Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital issued the following announcement on Nov. 6.
A team of 38 AMITA Health associates and doctors have come to El Salvador to treat those in need. The team has come from all over the AMITA Health system — from Kankakee to Aurora to Hoffman Estates to Chicago, representing a wide range of specialties and positions. But one thing has drawn us together — a call in our hearts to serve others.
Starting Monday and ending Friday, we will be setting up a medical clinic in an area of extreme poverty. We will listen to patients’ concerns, prescribe medications, perform procedures and, most importantly, we will extend the healing ministry of Jesus.
Ismael Gama, AMITA Health’s senior vice president and chief Adventist mission officer who serves as a leader of the trip, asked the team to think this week about the impact of the experience here, both personally and professionally.
“Whatever motivation brought you here, you have answered and responded to that call inside you,” he said. “You will find sorrow in the midst of joy. You will see joy in people’s faces even though they are going through tough times. Keep your mind and heart open to that. There always is hope and joy. You just need to look for it.”
Last week, as we made final preparations for the trip, AMITA Health’s Mission Integration team prayed for us and performed a Blessing of the Hands ceremony. The team prayed that we would see those who need care, and be open to God’s leading and the experience that lies ahead.
Our team gathered at the airport at 3 am Sunday morning — and with the Daylight Savings Time change, that was quite a feat. Many people did not go to sleep and most team members arrived early. We flew into Miami first, then took the two-hour flight to El Salvador.
Everything went according to plan, and even maneuvering the customs process in El Salvador went relatively smoothly. With each team member lugging a 50-pound suitcase of supplies (half of those containing medications), you can imagine the scrutiny we face as officials try to understand just exactly what we’re doing with all those meds.
Monday morning, we will be visiting a school that we visited last year. We are hoping that we might see some of the people we treated last year. One man who works at the hotel where we are staying greeted some of our team members with hugs and said he received a knee injection last year and the knee is still feeling good. Now he’s hoping to have his other knee done! It’s hard to imagine the lasting impact we have made, and so it is nice to return here again so that we can experience it.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital