Reflections on the 62nd Medical Mission to Yanbian, China
By Min Hee Lee, Operating Room Nurse
Last September, I visited Yanbian Welfare Hospital after traveling through Jingxin Town. This time, I was given another opportunity to return to the hospital, where Dr. Gyung Bai Choi regularly visits several times a year to perform cataract surgeries. Jingxin Town is located in Hunchun, within the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.
For this mission, we brought the cataract surgical equipment that we normally use in Korea so that the procedures could be performed more smoothly.
We arrived at the airport by 7:00 a.m. and began the departure process. Our previous missions had always been carried out with volunteers from Good People, so traveling with only three team members and a relatively small amount of luggage felt unusually quiet and somewhat incomplete.
However, because it was a public holiday, the airport was more crowded than ever. After waiting in a long line, we completed the check-in process. Thankfully, the customs declaration was handled quickly, allowing us to save some time.
A little over two hours after takeoff, we arrived at Yanji International Airport.
With the help of the director of Yanbian Welfare Hospital, the physician responsible for the ophthalmology department, and other hospital staff members, our surgical equipment safely passed through customs, and we were able to leave the airport without any problems.
We then attended Sunday worship with members of the local welfare organization and joined them in prayer.
Although I did not fully understand every aspect of the situation in Yanbian, it seemed that the hospital and the surrounding community were facing greater difficulties than during my previous visit. This was heartbreaking, but we prayed together in faith, trusting that God would provide something even greater.
After worship, we traveled to Yanbian Welfare Hospital and set up and inspected the equipment we had brought from Korea. We then returned to our accommodations, had dinner, and went to bed early in preparation for the following day’s surgeries.
On the second day, the morning surgical schedule began.
Most of the patients’ pupils dilated well, allowing the surgeries to proceed smoothly. The final patient of the morning, however, had poor pupil dilation and a relatively advanced cataract.
During previous missions, the elders and deacons from Good People would stand nearby and pray earnestly whenever we faced a difficult case. At that moment, I strongly felt their absence.
I began to pray more earnestly than ever, and thankfully, the surgery was completed safely.
The afternoon procedures also went smoothly. By the end of the day, we had provided treatment to a total of 30 patients—20 in the morning and 10 in the afternoon—bringing them renewed sight and sharing the hope of the Gospel.
The greatest lesson I took away from this mission was the importance of serving alongside others.
Having partners who pray for one another and provide strength simply through their presence is an incredible joy and blessing.
I would like to conclude by expressing my sincere gratitude to the staff members of JC BITSOMANG EYE CLINIC and the members of our church in Korea who supported us through their prayers.
Min Hee Lee
Operating Room Nurse
