[Editor's Note:  short-term medical missions work can be a wonderful way to demonstrate the love of God to those living in poverty and without meaningful medical care.  MVI Field Coordinators who host these teams are often able to then provide some medical care through these teams to the people they serve in the field, demonstrating compassion and caring, and offering opportunity to discuss the love and salvation that is present through Christ.  In this eNewsletter edition, a team member and team leader report on their recent trip to Peru.]

Eight of us left the USA on Saturday, September 25, 2010, and flew to Puerto Maldonado (P.M.), Peru, in the Amazon rain forest. Our team consisted of two Peruvian-American medical doctors, three registered nurses, a pharmacist, and two lay people. When we arrived in P.M., we were greeted by our hosts, MVI Field Coordinators Jim and Sue Brannan. Jim and Sue are full-time Missionary Ventures missionaries who have lived in P.M. for 10 years.

The first afternoon we sorted and bagged drugs. We brought three checked bags full of drugs, one checked bag with 800 pairs of reading glasses, and another full of tooth brushes and tooth paste.

On Monday we boated downriver for 3 hours to the remote jungle village of Palma Real, near the Bolivian border. There we did an all-day clinic that day, the first of five days of all-day clinics - two in poor barrios of Puerto Maldonado and three in remote jungle villages along the Madre de Dios and Las Piedras Rivers. Everyone who attended the clinics was examined by a medical examiner and given appropriate treatment and drugs. Everyone received a 30-day supply of vitamins and a 6-day supply of worm medicine. All of the children received a tooth brush and tooth paste and a toy. All of the adults were fitted for reading glasses.

During the five days we saw 650 people in the clinics plus another 50 who only came for reading glasses. In one of the jungle villages we encountered a 16-year old girl who was born paralyzed. When we returned to P.M., one of our doctors bought her a wheelchair.  This was obviously a life-changing moment for that girl and her family. Physically, this was a very tiring experience. The heat index was 113-115 every day, and we had five long days in that heat. But, we got through it and felt rewarded in many ways. That said, if you have never been on a short-term medical mission, you should consider it. It is an experience that you will feel good about for the rest of your life, and you will be doing a great deal of good for people who have very little.

Once you have gone, you will almost certainly want to go again. Of the eight people on our team, only two were first-timers. Our team leader, Krista, was on her 15th trip.

Photo Gallery of Trip