CMANA NEWSLETTER VOL 2

ISSUE NO. 2Â

CMANA SEPTEMBER 2018

G I V E Y O U R H A N D S

T O

S E R V E

BY MARIA GIRGIS

In May and June of 2018, missions in Haiti and Zambia took place. These missions helped improve the quality of life of those living in rural areas by providing them with both general and specialized medical care. In Haiti, 746 people were able to receive preventative and dental care.

Additionally, 150 children were able to receive care specific to them. Finally, 100 general surgeries took place. In Zambia, similar efforts took place but on a larger scale - 1405 people received preventative and dental care, 250 children were seen, and 90 surgeries were performed.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS MADONNA LAWINDY

Sometimes, we are faced with patients in such poor shape that they leave us

We end up continuing on that sinful path for so long that we

questioning how they reached this point. Perhaps they let their ailments go on

forget what it is like to feel whole and close to God. And yet,

too long before being seen. Sometimes, they ignore advice from providers,

every time we go to the Father, He treats us as if it is our first

leading you to question how to help them if they refuse to listen. In some

time in front of Him - giving us His full attention and full effort

instances, the patient is so completely clueless that they don't understand that

in order to rehabilitate. He doesn’t look at our past history and

their pain is abnormal. In all these situations, they seem to find their new

determine whether we are worthy of healing. He simply asks

“normal,” and forget what a normally functioning body is supposed to be. As a

that we come to Him, in any shape or form, and He will help us

provider, we are frustrated when meeting some of these patients because we

from there - no matter how many times we have failed to listen

know that the effort we put is probably futile. We tell ourselves, “It doesn’t

before. We should approach each patient in the same way - no

matter what I say or do, they will continue as before. Why should I trouble

matter his or her history. Despite what prior efforts have

myself? I will refer them out, or give them the minimum and see how they do.”

yielded, or the circumstances of that specific visit, this is the

The thing is, we are all sick in some way; however, most of our sicknesses are

way in which they will experience Christ through us.

as a result of our minds playing games, the focus of our attention, and weak points in our spirituality. Imagine that, like our patients, our entire path of

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to

healing has been laid out for us. We know exactly what to do in order to

men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of

receive ultimate healing, but many times, we are exactly like our patients—we

the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-

let our sins go on for too long, we don't listen to any spiritual advice - even

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though we know it would help, or we are so jaded that we can't even recognize we are in the deep end.

ISSUE NO. 2Â

CMANA SEPTEMBER 2018

the artisan case “I wish I could be the same person in the ‘real world’ that I am on mission trips.”

This sentiment is common amongst those who have experienced the incredible emotional and spiritual highs of mission work, especially abroad. Despite the lack of sleep and showers that is sometimes inherent to mission trips, we often wake up, look in the mirror, and see the best versions of ourselves. I recently had the opportunity to speak with pharmacists who were frustrated with themselves for their inability to maintain the same level of spirituality, energy, and positivity they manifested on mission trips to Africa and South America. They said that they struggled to find the holiness in frustrating interactions with insurance companies, writing prescriptions, and working late on a Friday evening.

I was reminded of my own frustrations in losing sight of the “mountaintop” experiences when surrounded by the tall buildings of cities and my dayto-day life. Life in the suburbs of D.C., the outskirts of London, or the heart of Sydney is clearly very different than the sprawling impoverished community of Kibera, Kenya, a close knit Bolivian community, or a classroom full of orphans in Cairo. In the face of dire poverty, violence, and suffering, it is often simple to perceive God, the light, contrasted against the darkness.

Even though these things exist closer to home, it is often easier to put them off for tomorrow, or ignore them altogether. In the inertia, comfort, and minutiae of our daily lives, it is often easy to forget that God still works.

These pharmacists reminded me that not only does God still work, but that when our plane lands back in our home cities and we return to our daily routines, our mission has not ended. Rather than seeing our explicit “mission work” as a separate part from rest of our lives, it can be viewed as a spiritual inoculation or guide post, reminding us of how God can be experienced a reminder that even in bureaucracy, deadlines, traffic, and frustrating bosses, the mountaintop is never far away.

THE MOUNTAINTOP BRAD SMITH

ONE BODY IN CHRIST BRAD SMITH

At CMANA, we are not only seeking to be a resource to

This is not just making sure we floss our teeth or make

healthcare professionals, but we also

sure our kids eat their vegetables—

seek to empower laymen to be advocates of their own

though I’m sure many of our healthcare providers would

health and their community’s health. We

applaud these actions. This is fostering a culture of

recognize that while our doctors, nurses, dentists,

intentional investment in our mental, emotional,

pharmacists, therapists, insurances

physical, and spiritual health. This is recognizing God’s

providers, administrators, and educators obviously play

mandate to be stewards of creation, to care for what has

an essential role in fostering and

been given to us, and taking that to heart. That, just as a

maintaining a healthy society, God does not place the

doctor may use a stethoscope, scalpel, and a stint in their

responsibility solely on them.

examination of and care for our hearts, God delights in

For individuals that find themselves working outside of

using us as instruments to care for one another. This is a

the healthcare field, we recognize that

reminder that God calls us all to be healers.

educating ourselves about mental and physical health can be intimidating. We aren’t saying that everyone should try to be a doctor or therapist; but we are saying that as much as we need our healthcare professionals to educate and treat us, we should also be resources to them by taking ownership of our personal, family, and community's health.

T H A N K

Y O U

MARIA GIRGIS

From your generosity, we were able to raise $1,197,781.55 in donated supplies and medications during the first half of the year. Additionally, you helped provide access to medical care to 1296 individuals in Haiti, and 2,345 individuals in Zambia. Their care ranged from general primary care, to specialized surgeries - all of which they might not have been able to receive elsewhere. Together, the 26 volunteers in Zambia and the 15 volunteers in Haiti were able to complete 410 procedures and fill 1466 prescriptions - none of which would have been possible without your help!

2 0 1 9

M I S S I O N

T R I P S

ETHIOPIA

February 16th-23rd

NAMIBIA

February 23rd-March 2nd

HAITI

May 19th-25th October 19th-26th

ZAMBIA

June 22nd-29th

BOLIVIA

July 6th-13th August 17th-24th

EGYPT

November 9th-16th

S A V E

T H E

D A T E !

AROUND THE CORNER:

CMANA’S 1 ST ANNUAL GALA DATE AND TIME: Sat, October 20, 2018 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM LOCATION: Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel 1000 Spring Street Elizabeth, NJ 07201

To purchase Tickets and for more information, please use the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cmanas-first-annual-gala-tickets-

THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF MEDICINE, PSYCHOLOGY, AND RELIGION OCAMPR, an international, pan-Orthodox organization endorsed by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, welcomes presentations of Workshops and Papers at its Annual Conference. The Annual Conference offers a unique opportunity for Orthodox clergy, theologians, and healthcare professionals to come together for fellowship and to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue. Dr. Hany Ashamalla will be one of the speakers presenting a paper at the conference

Annual Conference “Compliance and Resistance: Discerning the Spirit” November 8 – 10, 2018 Ukrainian Cultural Center, Somerset, NJ www.ocampr.org