Stop #2

The assignment mentioned in my previous post has been helping lay the groundwork for a potential medical missions partnership between the LCMS Office of International Mission and Ministry in Mission (MIM), an LCMS Recognized Service Organization. For the past 15 years, MIM has been working almost exclusively in Haiti, but the instability and insecurity of the western 1/3 of the island we share is forcing them to seek alternative fields of service for short-term volunteers, including medical professionals representing any specialty under the sun. I've come to understand that 1-2 week opportunities in the healthcare realm simply don't exist, so the goal is to support the LCMS's threefold motto of Spreading the Gospel, Planting Lutheran Churches, and Showing Mercy by pairing our infrastructure with MIM volunteers' expertise. 

As a first step, MIM sent its International Medical Director, Dr. Steven Repas, on an assessment visit. I held off posting this for a few days so that Steven could pull off an epic surprise proposal when he got back, which I'm happy to report was a success! OIM sent me to accompany him in the Spanish-speaking locations as cultural guru, tour guide, interpreter, and (DR only) chauffer. Rev. Obot Ite took great care of Steven in Jamaica until he arrived in the Dominican, stop #2/4, on Jan. 27 and I took over. Prior to his arrival, I worked to set an itinerary for us in keeping with his objectives:

1. Get to know the local mission and missionary team located in each place. 

2. Seek out and visit local healthcare centers and workers for collaboration.

3. Learn more about the local culture including local leaders, community nuances, etc.

(2) was especially difficult given my lack of ins and Latin American bureaucracy, but I hope as you read this that you, too, are amazed at how God continually opened the right doors. 

Within 15 minutes of arriving at Iglesia Luterana Pan de Vida from the Santo Domingo airport, we ran into Luis, a new member who happened to have been a Red Cross volunteer. His connections there eventually led us to the Director of Residency and Research at Santo Domingo's public trauma hospital! 

Hospital Docente Universitario Dr. Dario Contreras sees 15-20x more trauma cases per day than the Dayton, OH, hospital at which Steven is a resident. 

As we talked with various church members who work in medicine as well as local pastors, Steven put forth this sketch. He already has excellent doctor handwriting, but the gist is that he's interested in pursuing three arenas of "Dominican led, American supported" collaboration: 

1. Plugging US medical professionals into local healthcare systems. 

2. Education/training (pastors, missionaries, seminarians, school students + parents, members, etc.).

3. Research (and eventual publication that would benefit the entire global healthcare community).

Meeting with Dr. Willy Gaspar, a member of Iglesia Luterana Amigos de Cristo whose dental clinic is right across the street from the church. 

Fun with Rev. Sergio Maita's kids before a Friday evening cookout. 

After breezing through stops at a colmado, grocery store, and pharmacy on Saturday morning to see what's available where and at what price points, we had a chance to see some of the capital's sights. Even though I've been there several times now, I'm still in awe of the tree roots at Los Tres Ojos National Park and the lengths to which they'll go to find water. 

Luis was also a Boy Scout and is involved with a local troop. Eagle Scout Steven was over the moon. 

Pastor Maita visits and prays with Luis's troop whenever he can - a picture perfect example of how MIM educational efforts (think CPR, first aid, fire safety, etc.) could dovetail with strategic outreach efforts. 

How many scouts fit in my car?

Always be networking...even while celebrating six years of Andrés with a Pokémon party in the park on Sunday.

Monday, we stopped at the government-run Psycho-social rehab hospital in Km. 28 on the way to Santiago. Few missionaries, seminarians, volunteers, or FORO partners have been able to visit since the pandemic began, so it was a treat to have director Dra. Marisol Martínez give us and seminarian Kevin, who hitched a ride, a tour. Steven was duly impressed with the strides that Marisol has made in her tenure there and again, full of ideas, but for the sake of confidentiality, there are no photos. 

Tuesday, we spent almost all day in Palmar, beginning with Concordia Lutheran School. Then: Matins with the Concordia the Reformer Seminary community.

Before lunch, Steven enjoyed round II with Marisol, and Danelle's input and expertise to boot. 

After lunch we took a walk to the only clinic in town with Rev. Idjon Fritz. It closes at 2 pm, if that tells you anything about access to healthcare. Noting that the fire department was next door, we popped over unannounced; Steven suggested a number of possibilities that were welcomed with open arms and are ripe for bolstering the church's presence in the community. 

Tuesday's last stop -  our last in the DR - was Maternal, a private hospital that was night-and-day different from the aforementioned public one. We scored a visit thanks to a pediatrician who counts many of the MKs amongst her patients and were especially well-received there when it came to the idea of conducting research (one of the hospital's goals is to reduce its maternal mortality rate). It was the 3rd time I had to get all dolled up to enter a certain area - the OR in this case. 

Steven flew to Belize on Feb. 2, and I started packing to meet him in Peru, stop #4/4, on the 5th, but that's another post for another day. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!