A Message From Leanne

Summer is the best time for families to serve together, and it always makes me think of the hymn, “Here I Am, Lord” based on Isaiah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 3:4. This song has become a favorite on many Project Teams, I think in part because the lyrics ring so true to our mission. “I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.”

Here are three ways you can hold God’s people in your heart in the coming months:

• Join us in prayer for the people affected by the war in Ukraine.
• Join a Project Team this fall! Learn more in this newsletter or see our schedule online.
• Follow the construction of our Amazon Hospital Boat by visiting our website or on our social media. You can also donate to this initiative or join a Project Team on the hospital boat in 2023.

In Him,

Coming Together Magnificently

One Surgeon’s Amazing Trip to Bolivia

General Surgeon, Dr. Matt Campbell, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin was the Medical Director on one of our recent trips to Bolivia. These two-week whirlwinds certainly go by fast, but the memories last a lifetime. From exhilarating to exhausting, we hope you enjoy reading about his incredible trip.

In the first week we did 30 procedures in 5 days. We saw many consults, scheduled about 20 cases, unpacked a hospital out of old suitcases with bad zippers, set up two ORs, sorted and sterilized instruments — all powered by 4 hours of airplane sleep. 

The team came together magnificently with many laughs and hugs. 

One of the most rewarding procedures we get to perform in Bolivia are colostomy reversals for patients with Chagas’ disease. They are a life-changing procedure but come with significant risk and prohibitive expense for many. Having the right OR table is essential for reconnecting the colon. Ulices, a local anesthesiologist and long-time friend of the team, knew we were coming to do these procedures and managed to borrow the perfect table for us. 

Reflecting back, these two weeks were nothing short of amazing. Part of me knew it would be that way, while another part honestly feared that it wouldn’t—that three long years of disease, distance, and discord would have taken their toll, relegating projects like this to the realm of nostalgia. 

I will confess to having the following questions and much anxiety in the weeks leading up to it. Oh me of little faith.

• Will anyone actually come?
  These people will.

• Will our host-team in Bolivia remain intact?
  By all means, and new faces will eagerly join them.

• Will God somehow find critical servants to fill the gaps we could not have foreseen?
  Yes—and he’ll leverage and reunite friendships spanning decades and continents to do so.

• What if we deprive them of sleep?
  Yup.

• What if our equipment breaks?
  They’ll fix it together.

• What if they get sick, sore, or injured?
  They’ll treat each other and pray for each other.

• What if they disagree on how we should do things?
  They’ll listen to each other and work it out in real-time.

• Will there be wins?
  We get to turn painful lumps into fist bumps.

— Dr. Matt Campbell

An Update from the Frontlines

Your Support is Making a Difference in Ukraine

Since the war began in Ukraine, the Medical Ministry International family has demonstrated an outpouring of love and support. I cannot thank you all enough for your donations, your prayers, and your encouraging words.

Our directors, Dr. Emil Alibeili and Tofik Teymurov, run the Ukrainian Compassion Project. Today, Emil is in Kyiv and Tofik is in the Odessa region, delivering food, water and medical supplies to our partners. Thanks to existing programs, volunteers are currently serving at two of Kyiv’s largest hospitals: Hospital Shalimova & Ohmatdit Children’s Hospital. 

As the conflict continues, supplies are urgently needed to provide emergency care to injured or critically ill patients. This includes around 6,000 people and 16 different churches who are being supported by our team.

With your help, we’ve delivered high-priority medical supplies. Donors like you have also helped purchase and distribute food, water, and aid, including coal for heat, to hospitals in Kyiv and communities in Odessa. To date, 57 tons of aid have been distributed! We are thankful to Compassion Canada for supporting one month of our program delivery.

Words cannot express how grateful we are for your compassion and generosity during this time. Your prayers and support will be crucial to our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in need over the coming months.

What’s Coming This Fall

Amazing Things Lie Ahead

We’re more than halfway through 2022! Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is still upon us, restrictions are lessening and more and more trips are in the works. Will you plan to join us?

With your support, we’ll be visiting places like Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Ghana, Mexico and regions of the Amazon, bringing high-quality health care and lasting change to men, women and children in need. From primary and dental care to general surgery and health education, our teams will be travelling around the world to offer their compassionate services to as many people as possible. 

Our full project schedule is available on our website—we welcome you to apply. Or if you can make a gift to support our Project Teams this fall, we’d really appreciate your generosity! A very big thank you in advance to all of our wonderful community of supporters.