionary doesn’t mean you have to go overseas. You can serve in medical missions in the USA as well. There are so many needs for your skills and giftings, so consider how God might be calling you to serve in the United States on His mission. The above options and ideas will help you get started in knowing where some of the greatest needs are.

Spiritual burnout is real. When it comes to spiritual burnout and medical missions, you must understand a few things in order to be faithful in your calling. In this post, I want to look at what spiritual burnout is, how you can know when you’re experiencing burnout, what to do when you’re experiencing burnout, and some tips and resources to help you get through burnout and be even more faithful in your calling on the other side.  What is spiritual burnout? Is something wrong with me? Here’s the answer: no. You are normal! Very normal. In fact, everyone goes through seasons of ups and downs—especially as it relates to medical missions. Burnout is a natural part of our journey with Jesus. So, it’s a natural part of your life and calling in serving Him.  Is it due to sin? No. Life is stressful and filled with burdens. However, it doesn’t mean that spiritual burnout is due to some hidden sin in your life. Those are two different things. So what is it? According to Vantage Point Recovery, burnout is generally considered a state of physical or emotional exhaustion from ongoing stress. Spiritual burnout is particularly common with healthcare missionaries. There are often long hours required, along with the intense emotional drain involved with seeing patients and difficult cases. This combination of stressors (both physical, emotional, and spiritual) make medical missionaries a particularly high-risk group for burnout. If and when you experience burnout from time to time, here are a few things you should know—both in order to help yourself—and help others you might be serving alongside. How do you know when you are experiencing burnout? It’s important to be self-aware when it comes to exhaustion and burnout.  Don’t try to push exhaustion aside. As a leader, be sure to recognize when you are struggling or have times of extreme tiredness. It could be several days or even weeks, but be sure you’re listening to your body on some level to know when you’re not yourself.  Another area to look at is your relationships. Is there unresolved tension or friction with people in your life? These are probably signs that you are experiencing some kind of fatigue or burnout as well. Take stock in your relationships with family, friends, those you are serving with. It’s important to consider how you are handling things in your calling.  Lastly, in order to know when you’re experiencing burnout, it’s vital to recognize that there is a stigma to burnout. Don’t let the stigma of mental healthcare keep you from seeking help. As a leader, ask for help when you need it. Actually, ask for help before you need it! It isn’t “weak” to seek out help. There is a reason the Bible points us toward relationships and mentorship. It is vital to seek out supportive, non-judgemental relationships when it comes to your area of service in missions.  What to do when you are experiencing burnout. I have a few things for you to consider when it comes to experiencing burnout. There are some things that you should try to help with burnout as you are walking through it. And, over time, these are tips that should help you not experience burnout in the future.  For example, do you have healthy rhythms in your life? My guess is you’re overworked. Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t be dealing with burnout. So, be sure to keep up with what you are eating, drinking, how are you sleeping, how your stress levels are. Yes, these are things you know and probably teach others about often. But, with your heart, mind, and time on others, you have probably neglected yourself in many ways over a span of years. So, as you look back, what do you need to change in your habits? Are there gaps in your taking care of yourself physically over the last months or years? How can you prioritize your health more?  Next, beyond healthier habits, you should learn the art of saying no. Remember, it doesn’t make you more spiritual to say yes to everything. With God’s call on your life, be sure you are using your time wisely to do the things that are passions in your life. Guilt cannot determine your life. Guilt, when you’ve done something wrong, is good and helpful. Guilt when you just feel like you “should” do this or that can and will often lead to burnout. Finally, you’ll want to establish proper boundaries in your life and work. Protect your spiritual life by putting healthy boundaries in place. This is more than just saying no, it’s also knowing the things in your life that drain you. It is not allowing people and commitments to drive your life, but instead, driving your own life. It’s important that you understand your limits. You can help a ton. But, you can’t help everyone at all times. Do what you need to do in order to get yourself healthy again—so you can serve others well. Part of being a faithful servant is understanding it’s a marathon not always a sprint. Just in case you need it, here is a good resource to help you as well. It discusses how medical missionaries can be resilient and faithful in their calling. So, we understand that spiritual burnout and medical missions is real. We covered what spiritual burnout is, how you can know when you’re experiencing it, what to do when you’re experiencing it, and some tips and resources to help you get through burnout in missions. My hope is that you will learn and be ready to help yourself and others as it relates to spiritual burnout. This way, you’ll be even more faithful in your calling to missions.

When considering a future in medical missions, one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle is the organization you choose to work with. How do you pick? There are so many! Maybe you’re planning a short-term trip or long-term placement. Either way, it is a big and important decision. Let’s review some things you should consider before your big decision.  Here are 5 things to consider when reviewing medical mission organizations: #1 Do your research. Start at our medical missions organizations page. This database has the most extensive list of healthcare-focused organizations in the world. They have all been vetted by the team at MedicalMissions.com You can refine the search by: Healthcare specialties Global Health Issues Types of serving (student, 1-6 weeks, 6weeks-year, 1-2 years, and so on) Areas of the world This allows you to narrow your search to exactly what you want. Are you a nurse who wants to do a two-week trip to Asia? No problem, Medical Missions can you lead you to the exact organizations that are doing this great work. You can do the same kind of focused search at Medical Missions Resources. Find a library of resources from experts that have tons of experience for you to learn from. You can also do a basic google search. This will open up a very wide range of organizations, and you won’t be sure of the reputability of them, but it can give you an idea of what is out there. Here’s the point: read, read, and read some more. Start with missionary biographies and move on to missions philosophy and history. This will continue to give you ideas about the best ways and means to go and to choose an org. #2 Seek wise counsel. If you are in school, go to a teacher or professor and ask them for help and counsel. Do you know a missionary? Start correspondence with them. Ask their advice, but more importantly, listen to their experience. Go to your church and find someone with experience in the area or with the expertise you have. Don’t forget to speak with your pastor or mentor - ask them honestly about your gifts, talents, experiences. Do they think you are ready? Do they think this is a good choice for you? Do they have folks they know who might connect with you? #3 Visit in person or virtually. After all of the research and consultation, you need to begin the process of talking with the organizations. Start by reaching out to them at an experience like the GMHC exhibit hall.  Utilize the live chat experience Set up Zoom meetings Listen, learn, take notes from all the agencies and organizations you meet with After that, compare notes. What do you like about some and not about others? Here are a few things to keep in mind: Narrow your search down by region of the world or area of missions focus.  Look at their mission statement and their goals - do they match with yours? Which organizations match your philosophy of missions (the how and why of mission work) Look at their missionary care. You want an agency that values the spiritual, emotional, and mental health of their missionaries #4 Look at all the factors. This is the time to bring all of your notes together. What is the Lord saying? You have research, advice from trusted mentors, and conducted interviews with actual organizations. How does it all fit together? Where is the best fit? Take your time on this step. It’s not the time to rush anything.  #5 Pray for wisdom. Throughout this entire journey, be in prayer. Cover the entire process in prayer.  Ask God for specific points of interaction and direction. Be open to “No” and “Wait.” Sometimes, it isn’t the right time or the right way or the right organization. Don’t force it. Often, you can easily get caught up in the questions, details, planning, logistics, and other things related to a mission trip—and honestly—you can forget to pray. Don’t forget to pray! Here are just a few ideas to pray about:  Pray for wisdom. Something will go wrong. It doesn’t matter how organized you are! Pray from day one of planning. Ask God to give you wisdom in:  where you should go - whether short term or long, this is a vital piece of the puzzle What is the cost - you will need to raise money for a short term trip, and you will need to raise support for long term placement who you should go on a mission with - remember the process above. Don’t just pick something at random, but do the work required to choose well. What God is calling you to in this placement? Whether short term or long, God has plans for you and for the people you are serving. Remember this, when you are weak, God is strong. His grace is sufficient for you now and on the field. Learn early to get your strength from Him and you will be well on your way to having a missional life of purpose and usefulness.  Pray for joy. This is an amazing time to see God show up and see fruit in your life and for those going on mission with you. Pray for yourself and any folks going with you to find joy through this experience.  Pray for the people you’re going to serve. Whether it’s financial frustrations or health questions, ask God for His provision daily from start to finish of your trip. Ask for spiritual eyes to see God at work in you and the folks with you.  Ask God to intervene and heal where there is sickness or other needs of the people you are going to serve. If you can, make a list of the needs of the people you’re traveling to serve and begin praying for those needs before you arrive. Keep a journal of frustrations and answers to prayer. When you look back over this experience, you’ll see trends where God was at work—if you’re looking.  If you take your time, do your research, seek wise counsel, visit in person or virtually, review all the important factors, and pray, you’ll be in a great spot to pick the best fit for you when it comes to picking the right medical mission organization.