Adventist Health System Midwest Region (AHSMR) participated in a medical mission trip to Las Tablas, Panama, March 18 through 28, 2004. Former Hinsdale Hospital nurse Rosa Espinosa, a member of West Suburban Hispanic Church, organized the mission. Many of the participants from Illinois are Adventist members of the West Suburban Hispanic, Hinsdale, and Hinsdale Fil-Am churches.
More than 100 people served on the mission team, gathering in Panama from Illinois, Maine, Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, New York, California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Mexico, and Colombia. Team members were physicians, dentists, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, nurses, chaplains, translators, musicians, teachers, construction and food service workers, some children, and Ken Denslow, Illinois Conference president, and his wife Patricia.
AHSMR donated T-shirts for the team members with a design showing a hand from the United States shaking one from Panama with the words “United in Christ.” Adventist Health System also provided photo cards and some medicine.
During the medical mission, 161 dental, eye, and general surgeries were performed. According to Edgar Urbina, chaplain, the group received a thank you e-mail message relating the story of one woman who returned home crying tears of joy following her cataract surgery because she could now see the faces of her family again.
Vacation Bible School was offered with an average attendance of 70 children, and Chaplain Ron Yabut led spiritual talks for university students with an average attendance of 65. At the evangelistic meetings in Las Tablas, a physician presented a health topic followed by a message from Julio Juarez, Illinois Conference Hispanic ministries director. Approximately 50 community residents attended those meetings.
The medical staff conducted 907 outpatient and 18 prison visits. The Adventist Health System chaplains, Yabut and Urbina, assisted by volunteers and teenagers, made 224 chaplain visits and led morning devotions with the staff.
According to Chaplain Urbina, the medical mission ministered to the people of Las Tablas who couldn’t afford medical services. “Word of free medical services traveled fast, and patients lined up for the opportunity to see a doctor or dentist when they heard the Americans had come to offer free medical services.”
“The mostly Catholic population responded favorably to the post cards we distributed with paintings by Nathan Greene of physicians with Jesus standing by their sides," Urbina said. “The pictures made a positive impact on the community."
Adventist Health System extended its mission of whole-person care across the equator through this mission trip. Twelve people were baptized, dozens of Bible studies were initiated, and hundreds of Panama residents were ministered to in body, mind, and spirit. “The young people were looking for a spiritual connection in their hard lives, and through our passion of service, they saw hope,” said Chaplain Yabut.
Jonathan Leach, AHSMR executive director of ministries and mission, summed it up when he said, “This mission trip was a wonderful expression of faith and witness of God's love demonstrated through us to His children by providing His healing ministry. Lives were touched and seeds were sown for God’s kingdom.”
Lynn Larson is the Adventist Health System Midwest Region Lake Union Herald correspondent.
