First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge has a very active adult mission trip program designed to encourage and involve members of the congregation, and non-members as well, in answering God’s call to serve the needs of His children wherever needed. Part of this ministry has involved sending medical mission teams to Honduras for the past 10 years.
The church’s teams are connected to an organization called United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, Southeastern Jurisdiction. An in-country coordinator helps plan the trips, and coordinate the activities with the United Methodist Churches in Honduras. The church has served in several communities, most recently in Talanga, a town northeast of the capital city of Tegucigalpa. In March, the group will return there for their seventh time.
While in the foreign country, the team meets various types of medical needs. They teach children and their parents about the importance of good dental hygiene, as well as provide dental supplies. There is a vision team that uses a computerized system to test vision, screen for glaucoma, and provide appropriate glasses. A typical memorable experience is a patient who can read their Bible for the first time.
The team also works through the local government health clinic to minister to people’s basic health needs, and to provide medicines that are not always available through the foreign medical system. Recently, the team has also started building energy-efficient stoves that vent to the outside of their homes, so the residents will not be exposed to harmful smoke fumes. The team also works through the local churches to do construction projects, vacation Bible school, and to provide clean water to the people in the communities.
Team members are engaged in planning the trip, obtaining and packing medical supplies, and participating in the various projects as needed. Daily devotions, spiritual reflections, attending and participating in local church services, and the daily one-on-one interaction with our brothers and sisters in Honduras, help to bring us closer to each other and closer to God. Participating in the foreign medical missions program results in team members becoming more appreciative of what they have that God has provided, becoming more keenly aware of the suffering around us all, and becoming more sensitive to the many opportunities to serve others in His name.
Donna Henry and her husband Jim are members of First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, and serve as the team leaders for the Honduras missions trip. This program serves as only one example of similar medical missions programs facilitated all over the world. For more information, call the church office at (865) 483-4357 or see www.fumcor.org/MissionTrips.
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