Bmm Mission Messenger - Winter 2018 Edition

Mission Messenger Bethesda Medical Mission Newsletter

Volume 2, Issue 1 | WINTER 2018

In the Spring of 2017, BMM sent a team of 60 Medical Professionals , Construction workers and Volunteers to provide FREE services to the people of Haiti.

HAITI 2017 On March 26, 2017 we embarked on our 5th mission trip to Haiti. When we arrived in Port Au Prince other volunteers from Boston, Charlotte, DC, Orlando, and Miami joined our Connecticut group. Our team consisted of sixty volunteers: Nine Physicians, two APRNs, five Dentists, two Dental Hygienists, two Dental Assistants, eight Nurses, two Pharmacists, fifteen Construction workers, and many other auxiliary workers and students.

We departed the airport, traveled over beautiful Haitian mountainsides and valleys to reach

Bohoc, where we labored for two days in collaboration with Beehive International, a mission group that secured a 30 acre property for the purpose of training Haitians in selfsufficiency through agricultural and vocational education.

In Bohoc, we conducted Medical and Dental clinics, Eye Clinic and Vacation Bible School. There were many memorable occasions during Vacation Bible School. Over two hundred children traveled from the surrounding mountains to attend Vacation Bible School. The children were enthusiastic and fun to work with. At the end of each session the children were served a hot meal. It was a beautiful sight to HAITI Experience con’t page 2

“Sharing God’s Mercy and Love through Compassionate Medical and Dental Care “

see them relax on the grass with volunteers as they enjoyed their meals. Children were given school supplies and toys. An extremely important project funded by BMM for the local community was the completion of a well. This clean water source will have long lasting health benefits for future generations.

On our 3rd day, we were privileged to visit and tour the “Pride of Haiti,� the world’s largest solar powered hospital in Mirabalais. This 300 bed, state of the art, tertiary teaching hospital is sponsored by Partners In Health. Several of our volunteers felt honored to give monetary donations to the hospital to help them continue their great work. We spent the last three days of our mission trip in Montrouis, continuing our regiment of Medical and Dental Clinics as well as conducting the Vacation Bible School for the children. On Saturday afternoon, we visited our orphanage and donated clothes, school supplies, and toys to the children. We also distributed rice and beans to the people living on the mountains near the orphanage. The volunteers joined the natives, singing songs, as the food was being distributed.

Overall, the Dental team provided services to seven hundred people, including dental extractions, cleaning/flossing, and minor dental surgeries. The Medical team serviced over two thousand adults and children, and donated over $60,000 in medicine and medical supplies. The Vision team conducted four hundred and fifty vision screenings and distributed one hundred of sixty pairs of prescription glasses, three hundred pairs of reading glasses, and three hundred pairs of sun glasses. The Construction team completed the well in Bohoc on the Beehive property and also assisted in building of the Guest house and Cafeteria.

God has blessed BMM yet again with a safe and productive mission trip. We thank all of our dedicated volunteers who sacrificed their time and money to serve the underserved. We are looking forward to our next mission trip on June 17-24, 2018 on the island of Puerto Rico, where in addition to medical and dental care, we will be repairing and rebuilding homes for the victims of the recent hurricanes.

Contact us at bethesdamedmission@gmail.com for future Mission Trip details.

- Delores Kellerman

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This fall, Bethesda Medical Mission brought care and service locally to Health Fairs and Clinics around the greater Hartford area, including the Wapping Fair in South Windsor and the Annual Community Health and Wellness Fair at Simpson Waverly School in Hartford. We realize that it is not necessary to travel to a remote country for us to return the love and mercy that God has given to us.

Right here at home, we were able to perform medical and dental consultations, lifestyle counseling, diabetes and blood pressure screenings, health age appraisals, and health education. We encourage you to support us and consider volunteering in your local community and lend a helping hand.

- Dr. Bryan Wilson

The 11th annual BMM Golf Tournament took place on September 10th, 2017 at the Wintonbury Hills Golf course in Bloomfield, CT, named the 6th best municipal golf course in the USA by golf.com.

Golfers arrived with hopes of taking home one of the several trophies on display.

Teams could be seen in golf carts riding the rolling hills of the course challenging each other and swinging for a cause. The day concluded with a dinner and live auction.

Proceeds from the tournament will go towards BMM initiatives, including supporting the House of Mercy Orphanage, assisting with the purchase of medical supplies for mobile clinics for future mission trips and helping the Hartford Area SDA School.

- Jennifer Brown, Pharm.D

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The first time the relationship of brotherhood Is presented in scripture was not in the most amicable or endearing way. ”And the Lord said unto Cain, where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my Brother’s keeper? And he said What has thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the grown.” Gen 4: 9,10.

If this story is looked at simply as an historical account about 2 guys named Cain and Abel then the question asked becomes meaningless. I would like to suggest to you that Cain and Abel were not just 2 silly brothers who lived eons ago but that they represent you and I. This is a story about the whole human race. It is a story that keeps repeating itself in every generation.

We now live in a global community, that calculates how to maximize the benefits for a few at the expense of the majority.

Money matters most and success is measured by wealth and possessions. The goal in life is to have fun and to be comfortable. The end justifies the means and expediency prevails over integrity. It is a world where what I want comes first.

It is interesting to note that the Hebrew meaning of the name Cain is: to acquire, to get or possess. Could it be that this world is still harboring the spirit of Cain?

At the same time, what an extraordinary time to be alive. We are the first people on our planet to have real choices: We can choose death or we can choose life. As stated by former Senator Hubert Humphrey: For the first time in the history of mankind, one generation literally has the power to destroy the past, the present and the future, the power to bring time to an end. Now think about it. We humans are capable of the greatest good but at the same time we are capable of the greatest evil. In fact, we not only have the capability of cleansing this planet of our own species but we also have the potential and the resources to totally eliminate hunger, starvation and many diseases from this planet.

Unfortunately, the axiom: “The power to do good involves the duty to do good” does not have universal human acceptance.

Because of the advances in science and technology the world is now a giant neighborhood or community where the excuses of distance and time doesn’t work anymore.

Did you know that in 2016 the world spent 1.68 Trillion dollars in military arms? That means that over the last 5 years more than 8 Trillion dollars or 8000 Billion dollars were used to produce nothing but smoke and ashes. Imagine what could have been done if such precious resources were used productively. Furthermore, did you know the world’s 8 richest men have the same amount of wealth as the bottom 50% of the population, and 3 Billion people on this planet earn less than $2.5 per day?

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Globally, 1 Billion people suffer from hunger and 3.1 million children die from hunger annually. According to the World Health Organization 2 Billion people on the planet lack access to safe clean water and 1 Million people die each year from contaminated water related diseases. 2,200 children under the age of five die each day from diarrhea related to contaminated water.

One area in which we have made significant progress is in preventable diseases by vaccination. Thanks in part to the Melinda & Bill Gates foundation we have now achieve 85% vaccination of the children on the planet but this still means that 3 million children still die from vaccine preventable diseases each year.

Modern man as a species is called Homo Sapiens. Homo is the genus and Sapiens means wise. Based on how we use the resources on the planet and how we treat each other, I would question whether we are still the wise species on the planet. Our mad pursuit of materialism would be forgivable if there was evidence that material goods and wealth do lead to happiness but evidence fails to show this.

“Am I my brother’s keeper” wasn’t really a question seeking an answer. And there was no answer provided in the text. Cain’s intent was clear. It was a denial. Which reminds me that the Nile is not just the longest river in Africa. He was not only lying but evading responsibility and accountability. What he was really saying was Don’t blame me. It’s my brother’s faults. Does this sound familiar?

Almost, if not every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. Selfishness is a trait we hate in other people but we all justify in ourselves. In addition, we all tend to believe that sins of omission or somehow less significant or less grave than those committed overtly. However, in James 4:17 we are reminded, “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

It is reported that that when the Christian missionary E. Stanley Jones questioned Mahatma Ghandi as to why he rejected becoming a Christian his reply was: “Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love Christ. It’s just that so many of your Christian’s are so unlike Christ. If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ as found in the Bible all of India would be Christian

Today.” Unfortunately, this statement is still factually correct. It is important for each of us take time to reflect on how we treat our brothers and sisters.

Those who profess to be Christians are obligated to be “our brother’s keeper.” As a species, our very survival depends on fulfilling our duties to the brotherhood. The following fable makes the critical nature of this responsibility very clear: I am sure some of you have heard this story before but it is a story that is worth repeating.

Brother’s Keeper con’t on page 6

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It is the story of a rat trap in the house. “A rat looked

problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that

through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife

when there is a rat trap in the house, the whole barnyard is at

opening a package. What food might it contain? He was

risk. How differently this story might have ended if the chicken,

aghast to discover that it was a rat trap. Retreating to the

pig and cow or at least one of them had the understanding that

barnyard the rat proclaimed the warning; “There’s a rat

they were their brother’s keeper. If the needs of the rat had

trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!

been met and protected none of the other animals would have

”The chicken

clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Excuse

perished.

me, Mr. Rat, I can tell this is a grave

The German Theologian, Martin Niemoeller, while

concern to you, but it is of no conse-

lamenting that he had not done enough toward

quence to me. I cannot be bothered by

the plight of the Jews under Adolf Hitler’s Nazist

it. ”The rat turned to the pig and told

regime, addressed this same issue as follows:

him, “There’s a rat trap in the house, a

He stated “First they came for the Socialists, and I

rat trap in the house!” “I am so very

did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist

sorry Mr. Rat,” sympathized the pig,

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did

“but there is nothing I can do about it

not speak out—Because I was not a Trade Union-

but pray. Be assured that you are in my

ist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not

prayers.” The rat turned to the cow. She

speak out—Because I was not a Jew. Then they

said, “Like wow, Mr. Rat. a rat trap! I

came for me—and there was no one left to speak

am in grave danger. Duh? ”So the rat

for me.”

returned to the house, head down and

We may have different religions, different political

dejected, to face the farmer’s rat trap

views, different languages and different colored

alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the

skin but we all belong to one human race; and are all sons and

house, like the sound of a rat trap catching its prey. The

daughters of the creator of the universe. As Martin Luther King

farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the dark-

once said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

ness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose

We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a

tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer’s wife.

single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affect

The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home

all indirectly.”

with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with

Yes, my friends, we are our brother’s keeper and I want to

fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the

commend and thank all the volunteers of BMM for responding

barnyard for the soup’s main ingredient. His wife’s sickness

affirmatively to this age- old question, and for standing up and

continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with

speaking out for the voiceless. As God’s children, may we never

her around the clock. To feed them the farmer butchered

forget that we are our brother’s and sister’s keepers. We wel-

the pig. The farmer’s wife did not get well. She died, and

come all who wish to join us in our efforts to make this world a

so many people came for her funeral that the farmer had

better place by sharing God’s mercy and love. Together we can

the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to

do so much more.

eat.” So, the next time you hear that someone is facing a

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- Dr. Roy Kellerman, Sr.

Since March 2014, BMM has supported the needs of an orphanage in Lansac, Haiti with over $14,000 .

Your donations and contributions have gone towards food, basic supplies, structural improvements, education, and clean water.

The orphans of the facility remain in need of your benevolence.

Since Bethesda was first introduced to this orphanage in March, 2014, many improvements have been made toward the nurturing of the children. In 2016, Bethesda ensured that the children were moved to a more comfortable home, which facilitated the orphanage’s application for licensure from the Social Welfare Agency of Haiti.

In the same year, extensive repairs have been made to the facility by a group of construction workers financed by Bethesda. In addition, a connection to a dependable water source was installed; 20 mattresses, a gas oven, cooking stove, and an electric refrigerator and freezer were purchased.

The total cost of repairs and equipment purchased exceeded $12,000. This sum does not include the annual rent of $4,500 and the monthly cost of food, medication, clothes, and schooling for the children. In 2017, Bethesda sent a van to the orphanage in order to reduce the cost of transportation and to facilitate access to urgent care centers in case of sickness or accident. The presence of a vehicle on the premises available to serve the children enhances the outlook for licensing.

The orphanage expanded to include a school. This is more economical because all primary and secondary schools have tuition. So far, 24 students from the orphanage attend school regularly; in addition, 103 children from the surrounding community have enrolled in school. The school is seen by the Social Welfare Agency as a positive development toward the application for licensing, particularly because the orphanage is considered well-equipped to meet the educational needs of the immediate community beyond the children of the orphanage itself. Unfortunately, most of the students from the community are not able to pay the $30 monthly tuition and, as a result, the $50 monthly salaries of the 7 teachers have to be funded from other sources.

The orphanage was offered a piece of land by the director’s family in order to build a facility to house the children in a more comfortable setting. The orphanage has spent about $300 to carve out the land and to draft legal documents to protect its rights. About $2,700 is immediately needed to fence the property and to have an engineer inspect the land and create a preliminary architectural layout. In November, 2017, a licensing fee of $300 was paid to the Welfare Agency; the orphanage awaits a final inspection visit before the licensing is granted.

- Gustave Lescouflair, Sr.

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We look forward to our Next Mission Trip on June 17-24, 2018 to Puerto Rico.

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