At Porter Adventist Hospital, our mission reads that “We extend the healing ministry of Christ by caring for those who are ill and by nurturing the health of the people in our communities.” While this mission is realized daily here in Denver, an entirely expanded view of this mission was evidenced during a Porter mission trip in mid-April to Iquitos Peru.
Iquitos is the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest with a population exceeding 500,000. Located on the Amazon River, Iquitos serves as a major port. In fact, Iquitos can only be reached by river or airplane and is the largest city in the world inaccessible by road.
Our mission team of 28 performed over 70 cataract and eye surgical cases in Clinica Ana Stahl, our Adventist hospital there. In addition, two primary care teams traveled up the Napo and Amazon Rivers providing primary care to over 1,700 individuals. If you would like to view a short video produced by one of our team, please click on the following link: http://gallery.me.com/smcm5149/101359
This is my first personal experience on a mission trip and I have been incredibly moved by the experience. Here are a couple of my takeaways:
•The mission “to extend the healing ministry of Christ” took on a new perspective as people who were blind one day were given their sight. Our team truly is doing the work of Christ in a tangible way.
•It amazes me how much the Peruvian people are able to do with so little. It makes me ponder how little we accomplish with so much.
•Without exception, every team member feels like we received more than we could ever give. The grateful appreciation of the Peruvian people refocuses our commitment to help those in need just as Christ did while he walked this earth.
If you have been on a mission trip, I would love to read your perspective on what you have experienced and learned.
