* To view more pictures of our trip please click here!
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
In early December, Arianna Prince and I learned of an opportunity to join Dr. Willett and his amazing dental team to St. Elizabeth Jamaica on a medial mission trip! We excitedly answered God's call of “Whom shall I send to Jamaica?” with an enthusiastic “SEND ME!” Having now returned from an amazing eight-day adventure there, we are back to share all the things God showed us and taught us along the way.
ARRIVING IN JAMAICA
When we arrived in Jamaica, Arianna and I were both anxious to get started and begin our work alongside the Medical Ministry International team of 15 other people who came from all over the United States to help the people of Jamaica with their medical and dental needs. After a “day off” at YS Falls, and zip-lining over the waterfalls, we were ready to begin work on the reason we came to Jamaica...to help the Jamaican people with their dental and medical needs.
SORTING MEDICINE
Beginning at 1pm, the team gathered in the dining area of Ocean View Bible Camp (where we stayed) and laid out thousands and thousands of medicines that needed to be separated into bags for the patients. The medicines ranged from Tylenol to Methyldopa, and most were put in small bags of 30 (a months supply) for each patient. After five hours of sorting, I looked at Arianna and said “Tired yet?” Her response was classic “This is fun! I love this!”
OUR JOBSArianna and I were both assigned to the “Medical” side of the mission, and worked alongside some amazing doctors Dr. Wayne Farmer and Dr. John Kopchick. Each day, we were assigned different tasks at each clinic. Arianna got experience in the “intake” process (weighing people in, taking their blood pressure, and blood sugar, etc), “scribing” for doctors (writing out each patient's symptoms, the doctor's observations, the assessments and the prescriptions). She was also assigned to the pharmacy where she learned which medicines could be substituted for others and what each drug specifically was used for. I, personally, was paired with Dr. Farmer all week long and was in charge of “scribing” for him. We both learned SO much!
THE CLINICS
Each day, we left Ocean View Bible Camp around 7:00 a. m. and headed to a “city” in the mountains (usually about an hour or two away from where we were staying). After a long bumpy bus ride up and down the hills, we arrived at the clinics to set up. During our week there, we went to “Ginger Hill,” “Port Sea,” “Malvern,” and “Springfield.”
Each clinic had a different feel to it. Some had running water, some did not. Some had space for the doctors to work, while others forced the doctor to examine patients outside. However, each clinic had one thing in common...joyful people who were anxious to be seen by the “American Doctor,” and lots of kids who were anxious to laugh and play with us! Upon arrival each day, we were greeted with song of praise from the people of Jamaica...what a great way to start each day!
THE PEOPLE
The people of Jamaica captured our hearts right away! The first day at "Ginger Hill", Arianna was drawn to a little boy named “Kevoun” who kept finding any excuse to hang out with her! Throughout the week more and more kids found their to us anxious to play games, be held and sing to us! The Jamaicans being seen by the doctors were so open and trusting toward us, and before they left, all of them said over and over how thankful they were. We got lots of hugs and handshakes. Many of the children reminded both me and Arianna of Granny’s House kids, and we constantly found ourselves saying “Oh my gosh!! That little boy looks just like ________” or “Doesn’t this little girl remind you of_________.”
THE SICKNESSES
One of the most common reasons children were being seen at the clinic was for fungal infections of the skin and pin worms. Among adults, high blood pressure and diabetes were a common diagnoses. At times, there were stories that broke our hearts and left us praying to God for healing. One woman came in who had been hit with a machete by a boyfriend, and another man came in whose son had broken some of his ribs during an argument. One little boy had so many badly infected sores on his legs, that blood was streaming down his shins. It was a humbling and eye-opening look at how privilege we are in America. Each person who was seen at one of the clinics was prayed for by an MMI team member. What an amazing experience for both Arianna and me!
COMING HOME
On our last day in Jamaica, a woman from our team said, “This has been great...but I’m ready to get back home,” to which Arianna responded with “Not me! I want to stay!” It was so amazing watching God work in both of our lives and in the Jamaican’s hearts. We would both love to go back again return and help and watch God work in Jamaica!
