BHSU Delivers Care During Medical Mission Trip to Peru

Baptist Health Sciences University students, faculty, staff and alumni traveled to Pucallpa, Peru, in April for a medical mission trip. They joined with local pastors and missionaries to help improve the quality of life of indigenous people living in the jungle. To reach the patients, BHSU volunteers travelled hours by boat or car on muddy roads, sometimes getting stuck, but the end results were incredible!  

The group of volunteers completed their medical mission trip from April 20 through April 28. During the week, approximately 18 BHSU volunteers set up delivering life-changing care to 1624 general medical patients, provided dental care to 176 patients and reading glasses to 680 patients. The team also provided an individual water filtration system to each classroom, office, dorm and family at the Refuge of Hope special needs school. Local pastors met with the patients, introduced them to the church and signed them into the clinics.

    

The BHSU volunteers offered more than medical care. They also provided spiritual and emotional support, praying with the patients and helping them to realize their relevance in a world where they are often isolated.

“The joining of our team with the Peruvian family of faith was a true reflection of the vastness of God’s love,” said Director of Faith and Service at BHSU, Chaplain Karen Smith. “Every day the team was thanked numerous times for the compassionate care, healing touch, and loving prayers the patients received at the clinics. At the end of the long, hot clinic, the church closed the day by praying and thanking God for all He had done.” 

Smith quotes Mark 12:30-31 when reflecting of this experience. “Every day the love of God and the love for our neighbor was shown through the hands, feet, and hearts of both the BHSU team and the Peruvian people. It was a beautiful community of faith that was experienced by all.” 

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”-Matthew 12:30-31

The Liquid Legacy ministry sponsored the medical mission trip, along with the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation other generous donors. Crosslink Memphis provided medicine and supplies. Peruvian doctors, translators and drivers also helped with the success of the mission trip.

Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine director and assistant professor of osteopathic neuro musculoskeletal medicine clinic, Amanda Robinson, said, “For me, this was a life changing adventure that was delightfully challenging and forever etched into my heart as I had the opportunity to provide help with each patient’s body, mind and spirit, even with the language barrier! Many of the Peruvians came in with back pain, joint pain, abdominal pain, and GI upset.”

“I was able to utilize my Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments to give relief for pain and guidance on how to avoid the pain along with healthy movements to improve their overall daily life,” recalled Robinson. “One patient gifted me with her heart-shaped pillow that she used to ease her back pain and she no longer needed it after seeing me, I was speechless and so grateful for following God’s will that guided me to join the Liquid Legacy/BHSU Medical Mission Trip.” 

   

The medical mission trip was a life-changing and humbling experience for all the volunteers. The BHSU Alumni will be traveling to North Abaco in the Bahamas next, where they will offer free general medical screenings, dental care, and eye care from June 22-30, 2024.