Pooja was barely 12 years old, of slight build with a shy, engaging smile belying her despair. Harboring great expectations, she and her parents had walked hours from their family home, down steep paths to our makeshift clinic, to see the “Christian” doctor. Born with a crippled leg, she patiently stood in line before sliding onto our chair and meekly, almost apologetically, offering her story. Her lower leg had been pinned, grafted, and finally plated on three different occasions, yet was still badly curved and an inch shorter than it should have been. Additionally, the plate used during her last surgery had made an ugly reappearance on her lower shin.

Obviously a perfect set-up for chronic bone infection, we all agreed she should be bussed to the hospital to have the plate and surrounding infection removed followed by more corrective surgery later.

Two days later, after a futile search for Pooja, we learned her family had gone home because some uninformed bystander told them the promised surgery wasn’t “free” after all. By phone they finally agreed to return once more, but only under the condition that everything would be done in a single intervention, which regrettably was impossible.

There were others: a man with lung cancer, a woman with lymphoma, children with contractures, cleft lips, congenital deformities, and some deaf and mute, to mention just a few—enough to keep a faith-healer busy for a while. Alas, none of us had the gift.

We (12 professionals from around the U.S.), after a very long trip, had arrived in Delhi, India, shortly after midnight and were looking forward to a comfortable ride and some sleep. Instead we got “terror at night,” because our driver, unaccustomed to driving at night, struggled to stay awake even more than we did and managed to “drift off” several times.

Surviving our first exciting ride, basically an endless game of “chicken,” we were warmly welcomed at the Shimla Hospital. After a bit of recuperation, we reloaded our stuff into a smaller bus and traveled north another ten hours to Sainj, a small town surrounded by the Himalayas.

We were privileged to see almost 1,500 patients for their various medical and surgical needs, and more than 400 regarding their eye problems. About 50 cataract extractions and 30 surgeries were accomplished. We dispensed free medication worth thousands of dollars and distributed toys and clothing, as well as direly needed school supplies.

Meanwhile, some of us descended with enthusiasm upon the community school and later the hospital’s laundry and a patient room to provide much-needed face-lifts.

After much hard work and a bit of shopping, we packed once more, said "good-bye" to our friends in Shimla, and committed ourselves to the would-be roads. After completing a couple of days of sightseeing, we returned to the airport to catch our plane home.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the work we were privileged to do and for being part of such a supportive Church family. As always, God blessed beyond measure!

Norbert Schwer is a surgeon and a member of the Stevensville Church in Michigan. He organizes three mission trips each year. Read more about the mission team's exciting experience in the February issue online at www.lakeunionherald.org.