CALMS Launches New Mission Partnership with Concordia University Texas School of Nursing

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1 November 2011 CALMS Launches New Mission Partnership with Concordia University Texas School of Nursing CALMS recently established a special partnership with Concordia University Texas School of Nursing and CAN-DO Missions in Austin Texas to help equip student nurses to understand health issues in the third world, practice their nursing skills, become more cross-culturally sensitive and to grow as disciples of Jesus. Students from the nursing program went on two different CALMS trips to Guatemala and Belize October 8-15 accompanied by experienced medical and cross-cultural leaders recruited by CALMS to guide the experience. In Guatemala, the team was led by Dr. Sarah Mathias of Lincoln Nebraska and Mrs. Grace Hughey of St. Charles, Missouri. In Belize, the team was led by Pastor Dar and Mrs. Jan Karstens, RN. Both sets of leaders have led previous medical mission teams and were familiar with the Central American healthcare needs, medical partners and cultural issues. In addition to the CALMS volunteers, CALMS Guatemalan staff and CALMS representative in Belize, Peg Wolfram, helped coordinate the on-field logistics including the medical projects with Central American partners.

2 In Guatemala, the teams worked with Dr. Elry Orozco, who directs the Santa Cruz Clinic in Amatitlan, an economically challenged community near Guatemala City and with the health center staff in a remote village near La Union, Guatemala. In Belize the team was able to work in three different settings: Octavia Waight Home for the Aged, Good Shepherd Clinic in San Jose Succotz Village near San Ignacio and with Dr. Sanchez who serves the poor in underserved villages near San Ignacio. Dr. Keith Ellen Ragsdale, Associate Director of the Nursing Program and Pat Fick of Concordia University worked with CALMS staff including Pastor Steve Hughey and Dawn Timm to develop the program and prepare the students for their cross-cultural health service. Dr. Ragsdale, who supervises the cross-cultural aspect of the nursing program, said after the students returned, My spirit was singing as I heard from the students that it was an amazing and life-changing experience through which they grew both spiritually and in their ability to serve. All the students were so pleased that they got to develop such deep relationships with Central American medical workers and were touched deeply as they experienced the sensitive health care and the unconditional love that was exhibited on all sites and by all the personnel. Pastor Steve Hughey, CALMS Executive Director said following the pilot program, We are now sure that the hard work of everyone and God s guidance has made it possible for us now to not only continue the program as we had hoped, but to add even more short-term opportunities so that all the students can have the opportunity to serve, learn and grow through this unique hands-on experience. Following are two first-hand accounts describing these two pilot projects and their effect upon the participants and those they served. Pediatrician Dr. Sarah Mathias from Lincoln Nebraska served many young patients during the medical short-term trip to Guatemala in October. The student nurses were able to work closely with Dr Mathias and learned much about medical procedures, and in the process were able to observe a great role model as she demonstrated love to all her patients.

3 She Gave All She Had by Grace Hughey There is an isolated village in the mountains of Guatemala -- accessible on a rain slicked muddy road -- so narrow in spots that we held our breath -- as if to make the vehicle smaller. A small concrete block building comes in to view, and a line of people already await the visit of a medical team from the US. The CALMS medical team includes six nursing students from Concordia University (Texas); an RN from Austin, Texas; Pediatrician Dr. Sarah Mathias from Lincoln, Nebraska; and Grace Hughey, translator and cultural helper. Those waiting came seeking help for respiratory diseases, open wounds that don't heal; carrying babies with high fever, and complaining of back and neck pain brought about by the heavy loads they routinely carry on their backs. The effects of malnutrition and parasites fill in the gaps of most stories. Every patient received expert attention from the team and left with a few simple medicines, a warm hug, and the assurance that there is a Father in heaven who loved them enough to send His Son Jesus. As the day was coming to an end, a mother who had brought her sick daughter to the clinic earlier quietly returned. She was carrying a bag of oranges and she wanted to give them to the team. She had gone back up into the hills to her home, picked some oranges and brought them back to the clinic. The next morning the cook at our place of lodging squeezed the oranges and we enjoyed fresh juice. A quiet settled over the team as we realized the generosity (and sacrifice) that was behind that glass of juice. Every member of the team had sacrificed to come on the trip -- but the gift from this woman represented all she had. (Items like oranges, coffee when in season, and a few duck eggs, become the only income producing items for most. When sold, the few Quetzals (Guatemalan currency) earned, can be used to purchase a few dry beans, corn for tortillas, and sugar to add to their coffee. The daily diet for most is coffee and tortillas, with the addition of beans several days a week.) "But she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21: 4b.

4 Nurse Jan Karsten, RN, (third from left) together with her husband Pastor Dar Karsten, led the Belize Pilot program for CALMS and Concordia University s Nursing program to help student nurses learn more about how to serve in a crosscultural setting. Students (left to right in dark blue) include: Leslie Webster, Tanisha Cole, Katrina Perez, Julie McKown, and Clara Love. Hearts of Compassion by Jan Karsten, RN It was a mission trip filled with compassion and heart as five nursing students from Concordia University Texas went to Belize October What began as a pilot project for Concordia & CALMS-with many unknowns for the team going into another culture- culminated with a team bonding, and with life changes that will forever make a difference in their personal lives as well as their future nursing vocations! The third year students Tanisha Cole, Clara Love, Julie McKown, Katrina Perez, and Leslie Webster admitted they had not chosen Concordia because it was a Christian college. They just wanted to be nurses, and the nursing program at Concordia was A place to reach their goal. Now they have a new sense of the depth of compassion and care that they want to make an integral part of their own future work. The team was under the leadership of Pastor Dar Karsten and his wife, Jan who is also an RN. Dar led the team in God s Word and taught comfortable ways to share faith in Jesus with others; while Jan gave the directions for the daily nursing experiences and led debriefing at the end of each day. One of the students said: I m here to serve and share God s Word. Dar built on that desire sharing with what a personal relationship with Jesus looks like--namely being a servant and looking for opportunities to talk about the love Jesus has for all people. The students seized opportunities for both. Peg Wolfram, the missionary representative for CALMS in Belize set up the schedule and made the arrangements for the student nurses.

5 Two days were spent at Octavia Waight, a nursing care facility for aging adults. The staff of seven there did everything from hands on physical care to mowing the grass. They showed no limits in how they care. The residents and staff were family. The students instantly caught the compassion they saw and began to reflect it as well. The students gave showers, set up and distributed medication, carried out exercises, fed residents, took blood pressure, held the hands, listened, laughed and learned. Leslie walked away from that experience saying, I always thought of nursing with older people as depressing; now I see it s a great place to show compassion and care that everyone needs. The students also spent a day at Good Shepherd Clinic in the village of San Jose Succotz, near San Ignacio. Nurse Juan built the clinic 27 years ago. She starts each day with her staff in the on-site chapel. She set the tone for the whole week as she shared her great passion to treat the whole person; the importance of listening and not hurrying patients through a clinic appointment--something not always seen in the USA clinics. The students saw how Belize medical treatment accomplishes so much with very few resources. They learned it s the heartcare that counts! Two village settings also gave the student nurses experience with Dr. Jose Sanchez. As people from the village gathered for the free clinics, the students took turns registering the people, taking their blood pressure, distributing medicine, sitting next to the doctor & learning about medical needs in Belize. Dr Sanchez liked to teach and the students loved to learn! Reflecting on the team as a whole, Dar and Jan were quick to say We watched God grow these young women in their faith-walk and that was exciting for us! When we heard them say things like this was a God inspired mission trip! - I never really thought about sharing my faith; now it s easier as I m learning how I m leaving wanting to be more content and want to live a simpler life --we knew God was at work in and through them! And their only regret was that the experience could be LONGER so they could serve more! Pray for Us Thank God for the recent successful CALMS board meeting held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas and for three new board members: Carolyn Pali, Ron Hart and Rick Rosenhagen. Pray for the families and communities in Guatemala and other Central American countries affected by recent torrential rains and flooding. Ask God to use this suffering to bring more people into his kingdom and to use concerned people to bring relief to the hurting. Ask Jesus, the Great Physician, to bring healing to Peg Wolfram, CALMS mission representative in Belize, as she undergoes eye surgery in the coming days.

6 Pray for Pastor Ruben Avila s mother who is very ill with ovarian cancer and pray that God will help Ruben and his family to share God s comfort and love with their loved one. Pray for the Panama Lutheran Leadership training program led by Pastor Ruben Avila that the students in the program might be motivated and equipped to share their faith in their communities. Ask God the Holy Spirit to use His word to increase the faith of Lilian and Rony, two young people from the village of La Avanzada, Guatemala, who are studying God s Word weekly via the internet with Pastor Miguel Torneire, CALMS missionary-at-large. Ask God to protect the Get-to-Know-the-Mission team, a group of congregational shortterm leaders from various Lutheran churches, as they learn valuable mission principles, visit mission sites, meet leaders and serve in Guatemala with CALMS leaders Pastor Steve and Grace Hughey October 27 Nov 4. Thank God for the recent confirmation of seven young people from the new mission at Santa Cruz Clinic on Lake Amatitlan, made possible by the efforts of Castillo Fuerte Lutheran Church in Guatemala City. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to continue to bless the efforts of Castillo Fuerte as they reach out with the Gospel to plant a new church alongside of the human care ministry being carried out at Santa Cruz Clinic by Dr. Elry Orozco and volunteers from various CALMS medical teams. Ask God to richly bless these young people as they continue to grow in faith. Pastors Eduardo Bonilla and Abdiel Orozco, together with the congregation s youth leader, Brenda Orozco, recently celebrated with seven young people from Amatilan, Guatemala, who have been reached through the congregation s health care and Christian education outreach ministries at Santa Cruz Clinic on Lake Amatitlan.