Yap Field Team Members’ Comments [Posted April 12, 2012]

Keith Lundquist. RN

The recent trip to Yap taught me a lot about trust. I went into the trip with very few details, other than the flight itinerary and the name of the missionaries we would be staying with. Being a very type A, detail oriented person even this was challenging.
Not long after arriving in Yap more challenges started piling up. First, the most important dental case was missing, then seas were 7-9 feet, and there was limited fuel out on the Outer Islands. This meant the planned travel and clinics in Ulithi would be held to a minimum. God used all of these obstacles to repeatedly remind me to trust him. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding…” Proverbs 3:5-6 became a theme for me throughout the trip. God especially used the clinic at Mogmog to show me how all of our efforts were rewarded. The reception and outreach on this small island was phenomenal given the strong cultural and Roman Catholic history.

The response from the people of Mogmog, the number of people who trusted Christ as their Savior, and the number of people we were able to help with dental and medical needs was a constant reminder from God that we were exactly where he wanted us to be. I found this truth to be extremely comforting and rewarding and hope to become part of another GDMMissions trip in the not so distant future.

Sarah Higgins, RN [an excerpt from a March, 2012 letter to her home church]

Our original plan had us going by boat to each of the four islands, which because of time meant no medical clinic on Falalop. That plan fell through to a gas 'shortage' on Falalop, which restricted travel. Our missing dental equipment was replaced by equipment left there by Dr. Jack [Mitchell] last year, and in short order God went through with His plan, having clinics on Falalop. This meant continued kids' studies every day, and more concentrated witness on that island.

We did end up getting enough gas to go to one island... Mogmog. Asor, the smaller, low-ranking island, was closer, but Mogmog is the highest ranking island. It's the one that decided there would be no other church but the Catholic Church in the outer islands. It's rare to be allowed there, and the people were decidedly cold to Paul [Zimmer] on his first visits there. This visit was his 'best reception yet.' Before going, we heard a lot of kids had been sick there, and the doctor hadn't been there for weeks. They were also out of some of basic medicines, and had no heath-trained person there at all. They were welcoming, thankful for the care we gave, and gave us an island send-off waving from the shore. The missionary was able to share the gospel, and Angelina was able to tell four Bible stories and the gospel to a crowd of kids and women. We gave out roughly 50 Bibles/NTs as well. Our prayer for continuous evangelism was answered in Mogmog, as in Falalop, as God gave the strength and boldness for Bryan, Pastor Rick, and Paul to witness to groups or individuals that were gathered around the clinic. Pastor James, who faces a lot of cultural pressures in coming to both islands with the gospel, boldly and gently kept communicating the gospel through the whole day and giving out scriptures as well. God helped Dr Greg and I squeezed in a quick house visit with a woman named Lourdes and her husband. Lourdes had come very sick to clinic and asked that we see her housebound husband. Either could die at any moment from their medical problems. It was a joy to visit them and share Christ's love medically and spiritually. Please pray for them.

Despite a very wet ride and waves that gave a rollercoaster thrill, no boats overturned and a safe distance was maintained between us and the tiger sharks in the channel. I had read that morning of the return of the 72 disciples who 'returned again rejoicing, saying' that even demons fled at the name of Jesus. A few verses later were followed by “and Jesus rejoiced...”  not only because Jesus gives power over demons, but because "your names are written in heaven." We returned rejoicing as well with the Lord, with more praises to add to Angelina and my kitchen praises poster.

Sowing Gospel Seeds Through Compassionate Care [Posted July 7, 2011]

by Dr. Melanie Blackburn

In March, 2011 my husband and I had the privilege of once again serving with GDMMissions to the Pacific Islands of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. Our first trip to Yap with GDMMissions was in October 2009, and our hearts were touched by the need for medical care and access to the Gospel in these islands. On this trip, we were able to take our three children along with us, so that they could experience island life and have fun with the Zimmer family. [The Zimmer and Blackburn families are close friends. The Blackburn’s church actively supports the Zimmer’s ministry.] Anna (6), Ashlyn (6), and Ethan (3) had a blast and will never forget the experiences they had while in Yap! In the states, I practice as a pediatric hospitalist in a rural town in South Carolina. Throughout my undergraduate and medical training, I always had a strong desire to participate in medical missions. I have had many opportunities to serve in various ways, but never with a team of people through an organization like GDMMissions. It is amazing how God can bring together people from all over the world with different backgrounds and talents and form a successful team that honors and glorifies Him, all while providing great dental and medical care. This is one of the blessings of working with an organization like GDMMissions!

While on the main island of Yap, and its outer islands of Fais and Ulithi, we were able to take part in many medical clinics. In the clinics on the main island, we treated mostly infants and children and were able to appreciate the great routine care that the community health providers give to their villages. In the outer islands, we extended our scope of practice to people of all ages and also performed minor procedures. I was blessed to work with two team nurses, Sarah and Katrina, who were not only flexible in their medical responsibilities but also very sensitive to the spiritual needs of our patients. We were able to treat many physical diseases but most importantly introduce them to the Great Physician who will heal their spiritual needs.

More from Dr. Blackburn can be found in Sowing by Grace, Summer 2001 issue

A Testimony from Pastor Acedo — Hermosillo, Mexico [Posted March 17, 2011]

God is faithful!  We give thanks to God for the marvelous things He does.  God is pleased to use human instruments to accomplish His work.  Among those is Dr. Mitchell, his wife, and a fine team he has to assist him.  Thank the Lord for the past five years that the Lord has used them among us.  We see the enthusiasm the have in serving the Lord.  THEY SERVE THE KING OF KINGS:  JESUS CHRIST!!

In those years we have seen people come to the feet of Jesus Christ.  Now, our duty is to follow up with them so those souls become true followers of Christ.

In this past month of February [during a GDMMissons dental evangelism clinic] we saw approximately 26 souls saved.  Pray that this is fruit that lasts!  Please!

Thanks for each one of the participants in this group.  They were very enthusiastic.  May the Lord continue using them greatly among us, but first that God continues sending them to us each year in the month of February so that…God continues saving souls, and so His name is glorified!

The Living Hope Fundamental Baptist Church (formerly San Bosco) is supremely thankful for your help.  Continue forward!  Your labor “in the Lord is not in vain.”  Many thanks!!

Sincerely,

Pastor Manuel Acedo and Family
Psalm 39:7 - And now, Lord, what wait I for?  My hope is in thee.

[Translated by Michael Vetter, Latin American Representative — to see the Spanish letter with photos click here]

Encouraged by Brethren in Mexico [Posted March 14, 2011]

When I was asked to write a short testimony about what I was most touched by on my short-term mission trip to Hermosillo, Mexico, I didn’t have to think very long about what to say. 

Our brothers and sisters in Christ in Mexico have a love for the Lord and for each other that seems to be missing in the United States.  They show their love in how they act towards each other and in the way they reach out to their neighbors, friends and co-workers in an effort to see them come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  The other way their love of God is evident is in their service.  They work tirelessly throughout the day and will do anything to help you – and I mean anything!  When I see the heart attitude that the Mexican people have, I long to see that same zeal and love for the Lord among the brethren in our country. 

When you think of Mexico please think about these dear people who are full of love for the Lord and for others, not about what the news media tells you about Mexico.  If God wills, I will return to Mexico next year and try to bring some of their love and desire to serve back home with me again.  Maybe I can pass it on!

— Mary Chase, Associate Missionary (Dental Hygienist)

Katrina Caturan Welcomed as Associate Missionary [Posted February 22, 2011]

I was born and raised in the mission field of the Philippine Islands. Both my parents are medical missionaries involved in different mission hospitals/ clinics and pioneering evangelism. I believe because of this, the Lord broke my heart and gave me the desire to surrender my life to Him as a missionary nurse when I was a freshman at Bob Jones University (BJU). Growing up, helping the poor and needy with Christ as an example of compassion, the desire was implanted in my heart as I saw my parents doing God’s will in their lives as medical missionaries. Because of God’s working in my heart and the godly influence and legacy of my parents, I became a nurse. My family moved to the U.S. when I was almost 12 years old. It was in the U.S. that I found myself spiritually. It was all part of His divine plan. I was able to attend BJU along with my twin sister who is currently a missionary doctor in the southern part of the Philippines. After five years of nursing school, I went back to New Jersey to work in a teaching hospital as a floor nurse specializing in telemetry and medical-surgical patients. After five years at the hospital I moved to the operating room (OR).

I started going on medical mission trips with my dad in the Philippines during my college years. At first, I would help him with consultations and surgeries by taking blood pressure, or documenting the trip through videos and photos, or teaching the little kids, or being involved in singing during church. But my task then in the OR was limited since at that time I had no OR experience. I prayed for the Lord to allow me to be trained in OR practices. The Lord intervened and allowed me to transfer from floor nursing to the OR almost two years ago. This was a whole new world for me. But it was a stepping stone also in the mission field. Now, I was able to prepare instruments during our circumcision clinics in the Philippines and scrub in to help during minor surgeries. One of my favorite memories was when my dad (a doctor) was operating in the mission hospital. His assistants were my mom (a nurse) and my sister (a doctor). I was helping the anesthesiologist take vital signs and also take photos and videos of the surgery. The thought of my family serving together in those surgeries gave me great joy and contentment in the Lord. The Lord had given each of us an opportunity to serve Him and to top it off we worked together as a family! I am grateful to the Lord for giving me the desires of my heart. I always pictured myself working in clinics in a foreign land and being involved in a pioneering missionary work. 

Today, I serve as an Associate Missionary with GDMMissions with these same goals for the future. Again, this is all the Lord’s intervention in my life. I will go wherever the Lord calls me to go. Whether He wants me to serve Him during a short term mission trip to the Philippines, Yap in Micronesia, Cameroon in Africa, or to Mexico, Lord-willing I will go. By faith, I will