Reflections on the 54th Medical Mission to Clark, Philippines
Medical Mission Schedule
Saturday, November 29
6:00 p.m. — Gather at Incheon International Airport and complete check-in procedures
8:40 p.m. — Depart Korea
11:40 p.m. — Arrive in Clark, Philippines
Sunday, November 30
12:30 a.m. — Depart for accommodations
12:40 a.m. — Arrive and receive room assignments
12:55 a.m. — Orientation
1:10 a.m. — Return to rooms and rest
7:00 a.m. — Wake up
8:00 a.m. — Gather and travel to the restaurant
8:10 a.m. — Breakfast
8:40 a.m. — Return to accommodations
9:00 a.m. — Arrive and rest
10:50 a.m. — Gather and travel to church
11:00 a.m. — Worship service
12:10 p.m. — Lunch
12:50 p.m. — Return to accommodations and load the equipment
1:10 p.m. — Depart for the hospital
2:15 p.m. — Arrive and begin setting up surgical instruments and equipment
4:00 p.m. — Complete setup and return to accommodations
4:35 p.m. — Arrive at accommodations
5:00 p.m. — Travel to dinner and eat
5:50 p.m. — Return to accommodations and rest
Monday, December 1
5:00 a.m. — Wake up
5:30 a.m. — Worship service
6:00 a.m. — Travel to breakfast
6:40 a.m. — Arrive at the hospital and prepare for surgery
8:10 a.m. — Begin morning surgeries
12:30 p.m. — Complete morning surgeries for 17 patients and clean up
12:45 p.m. — Lunch and rest
1:30 p.m. — Prepare for afternoon surgeries
2:10 p.m. — Begin afternoon surgeries
4:50 p.m. — Complete afternoon surgeries for 17 patients and clean up
8:25 p.m. — Dinner
9:10 p.m. — Return to accommodations and rest
Tuesday, December 2
5:00 a.m. — Wake up
5:30 a.m. — Worship service
6:00 a.m. — Travel to breakfast
6:10 a.m. — Breakfast
6:40 a.m. — Arrive at the hospital and prepare for surgery
8:30 a.m. — Begin morning surgeries
12:40 p.m. — Complete morning surgeries for 18 patients and clean up
1:00 p.m. — Lunch and rest
1:30 p.m. — Prepare for afternoon surgeries
2:30 p.m. — Begin afternoon surgeries
6:50 p.m. — Complete afternoon surgeries for 19 patients and clean up
7:30 p.m. — Dinner
8:20 p.m. — Return to accommodations and rest
Wednesday, December 3
5:00 a.m. — Wake up
5:30 a.m. — Worship service
6:00 a.m. — Travel to breakfast
6:10 a.m. — Breakfast
6:40 a.m. — Arrive at the hospital and prepare for surgery
8:20 a.m. — Begin morning surgeries
12:30 p.m. — Complete morning surgeries for 22 patients and clean up
12:55 p.m. — Lunch and rest
1:30 p.m. — Prepare for afternoon surgeries
2:35 p.m. — Begin afternoon surgeries
4:20 p.m. — Complete afternoon surgeries for 6 patients
4:25 p.m. — Pack and organize the equipment and instruments
6:25 p.m. — Return to accommodations
7:00 p.m. — Farewell dinner
8:30 p.m. — Return to accommodations, pack personal belongings, and rest
10:00 p.m. — Travel to the airport
10:10 p.m. — Complete airport procedures
Thursday, December 4
12:15 a.m. — Depart for Incheon
5:00 a.m. — Arrive at Incheon International Airport
5:05 a.m. — Complete quarantine procedures and collect luggage
6:00 a.m. — Closing prayer and dismissal
Mission Reflections
Following my first cataract surgery mission to Subic in 2007, this was my second medical mission in the Philippines.
Because we visited during Korea’s cold early winter, the weather in the Philippines was not excessively hot. It felt more like early summer in Korea.
We arrived in Clark on the night of November 29. The following morning, we attended Sunday worship and then went to the Clark Health Center to set up the cataract surgery equipment.
Except for a few ants in the operating room, the facility was very clean and well maintained. I felt that the favorable environment would allow Dr. Gyung Bai Choi to perform the surgeries more effectively.
The First Day of Cataract Surgery
We woke up at 5:00 a.m., attended worship, ate breakfast, and hurried to the Clark Health Center.
My responsibility was to take the accurate measurements needed to calculate the appropriate power of each patient’s intraocular lens, an essential part of cataract surgery.
Unlike some previous missions, there were not 50 or 60 patients gathered all at once. This allowed me to conduct the examinations calmly and carefully without becoming overwhelmed.
Within just one day, I developed good teamwork with the local nurse and interpreter, and the examinations proceeded smoothly.
Many of the patients had extremely advanced cataracts and could barely detect hand movements. Nevertheless, Dr. Gyung Bai Choi successfully completed the first day’s surgeries.
After the procedures, however, one of the sterilizers used for the surgical instruments suddenly lost power.
Without this machine, we would have been able to perform only about half the number of surgeries we had planned, since only one sterilizer would remain operational.
Although surgery ended at approximately 7:00 p.m., we continued trying to determine whether the problem involved the power cord or another part of the machine.
Deacon Sang Young Kim, who had accompanied us, suggested that if the machine would not power on at all, a blown fuse was the most likely cause.
To test this possibility, we removed the fuse from the functioning sterilizer and placed it in the machine that had stopped working. The sterilizer immediately powered on.
We finished cleaning up and urgently asked a local church elder to help us find a replacement fuse.
Thankfully, a Filipino university student studying electrical engineering lived nearby. By the following morning, we were able to obtain a new fuse.
Everyone was tired by the second day of surgery, but when the sterilizer began operating again after the fuse was replaced, we were filled with joy.
We had done everything possible to solve the problem, prayed together, and trusted that because we had come to the Philippines to do God’s work, He would help us find a way forward.
Despite the fatigue, we began the second day with even greater energy and were able to perform surgery for more cataract patients than on the first day.
Had the local engineering student not been there, had Deacon Kim not boldly opened the sterilizer to inspect it, or had we simply stood by without searching for a solution, the mission might not have proceeded as successfully.
I believe our determination, teamwork, and prayers made it possible for the surgeries to continue.
The Final Day
Most of the final day’s cases proceeded without major difficulty.
However, one young man had a completely white, mature cataract. Dr. Gyung Bai Choi found extensive adhesions between the iris and the lens, making it impossible to safely perform the planned surgery.
Everyone serving nearby was deeply saddened that we could not help him.
There was also a young woman with severe diabetes. Dr. Choi hoped to operate, but her overall physical condition was too weak for surgery.
Her husband was heartbroken, and the senior deaconesses standing nearby prayed for her and her family.
On the second and final days, I watched a Filipino ophthalmologist conduct postoperative follow-up examinations for the patients Dr. Gyung Bai Choi had treated.
Before surgery, some elderly patients had been unable to see even a moving hand clearly. Afterward, they were able to read numbers on a calendar.
The interpreter and I were deeply moved when we witnessed this change.
We saw approximately 40 to 50 postoperative patients. Some were so overwhelmed with joy that they cried, but what I remember most clearly are their bright and radiant smiles.
Even after returning to Korea, there are many times when I struggle simply to manage my own life.
I had traveled to the Philippines intending to help others, but through the patients’ warm hands and smiles, I believe I returned home having experienced another expression of God’s love myself.
Written by Yoon Sang Cho, Optometrist
