A glimpse of God's love
SIMS participants serve the needs of others throughout the world
 Sophomore medical student Chris Burton cradles a child at the Pan American Health Services clinic he served at during a two-week SIMS trip to Honduras. |
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Countries served through SIMS, 2001 This year, more than 50 students participated in SIMS trips to the following countries: Belize |
Every year, students and professionals in health fields have provided such help through the programs of Students for International Mission Service (SIMS).
Integrating this aspect of service into their curriculum, students gain hands-on experience, as well as a chance to discover the uniqueness of other cultures.
This year alone, 58 students have traveled to 17 countries, providing health care where it is needed most. The following stories exemplify what needs are being met through SIMS.
SIMS in Honduras
For sophomore medical student A. Tui Srisawat, a SIMS trip to Pena Blanca, Honduras, gently reminded her of why she's in medicine--to glorify God through the healing of others.
"I learned that love in action transcends all language barriers," says Ms. Srisawat.
Spending two weeks in July, Ms. Srisawat and 10 others provided medical care to the community of Pena Blanca at the Pan American Health Services clinic, which serves as a nutrition hospital and orphanage for malnourished children.
A typical day during their trip varied, depending on the needs that arose. The group served between 25 and 30 patients during four mornings of open clinic.
"Several people walked for miles to get to the clinic," relates Ms. Srisawat. "Even though they were poor, they wore their best clothes to come see us. Many people waited for hours in hot weather to get simple things such as vitamins, aspirin, and Tylenol."
For two days, SIMS participants also assisted local physicians by seeing patients at the Centro de Salud (Center for Health), treating people for parasites, migraines, asthma, and a variety of other conditions.
"I found the people of Honduras to be very warm and friendly," Ms. Srisawat relates. "Even though my Spanish left much to be desired, the people and patients I saw cooperated fully and tried to help me as much as possible. In addition, even though I was just a medical student with very little clincial experience, they were so appreciative of my efforts in helping them. Many of them gave me hugs and well wishes as they left the clinic."
 Junior dental hygiene students Hilary Clarke (left) and Liesl Ruhl demonstrate proper dental care to the Peruvians who are waiting in line for the clinic. George Clarke, DDS, assists by holding the skeletal head of a crocodile. |
For Ms. Srisawat, the most memorable part of the trip was the children she met at the nutrition clinic. At the time of the group's arrival, the clinic had approximately 30 malnourished children in various stages of recovery. Several were so sick, they did not have the energy to smile or even cry, reports Ms. Srisawat. "On a happier note," she shares, "many of the children were well on their way to recovery."
For Ms. Srisawat, the trip was a rewarding experience. She comments, "This summer has been one in which I have grown closer to Jesus and caught a glimpse, once again, of His great love for all of us."
SIMS in Peru
Imagine a place where people do not receive health care because they cannot afford to travel three days to the nearest hospital--a place so remote, it is only accessible by boat.
This was just what Ralph Perrin, DrPH, dean of student affairs, Loma Linda University, had in mind when planning a mission trip to Peru.
"I wanted to go to an unserved area," Dr. Perrin expresses. For that reason, he and 20 medical students and professionals found themselves in the heart of the Amazon basin.
The villages of Tumbes and Shipibo--accessible only by boat--provided just such remoteness.
It took more than three days for the group to reach their destination. After two plane rides and a bus ride, they reached the Ucayali River, one of the main headstreams of the Amazon. The group paddled their canoes to a launch boat--their home for the remainder of the trip--and eventually reached the Tumbes and Shipibo villages.
Sponsored in part by SIMS, the trip was also assisted by Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Amazon Medical Outreach and Relief projects (AMOR).
"This is the first time anyone's gone into this area to do this," says Dr. Perrin.
"We hope that we can set it up so dentists can fly to the area with their own tools, and everything else will be in place."
 The Shipibo Indians stand in line for the clinic, dressed in their nicest clothes. While waiting, they watched videos and heard talks on health and dental care, with an emphasis on prevention. |
For this purpose, ADRA made generous donations to purchase restorative dentistry equipment that will be used in the remote jungle villages. Purchased equipment included a compressor, generator, and curative light.
More than 300 patients showed up in the mestizo village of Tumbes for medical care. While this help is important, Dr. Perrin expressed the need for a change in lifestyle for the villagers.
"Their life is survival, existence," Dr. Perrin shares. "Just getting water is a challenge. But I'm impressed when I see in them a vision for development. That's what we try to inspire."
Aiding the trip by providing medical services, Guillermo Gow-Lee, MD, an alumnus of the School of Medicine, saw the need for education as well.
"In two weeks, we can't make the same impact," Dr. Gow-Lee comments, "but we try to emphasize the importance of prevention."
After serving in Tumbes, the students moved to the next village of Shipibo and set up clinics in the dirt-floor Adventist church. Six makeshift dental stations were constructed, using folding chairs and benches. The students and supervising physicians and dentists saw more than 750 patients total, performing tooth extractions, fillings, and cleanings.
While SIMS trips provide students and physicians the chance to serve, they also prove the ever-present power of God. Dr. Gow-Lee holds this lasting memory:
"After a long day of seeing patients and evening evangelism, an incident ocurred that was seared on our minds as evidence of God's special protection.
"Several men--canoeing their way down river to another town--visited the saloon in the town in which we were working. After imbibing freely, they returned to their canoe for a relaxing cigarette.
"Unfortunately, gasoline in the bottom of the canoe ignited," says Dr. Gow-Lee, "and soon almost its whole length was in flames. A man was seen in the glow of the fire at the back of the canoe, holding his hands as if trying to fend off the flames. It seemed unreal, almost like watching a Hollywood movie, as we saw the flames leap higher and higher into the dark night.
"The current was sweeping the flaming canoe closer to our launch boat, and we realized the danger of the fire so close to our fuel tank," Dr. Gow-Lee continues. "Before it got close enough to cause a fire on board, another current caught the canoe and pushed it gently away from the launch. A lifeboat was sent to pick up the people in the water and to try extinguishing the fire.
"While medicating and dressing one of the canoe men's burns, his companions were plotting how to steal one of our life- boats so they could continue down river. Fortunately, their plottings were overheard and reported. The night proceeded without further incident.
"God really protected us. We could have been in real trouble both from the flames and from the men themselves," Dr. Gow-Lee concludes.
Dr. Gow-Lee will be returning to Peru with his wife and three young children in November, 2001. The Gow-Lee family will live on the launch boat, traveling up and down the jungle rivers to continue the much-needed teaching and healing in these isolated villages.
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