Reflections on the Medical Mission to the Philippines
By Jong Gyu Lee, JC BITSOMANG EYE CLINIC Supporter
When I first applied for the overseas volunteer mission to the Philippines through Open Neighbors, a volunteer website introduced by JC BITSOMANG EYE CLINIC, I submitted my application without expecting to be selected. It felt almost like entering a promotional event.
I certainly wanted to participate and had sincere reasons for applying. However, because I had no religious affiliation, was unemployed at the time, and had very little volunteer experience, I never imagined that I would actually be chosen.
Only after interviewing with a representative from Open Neighbors did I begin to have a little hope. Then, almost miraculously, I was selected.
Before leaving for the medical mission, I met the other supporters at JC BITSOMANG EYE CLINIC, where we received training on our individual responsibilities.
As I spoke with the other participants, I learned that they were all sincere people of faith. Since I had no religion, I became even more curious about why I had been selected, but I decided not to dwell on the question.
At first, I was simply grateful for the opportunity to travel abroad at no personal cost. I felt that the best way to repay this opportunity was to work as hard as possible.
During the training, we were repeatedly reminded that the operating room was an extremely tense environment and that there were many precautions to follow while working as part of a team.
I therefore resolved that although working hard was important, my highest priority was to avoid causing any problems or accidents.
Serving in the Operating Room
Once we arrived in the Philippines, the work was not as physically demanding as I had expected.
Perhaps my duties were easier than those assigned to the other supporters, because I did not have to perform much physical labor. However, since I had to remain inside the operating room, I was constantly tense.
The words I had repeated to myself before the mission—“Do not cause an accident”—continued circling in my mind. The atmosphere inside the operating room was truly intense.
The first day was especially difficult because many patients had complex conditions, and some had difficulty following the surgeon’s instructions.
Fortunately, I did not cause any major incident, such as knocking over surgical equipment or touching sterilized instruments improperly.
Even so, whenever the surgeon became tense because a frightened patient could not cooperate during a critical moment, I felt such intense pressure that it was almost as though I had personally caused a serious accident.
Standing quietly at the back of the operating room, I prayed again and again that the patients would be able to remain calm and follow the instructions.
The Second Day of Surgery
The second day was somewhat easier.
The patients were calmer and followed the instructions well. Although my duties were limited, I had become more familiar with the work, and my teamwork with the senior deaconess serving alongside me became very smooth.
Despite her age, she never hesitated to crawl beneath the operating table to move the surgical equipment.
Seeing her dedication moved me deeply. It was impossible not to work hard after witnessing her example.
In the past, I might not have understood what inspired someone to serve with such commitment. However, after living and working alongside the team, I began to understand little by little.
Whenever a surgery went well, the surgeon would call out, “Hallelujah!”
The nurses would respond, “Amen!”
Those exchanges felt like a refreshing breeze inside the hot and intense operating room.
I repeatedly missed the proper moment to say “Amen,” so I was unable to join in. Still, hearing those words reassured me that the surgery was proceeding successfully.
A Mission Completed Together
Thanks to the extraordinary dedication of the surgeon and the entire team, the medical mission was completed in only two days.
The team performed surgeries for 48 patients in a single day, setting a new record, and successfully treated a total of 79 patients without any major incidents.
After the demanding surgical schedule was completed, the remainder of the six-day mission was relatively relaxed, allowing us time to rest and visit local communities.
To be honest, I do not think I initially volunteered because I truly understood the suffering of the patients.
I was simply grateful that I had been given the opportunity to come to the Philippines and believed that I should work hard in return.
However, while living and serving with the other participants for six days, I realized that many of them were volunteering with genuine compassion that came from deep within their hearts.
They understood the patients’ suffering, comforted them, and sincerely devoted themselves to their care.
Watching them caused me to reflect seriously on myself. It also made me think deeply about what motivated them to work with such dedication.
Volunteer service is clearly not something done solely for oneself.
Sacrificing one’s own comfort and doing something for another person is difficult for someone who thinks only of personal benefit.
After spending time with the mission team, I began to wonder whether it was the pure power of their faith that enabled them to serve so selflessly.
I feel truly fortunate to have met such sincere and compassionate people through this mission.
Through their example, I believe I may have reached an important turning point in my life.
I hope to preserve what I felt and learned during this experience, and I renew my commitment to serve others with a sincere and selfless heart.
