Now, Let Us PRAY

By Mark Newcomer Photographs by Rev. Joy Anderson

The sun melted into the mountains of the Central Panamanian rainforest town of Santa Fe as the 2022 medical team from FUMCR settled into the Mission Panama compound for orientation. Partnering with David and Cindy Ceballos, Directors of Mission Panama, the team’s mission would be to serve the indigenous people of the Guabal region. Led by Rev. Joy Anderson, the team included pharmacists Jim Schwartz and Tracie Brugge; nurses Jean von Hoffmann, Judy Cash, and Maggie Cherry; physician assistant Donna Bailey; nurse practioner Shabnam Gill; med tech Greg Graves; children’s activity coordinator Connie McSpadden; patient navigator Jim Twining; my wife, Kelley, an internist; and me, an ENT physician.

David shared his version of “PRAY,” which provided a context for short term missions and gave us our marching orders for the week.

Presence: Establish your presence with humility and grace.

Relationships: Be all about fostering and strengthening relationships with Christ’s love.

Assess/Adapt: Assess the needs of the community and adapt your offerings to fit the local culture.

Yes: Yes, Lord, Here am I. Send me!

Each morning we rose at dawn and loaded the van to cross the continental divide and descend into a remote area inhabited by two indigenous tribes, the Bugle and Ngobe people. Many walked for up to four hours to the clinics which serve as their only access to basic primary care services.

Throughout the week, with God’s help, the team strove to live the principles of PRAY in serving the people of Guabal. Our presence was quickly established through the caring and joyful triage work of our nurses; Judy, Maggie, and Jean. Laughing and loving on the patients constantly, this trio set the tone for the patients, embodying Christ’s love. Relationships with the patients were brief, but as Joy put it, “We were there for the people in THAT moment and let them know that they were God’s children.” We definitely had to assess and adapt, particularly the pharmacy crew of Jim, Tracie, and Greg. Setting up a mobile pharmacy and dispensing 725 prescriptions to the 453 patients we saw was no small feat. They adapted with grace and patience, particularly with one ENT physician who was dusting off his pediatric skills! The entire week was filled with moments of saying “Yes.” From Shabnam and Donna becoming a treatment team and allowing us to see more patients, to Connie saying yes ALL DAY to the kids with her coloring books, games, bouncy balls, and the much coveted Slinkys to “Slim Jim Twining” making countless trips “up the hill” to guide patients to their next step, the team tirelessly demonstrated what it means to say yes to the Lord and serve. The people responded with relieved medical concerns and joyful smiles of appreciation.

For Kelley and me, the medicine was basic but very much needed, consisting of mainly community health interventions with vitamins, parasite treatments, and anti-inflammatory meds to combat the grind of daily life. Kelley was able to intervene for a two-year-old child with asthma by giving the family a battery powered nebulizer and preparing her family to manage the dangerous attacks that occur. That said, we knew we weren’t there to cure cancer, but instead to PRAY.

On behalf of the 2022 FUMCR Medical Mission Team, we want to thank God for a safe and wonderful week, the Ceballos for their outstanding hospitality and guidance, and all who supported us with their prayers and donations. As is often the case, we were humbled and blessed. The challenge now is for all of FUMCR to PRAY and see how God can use us to spread his love and grace to a world that so desperately needs it. So on that note… Let us PRAY!

Many years ago, when Leo Barrios was much younger (and shorter!), a friendship blossomed over the fascination and appreciation of the colorful bow ties that Roger Fortney wore to church each Sunday. Those bow ties would hold a special meaning as they shared stories of family, school, and life with one another.

As time passed, Roger would gift Leo bow ties from his collection, and you’d see Leo proudly wearing them to greet guests and members on Sunday mornings. This year, Leo had the privilege of gifting his friend a painting inspired by the stories they had shared and their affinity for a beautiful bow tie.

Whether 8 or 80 years old, we are proud and grateful to be a church family that spans generations.