Reflections on the 64th Medical Mission to the Philippines

Mission Dates: February 26–29, 2012

By Jeong Min Kang, Operating Room Nurse

This was my first opportunity to participate in a medical mission after joining JC BITSOMANG EYE CLINIC.

Even before joining the clinic, I had learned through its website that the medical team regularly provided volunteer care in countries around the world. This time, I was grateful to take part in the mission personally, from the preparation process through the actual medical work.

It took more than a week to prepare the surgical equipment, medical supplies, and instruments that needed to be transported overseas. The preparations included inspecting the equipment, packing everything securely, creating detailed supply lists, and confirming that no essential items had been left behind.

The mission was made possible not only through the work of the staff members traveling with the team, but also through the prayers and support of many other employees at the clinic.

After attending Sunday worship, we headed to the airport. Throughout our three-night, five-day journey, we prayed for the health and safety of the team, for every surgery to be completed successfully, and for the entire mission to conclude by God’s grace.

By the Lord’s grace, we were able to check in approximately 30 pieces of medical luggage and more than 10 pieces of personal luggage without difficulty.

With assistance from the Good People volunteers and local staff members, we arrived safely at the hospital. Despite the late hour and our exhaustion, we immediately began sterilizing the instruments and installing the surgical equipment so that operations could begin the following morning.

We rested for less than two hours at our accommodations before leaving again for the hospital.

Although everyone was tired, no one showed it. Each team member approached the upcoming surgeries and schedule with a prayerful heart.

Because this was my first medical mission, I was inexperienced in many areas. At first, I felt frightened and worried about performing surgery in an environment that was not as fully equipped as an ophthalmic hospital in Korea.

Then I remembered something Dr. Gyung Bai Choi often said:

“This is not accomplished through my own strength, but through the grace of the Lord.”

Remembering those words led me to pray for the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Gyung Bai Choi did not want the mission to end after performing surgery for only a limited number of patients. He wanted to create a more sustainable form of medical outreach by teaching local physicians surgical techniques suited to the medical conditions and resources available in their country.

For that reason, he had studied and prepared a surgical technique known as small-incision cataract surgery, or SICS, even before the mission began.

In the area we visited, people of all ages were suffering from cataracts, partly because of prolonged exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation.

However, cataract surgery was very expensive, and local patients could not receive treatment as easily as patients in Korea.

In Korea, cataract surgery is commonly performed using phacoemulsification, which requires costly equipment. Such equipment was difficult for the local hospital to obtain. We were told that even when the equipment was available, patients might have to save money for several years just to afford surgery on one eye.

Instead of using phacoemulsification, Dr. Gyung Bai Choi performed small-incision cataract surgery on 49 patients over two days.

During the surgeries, he explained each step of the technique to a local physician. Recognizing how valuable the method could be in the local medical setting, the physician carefully observed the procedures, took notes, and asked Dr. Choi detailed questions about the surgical process.

Cataract surgery requires tremendous concentration and patience. In my view, performing surgery on 49 patients over only two days was an extraordinary accomplishment.

Although Dr. Choi had very little time to rest, he approached every procedure with joy and dedication so that as many patients as possible could receive treatment. The other participants also carried out their responsibilities without showing signs of exhaustion.

Successfully completing surgery for 49 patients, giving glory to God, and sharing the joy of the mission with everyone involved was a deeply meaningful and overwhelming experience for me.

Our short medical mission could not meet every need in the region. Still, I returned home hoping that these small acts of service and prayer would plant seeds of the Gospel and lead many people to the Lord.

Although I felt disappointed that our time there had come to an end, I completed the mission with a renewed commitment.

Wherever in the world the opportunity may arise, I will willingly serve people who are marginalized or suffering from cataracts and other eye conditions.

Jeong Min Kang
Operating Room Nurse