TODAY news - August 19, 2004

Loma Linda University is known for providing health care around the world. The mission trip to Jamaica was that and more as LLU carried out its mission to make man whole in Montego Bay, Jamaica, by holding a global evangelism series and a dental clinic. From June 18 to July 3, 2004, faculty and students participated in this special project.

"The mission of healing combined with teaching was overwhelmingly embraced by the Jamaican people," shares Leslie Pollard, DMin, special assistant to the chancellor for diversity, LLU. "Increasingly, we at LLU will receive more invitations to do genuinely wholistic outreach around the world."

The evangelism series included 10 speakers who LLU fulfills mission in Jamaica preached at a different Adventist church in Montego Bay every evening and Sabbath morning for two weeks--a total of 16 sermons. "It's wonderful to see people embrace the Word of God and to feel the love of the people," shares Melinda Muganzo, MBA, coordinator of training and orientation, HRM, LLUMC, and a speaker for the evangelism series. "It's a wonderful experience. I praise God for it."

"The healing ministry of Jesus minus His teaching ministry is incomplete. The teaching ministry of Jesus minus His healing ministry is also incomplete," expresses Dr. Pollard. "Both dimensions of his ministry are needed locally, nationally, and internationally. This is our calling at LLU."

In addition to the evangelism series, the School of Dentistry held six days of dental care in Montego Bay. Three dentists, a dental hygienist, five dental students, and four dental hygiene students comprised the team. Patients often lined up two hours before the clinic opened to make sure they could receive dental care.

"The clinic was unbelievably busy," shares Rob Ford, DDS, professor, School of Dentistry. "Overall, we saw about 400 patients. Our services ranged from cleanings to surgeries and restorative work."

On the last Sabbath of the evangelism series, all 10 churches held baptismal ceremonies. A total of 225 individuals were baptized on July 3, 2004.

"I think it's really awesome for Loma Linda University to release so many members of its staff to come and participate in the evangelism series," states Balvin Braham, president of the Western Jamaican Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. "I want to express my gratitude to Loma Linda University on how they have blessed the hearts of the people. We're just a little disappointed that the LLU team was unable to stay longer."

"I was deeply impressed by the dedication and vision of our faculty and students," says Dr. Pollard. "They put in long days at the clinic and then worked into the evening with our public teaching responsibilities. These dedicated persons are an asset to LLU. I was inspired to watch the skill with which our team worked across cultures in the accomplishment of LLU's mission."

"Have you ever smelled death?" asks a local Haitian driver. The LLU international behavioral health trauma team hadn't until they reached the town of Mapou, Haiti. As if the sight of the flattened town wasn't enough, the scent of massive decay was a constant reminder of what happened. Mapou lost twothirds of their population in the floods that ravaged southeast Haiti in May. The only survivors-- emotionally devastated individuals.

From June 28 to July 3, the LLU International Behavioral Health Trauma Team (IBHTT) and Adventist Relief and Development Agency (ADRA) trained local Haitian health professionals and volunteers in aiding disaster victims.

"The team empowered the people by training them how to provide services for individuals who are going through a traumatic event," states Beverly Buckles, DSW, chair and professor of the social work department. "Services included crisis intervention and rapid response techniques that help humans alleviate stress."

More than 60 people, including Ministry of Health workers, United Nations workers, and other non-government organizations and volunteers, came to the two-day training workshop in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, held by LLU and ADRA. Afterwards they split into three different groups and headed to the towns of Mapou, Thiotte, and Fonds- Verrettes where they provided service to flood victims.

After the six and half hour ride from Port-au-Prince to the now roadless Mapou, the team met with the town leader. "He gave us a list of 85 people who really needed our services," says Ed Cochrane, MSW, associate professor of social work. Next to their names was a number ranging from one to seven--the number of how many family members died in the flood. "I remember meeting with one woman who lost her six children and her husband, plus her home," reflects Mr. Cochrane. "She lost everything."

The people in Mapou had been stranded for a week. No one could get there to help and no one could leave for help. The roads had turned into raging rivers. When the team arrived, the roads subsided into rocky river beds, so in addition to providing clinical services, they were able to bring food to the famished and lethargic victims.

"Thank you for the rice and water and service," replies a grateful Haitian man to the team. "We have had many people come here to help, but I can see that you are different. I see the love of God in you, and now I have hope."

The town of Thiotte was drastically destroyed in the flood as well. "The waters came about midnight when most of the tiny town was asleep," explains Vicki Jackson, MSW, assistant professor of social work. "One family lost eleven members, another awakened to find their home full of water, while another woman climbed a tree to survive the rushing waters."

The IBHTT is an interdisciplinary team who are passionate about fulfilling the mission of LLU by providing psychological debriefing, didactic education, clinical interventions, and research.

"We focused specifically on crisis intervention," says William Murdoch, MD, medical director of the Behavioral Medicine Center, "assessing specific trauma signs and symptoms, active and supporting listening techniques and identifying symptoms for further referral for acute cases of trauma."

Dr. Murdoch expresses the importance for victims to continue with normal life activities such as eating and sleeping after a traumatic experience caused by disaster. If victims don't receive crisis intervention, Dr. Murdoch explains, "they may lose the ability to concentrate, it interferes with interpersonal relationships, depression may set in, and it can lead to other physical problems."

A seminar on crisis intervention was held on the last day of the trip at the Le Plaza Hotel in Port-au-Prince. Intended for Adventists, other churches asked to be able to receive training. In all, more than 40 ministers from various denominations attended the seminar.

In addition, Haiti is now initializing a national trauma team out of the Ministry of Health office.

"This trip was one of the highlights of my life," shares Ms. Jackson. "It was a rewarding opportunity to witness for Christ."

The partnership between LLU's International Behavioral Health Trauma Team and ADRA is part of a pre-funded agreement to provide psychological debriefing for the victims of natural or man-made disasters. LLU has provided on-site crisis intervention in the territory of Inter-America to flood victims in the Dominican Republic, also devastated by May's floods, and provided educational training in crisis intervention to ADRA directors throughout the region in Venezuela, Curacao, and Colombia. The trauma team has also provided services to other countries such as Guam. "This experience did two powerful things for me," expresses Mr. Cochrane. "First, it brought me out of the tower and helped me refocus on what should be of real importance in our lives. Second, it showed me how God, through His power, can take even a bunch of ivory tower geeks and influence an entire nation."

ADRA Inter-America is committed to providing food supplies and coordinating with the United Nations and other nongovernment organizations to assist the affected people in Haiti and will continue dialogue with the country's Ministry of Health on this project.

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Revised August 25, 2004
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