This week in Jamaica was a powerful experience for everyone involved. For me, Jamaica was special in a different way. I have been to Jamaica 4 times prior to this interfaith medical trip. Three times in high school, we helped build the very structure we used to host our clinic 2.5 of the 4.5 days we were in Jamaica. When I came to Xavier I knew I wanted to bring my experiences in Jamaica to others in hopes that they would be as profoundly impacted as I had
been.
Knowing that I would never be able to put together a trip of this magnitude alone I approached Rabbi Abie Ingber about helping make my dream a reality. After weeks of hypothetical discussion Abie said four words I will never forget: “The answer is YES,” and we were off. He brought his incredibly talented assistant Amy Wetterau into the planning and between the two of them, most of the miracles took place. The three of us spent a long Saturday carefully
combing through 52 applications and deciding whom we felt was best fit for the group of
13 students. Later that same week the majority of the fundraising began. We raked leaves, washed cars, worked UC Football games, and many other various fundraisers.
In November, just a few weeks into the fundraising, Abie and Amy broke the news to me that Tri-Health was going to provide substantial support for the trip. This news was nothing short of miraculous, and the other 12 students were also in shock and amazement. After more fundraising, a nearly naked mile, a night of pill packing, and countless hours of work by Abie and Amy we were ready to leave for Jamaica.
Once there it was a humbling and rewarding experience for everyone involved. The days in the clinic were long but rewarding. We worked 2.5 days in Steer Town, one day in Golden Spring, and one day in Liberty. All three communities welcomed us with open arms and were immensely grateful. Seeing 511 patients in 4.5 days is a feat that everyone on the trip can stand by with pride.
Everyone involved was professional and compassionate and I am honored to have served the Jamaican people alongside them. The most rewarding part of this entire experience to me was watching my classmates, all of whom are going to be wildly successful in their respective branches of medical service, take accurate vital signs or administer life saving medicine and then immediately hold the hand of their patient and say a prayer with them. Everyone on the trip knows that it is God who heals and we are merely instruments of his healing. After each day we had a chance to meet and debrief the days events, which at times was difficult considering some of the heart breaking situations we each witnessed.
Each person on the trip had a unique experience that will hopefully move them to continue to serve as loving, patient centered doctors, nurses and occupational therapists in the years to come.
Finally, it is my wish that everyone who attended will remember what it felt like to serve people that the rest of the world has forgotten, and I pray that one day when they are settled into their careers that they remember their Xavier days and find a way to continue to embody the Jesuit ideals that they exemplified in Jamaica.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Kevin's reflections
My trip to Jamaica was one that I will never forget. It came in a time of great personal growth and development in my life. As a college student, I often feel as if I am in limbo between my undergraduate and professional career. However, Jamaica brought these two together. Never before did I feel so right with what I was doing. This is not to say that I have never worked in medicine or with patients; I have spent a great deal of time in research and participated in an earlier medical mission in Nicaragua. However, Jamaica stands out for countless reasons.
First, the people of Jamaica made the trip so memorable. We were on the ground working out of churches and community centers. Because our patient population came directly from the surrounding neighborhood, we briefly experienced being a part of their community. In one instance, we saw four generations of a family come through the clinic during a single day.
Some of the people we met were not necessarily patients but representatives of the religious community. One night we sat down with a Rastafarian who talked with us about his beliefs. This gave us an entirely different perspective on religion. While many of us understood religion to be founded on the dogma a sect of people holds in common, he proposed that Rastafari is very much the opposite. He insisted it is a simply a way of life celebrated differently by every
individual.
Additionally, we had the privilege of sitting down with an Islamic Imam, who talked with us about the pillars of his faith. Interfaith was a much needed component of the trip. In our time of deep questioning, it allows us to better understand our place in the world through the faith traditions of those around us.
Medically, the trip was equally outstanding. Not only did we have the privilege of shadowing three excellent health professionals, but we were directly involved with the well being of our patients. After proper training, students took vitals, abstracted medical notes, and prepared medications. After returning to Xavier, this aspect of the trip will help encourage us in our studies by giving a taste of what we are working towards.
First, the people of Jamaica made the trip so memorable. We were on the ground working out of churches and community centers. Because our patient population came directly from the surrounding neighborhood, we briefly experienced being a part of their community. In one instance, we saw four generations of a family come through the clinic during a single day.
Some of the people we met were not necessarily patients but representatives of the religious community. One night we sat down with a Rastafarian who talked with us about his beliefs. This gave us an entirely different perspective on religion. While many of us understood religion to be founded on the dogma a sect of people holds in common, he proposed that Rastafari is very much the opposite. He insisted it is a simply a way of life celebrated differently by every
individual.
Additionally, we had the privilege of sitting down with an Islamic Imam, who talked with us about the pillars of his faith. Interfaith was a much needed component of the trip. In our time of deep questioning, it allows us to better understand our place in the world through the faith traditions of those around us.
Medically, the trip was equally outstanding. Not only did we have the privilege of shadowing three excellent health professionals, but we were directly involved with the well being of our patients. After proper training, students took vitals, abstracted medical notes, and prepared medications. After returning to Xavier, this aspect of the trip will help encourage us in our studies by giving a taste of what we are working towards.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Beginnings—a New Year’s Story for 2010 by Bonnie Herscher, R.N.
The phone rang as 2009 was about to draw to a close. My dear friend, Rabbi Abie Ingber, was on the other end of the line, calling from Cincinnati to ask if I’d like to join him and a group of thirteen Xavier University undergrads on a trip to Jamaica. This was not going to be a vacation, not a story of beach resorts nor a sightseeing trip to experience the great natural beauty of the island. Instead, Abie had called to know if I would join a medical mission he had organized with the intention of providing care to some of the most impoverished residents of the country.
I had not imagined that 2010 might begin quite this way, but on New Years day I was on the plane, beginning a journey that words barely begin to describe. Joined by Dr. Richard Fry and nurse practitioner Paula Niederbaumer—with the blessing of essential financial support provided by TriHealth—we began a week that would take us to Steer Town, Golden Spring and Liberty, villages of which I’d never heard, but soon came to know for their small huts, essentially cobbled together out of plywood and corrugated metal roofs—no kitchens, no bathrooms, no plumbing to supply water. Some thirty years ago, Dusty and Corinne Cooper had come to Steer Town as missionaries, saw the conditions, found people living without any shelter whatsoever, and couldn’t turn their backs. They built Grace Community Center whose, focus has been to provide rudimentary education and training. Over the years, the Coopers have created relationships with the locals, and for this trip, they served as our hosts, guides and protectors.
So far, so good. But here is where words begin to fail me. I’ve been an emergency nurse for 40-plus years. I’ve seen more than my share of trauma and gravely ill people. But this was my first real encounter with the multitudes of illnesses that accompany the cruelty of extreme poverty. Where to begin? We treated children infected with parasites. Many of them were so malnourished that they looked half their age—boys and girls who told us they were ten years old when we would have guessed that they were not older than five or six. We brought much-needed inhalers for asthmatic children, but ran out of them by the end of the week. We encountered mothers who begged us for those inhalers, telling us that their children could not breathe at night. And what would they do, we worried, when what we had provided eventually ran out?
Most of the adults we saw were suffering from high blood pressure, so many of them at dangerously elevated levels. We had to take six of them to an ER because they were in serious danger of strokes. Having set up a pharmacy, we loaded these patients up with the proper medications. We tried to each them the importance of seeing a doctor when these meds ran out, but we kept hearing the same responses: we have no money for medicine. How disheartening it was to hear that, to know that they would not get life-saving care until the next mission would come along; who knows when that will be?
Over the course of the week, we met some 500 patients. We treated people suffering from multiple infections, and we saw widespread STDs. But it was, of course, the children’s stories that were, ultimately, most heartbreaking. It was not only painful to see so many teenaged girls who had already given birth to their own children for whom they could not provide adequate care, but to encounter girls who, in their young lives, had suffered multiple rapes.
And yet… in the midst of so much poverty and sickness, there was such a sense of hope. How could I be anything but hopeful, having worked with these thirteen young people from Xavier, all of whom aspire to become medical professionals? In the most important of ways, they’re already experienced something of the power of healing. When I arrived, I was worried I’d never learn all their names; a week later, I won’t ever forget any of them. Even though you don’t know them, I want you to hear their names, because each of them is a precious human being: Brenda, BB, Heather, Julia, Keiko, Jenna, Amber, Mena, Caroline, Kevin, Josh, Fariba and Melissa. If anyone ever tells me that they despair of the younger generation or the future they will create, I’ll them I know thirteen extraordinary reasons to be hopeful. These students gave their all; they put themselves so fully into this work, into long days and dreary conditions. Under the supervision of Rabbi Ingber, Dr. Fry and Paula—with the continuous and invaluable help of Abie’s assistant, Amy—these 13 “kids” helped to create a clinic with a fully functioning pharmacy. I taught them how to take blood pressures and dispense medications, and, literally overnight, they were seeing patients, teaching them how to take their meds and what side effects to watch out for. They watched what I was doing and jumped right in to do the work. We were out the door by 7:30 each morning, each day bringing with it an offer of a hot breakfast. But none of them wanted to waste a moment, knowing that people would be waiting at the clinic. So peanut butter and jelly were their staple breakfast and lunch.
And yet… in the midst of so much poverty and sickness, there was such a sense of hope. How could I be anything but hopeful, having worked with these thirteen young people from Xavier, all of whom aspire to become medical professionals? In the most important of ways, they’re already experienced something of the power of healing. When I arrived, I was worried I’d never learn all their names; a week later, I won’t ever forget any of them. Even though you don’t know them, I want you to hear their names, because each of them is a precious human being: Brenda, BB, Heather, Julia, Keiko, Jenna, Amber, Mena, Caroline, Kevin, Josh, Fariba and Melissa. If anyone ever tells me that they despair of the younger generation or the future they will create, I’ll them I know thirteen extraordinary reasons to be hopeful. These students gave their all; they put themselves so fully into this work, into long days and dreary conditions. Under the supervision of Rabbi Ingber, Dr. Fry and Paula—with the continuous and invaluable help of Abie’s assistant, Amy—these 13 “kids” helped to create a clinic with a fully functioning pharmacy. I taught them how to take blood pressures and dispense medications, and, literally overnight, they were seeing patients, teaching them how to take their meds and what side effects to watch out for. They watched what I was doing and jumped right in to do the work. We were out the door by 7:30 each morning, each day bringing with it an offer of a hot breakfast. But none of them wanted to waste a moment, knowing that people would be waiting at the clinic. So peanut butter and jelly were their staple breakfast and lunch.
These amazing young people—from various ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds—gave up a week of their Winter break out of a belief that they can bring something into this world to make it better. They got up early, they worked late; at the end of each day they took time to reflect on the day and, invariable, shed some tears about what they had seen; and they never uttered a single complaint. They weren’t all friends before this experience, but they worked perfectly together, created amazing chemistry, and expressed such happiness to be part of something that brought a little bit of healing, along with moments of joy and hope to the people they had come to serve. And the patients felt that, experienced the compassion of these student healers and loved them for it. When the members of a local church gathered with us to express thanks, they sang a beautiful blessing for us. I looked around the room as these women’s voices entered the hearts of our students—the hearts of all of us—and knew that the tears were a gentle response to the love.
But none of this could not have come to pass were it not for Abie Ingber. It was his idea, his vision, his fundraising, his organizational ability that made it all happen. And it was Abie who hand-selected and inspired our precious students for the mission. And then, out in the streets of our villages, it was Abie who could be seen going into the barbershop to get the barber to close up shop so that he and his wife could come into the clinic; we listened to them talk of the difficulties they were having getting pregnant, as I offered some rudimentary education of how to graph her cycle, monitor temperature, and figure out when she might be ovulating.
The barber and his wife were not the only ones Abie reached out to, (that is to say, dragged) into the clinic. He was relentless. One day he went into the corner bar and tried to convince the waitress/bartender to come in for a check-up. She was afraid to do so, worried that she’d get fired if she closed up the business. So Abie bought two beers to make up for the income of the temporarily shuttered bar.
The barber and his wife were not the only ones Abie reached out to, (that is to say, dragged) into the clinic. He was relentless. One day he went into the corner bar and tried to convince the waitress/bartender to come in for a check-up. She was afraid to do so, worried that she’d get fired if she closed up the business. So Abie bought two beers to make up for the income of the temporarily shuttered bar.
There are so many stories to tell. And so many more that we never heard; so many lives in need of care, of compassion and healing. We ended up making time for a few more of those stories and lives on our last day. Friday was supposed to be a free day, scheduled for some time to see a little of the beauty of Jamaica. But when we closed up on Thursday night, there were still patients who hadn’t been seen during the week. How could we tell them that there was no time or space for them? So we opened up again on Friday morning to see those who had been turned away. And then, we did get to hike up to Dunn’s River Falls, a place of great natural beauty, whose waters flow from the mountains of the island all the way down to the sea.
Jamaica is something of an island paradise. Some 500 miles off the tip of Florida, it is so close to where we live our lives. And yet, it is so far away. And, we know—lamentably—we left the work unfinished, the needs unfilled. As the Coopers hoped thirty years ago, there is hope that others will step up… to create a clinic and provide ongoing care, to supply desperately needed medication, to get inhalers to the children and hypertension meds to the adults—not for one week, but every day.
I’ve been back for just a couple of days and am finding it hard to get back into my daily routine of a life filled with the many privileges for which I am so grateful. I won’t forget what I saw, the terrible conditions, the malnourished faces of underweight children, the shacks in which so many of them live. I also won’t forget the spirit, energy or goodness of my new friends from Xavier. And among the many memories, I’m especially going to remember one little boy—Roger Moore is his name, and he delighted in repeating his name over and over again—who giggled with delight and posed for pictures with us. Roger will remain a powerful reminder of the undying human spirit that survives even the worst of life’s conditions.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Julia C. Final thoughts - "Irie"
As I prepared to travel to Jamaica, I was aware of the poverty I would be facing, but I was not prepared for the distortion I would encounter. The fact that tourists can travel to a country, stay in a marvelous closed-in resort, then leave a week later with the impression that Jamaica is a land of beauty in every aspect is something I still struggle with. It angers me to know that outside the resort walls is a land full of families who struggle to keep food on the table, to provide adequate medical attention for their children and to find shelter in a decent home, as couples nearby indulge themselves in $2000-a-night resorts. Jamaica is truly a beautiful country from East to West, but the light should be shone upon the entire island.
Amongst the poverty, where I expected to find spirits as low as their meager incomes, I met some of the most good-hearted, genuine human beings. As children ran through streets where sewage trickled, I saw smiles bigger than any toy could produce on an American child’s face. The people of Steer Town were not concerned that they lived in houses made out of tin and scrap wood. As long as the sun was shining and laughter was heard, the Jamaican people did not have a trouble in the world. I admire them for that.
We were welcomed with open arms the second we walked off of the plane. I felt so proud to be representing my university in such a positive way, but by the end of the trip, I felt even prouder to know that now I was a true part of the Jamaican community. The values I have learned from the people will shape my future relationships, careers and even my life. The carefree lifestyle of the Jamaicans is truly an example of how life should be lived. The Jamaicans have an expression, “Irie,” which means, “Everything is alright.” Every time I heard “Irie” over the screams of hardship in Jamaica, I knew in my heart that I need to use my medical education to make the rest of the world feel “Irie.”
Amongst the poverty, where I expected to find spirits as low as their meager incomes, I met some of the most good-hearted, genuine human beings. As children ran through streets where sewage trickled, I saw smiles bigger than any toy could produce on an American child’s face. The people of Steer Town were not concerned that they lived in houses made out of tin and scrap wood. As long as the sun was shining and laughter was heard, the Jamaican people did not have a trouble in the world. I admire them for that.
We were welcomed with open arms the second we walked off of the plane. I felt so proud to be representing my university in such a positive way, but by the end of the trip, I felt even prouder to know that now I was a true part of the Jamaican community. The values I have learned from the people will shape my future relationships, careers and even my life. The carefree lifestyle of the Jamaicans is truly an example of how life should be lived. The Jamaicans have an expression, “Irie,” which means, “Everything is alright.” Every time I heard “Irie” over the screams of hardship in Jamaica, I knew in my heart that I need to use my medical education to make the rest of the world feel “Irie.”
Brittany's final Jamaica reflection January 10, 2010
Now that I am back home, looking back on my trip to Jamaica, some images haunt me and others make me smile. This trip was the best of my life. It has truly humbled me and made me so grateful for all that I have and all of those who promote my success. It is so easy to travel to countries and never truly see them. You walk around in all the safe tourist areas and talk to natives who deal with foreigners frequently and totally miss what the country really has to offer. I feel we saw the real Jamaica, because we talked to the people, we went into the villages, we ate the food and we learned to value the things they value. We may have only been there one week, but it felt much longer. In each single day, I had more experiences than I have had in months. Getting to know the people was the best part of the trip for me. It hurt to learn that so many young children are malnourished and sick. It hurt to see fathers who could not provide for their families. Yet, listening to their stories and praying with them brought me peace. It is hard to explain but only one part of helping them was providing medications, while another was sharing burdens with them. Letting others know that they are in your prayers and that you care for their well being, I believe, made - and makes - a difference.
They seemed to be so thankful for our presence. At first I thought they might look at us as intruders but it was the complete opposite. Before really getting to know us they welcomed us into their homes. The children showed us their favorite toys. Some women offered to feed us; even giving us their last. They were overall a happy people, humble and loving. The environment was so positive it radiated from everyone and made me want to give more. For that reason it made it very hard to turn people away. There came a point when we had to close the doors to the clinic and turn many people away, sending them back to their homes without care. Some of them just wanted a check-up and others seriously needed our help. It was very difficult. The people were a bit angered and as we walked out of the building I couldn’t look any of them in the eyes. I understand that there is only so much we can do but I just wish that our giving had no limitations.
I have gained so much from this trip and I am sure all who went feel the same way. I wish everyone could go and see this side of a developing nation. I feel this has changed my life for the better, forever.
-- Brittany B.
They seemed to be so thankful for our presence. At first I thought they might look at us as intruders but it was the complete opposite. Before really getting to know us they welcomed us into their homes. The children showed us their favorite toys. Some women offered to feed us; even giving us their last. They were overall a happy people, humble and loving. The environment was so positive it radiated from everyone and made me want to give more. For that reason it made it very hard to turn people away. There came a point when we had to close the doors to the clinic and turn many people away, sending them back to their homes without care. Some of them just wanted a check-up and others seriously needed our help. It was very difficult. The people were a bit angered and as we walked out of the building I couldn’t look any of them in the eyes. I understand that there is only so much we can do but I just wish that our giving had no limitations.
I have gained so much from this trip and I am sure all who went feel the same way. I wish everyone could go and see this side of a developing nation. I feel this has changed my life for the better, forever.
-- Brittany B.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Jenna's reflections after returning home
As much I would like to be able to describe my experiences with the Jamaica trip to everyone, I know my words cannot come close to conveying the impact of this trip. As our mission leader said, only the eighteen of us will be able to understand our experiences. What we can do, though, is try to explain what happened in Jamaica during this past week with the hope that others will be inspired to travel abroad and make similar memories of their own.
We may have been in Jamaica for only a week, but upon my arrival back to Cincinnati, I feel I have been gone for months. The clinic work kept us busy from sunrise to sunset. We would come home exhausted, both emotionally and physically, but there is not one moment I regret. I gained firsthand experience in the medical field while growing individually and spiritually. It is easy to forget about the pain and suffering in the world when secluded in our safe community at Xavier with our new buildings, cars, clothes, etc. Whether or not we acknowledge that there are mothers unable to feed their children each day and people walking miles to work each day barefoot does not mean these sad situations don’t exist. I believe it is important for every student to make trips such as this in order to remind themselves of the suffering and motivate them to use their good fortune to help those in need and stop the suffering.
What I am most thankful for is being able to witness the human spirit at its best. Here were thirteen students, two faculty members, two nurses and one doctor giving their time and skills to help those less fortunate. I am so very thankful for meeting and getting to know the 17 amazing individuals who were with me during this week. Their kindness and faith is truly touching, and gives me hope for the future of our world. I know there are others with these same attributes scattered across our world, and that helps me stay optimistic for the future. Not only was the spirit of our group uplifting, but also the spirit of the Jamaican people. Despite their depressing situations, they were smiling and thanking God for their blessings. Our last station in the clinic was the prayer station, where we would offer the patients the opportunity to pray with us. The majority agreed and several offered prayers for us. It was almost ironic. These people are destitute, in situations we cannot even imagine spending one day in, yet they still want to ask God to keep us safe, healthy, and blessed. While part of me wanted to feel guilty accepting these prayers, I was also touched. If these individuals were able to keep their faith despite their suffering and pray for us, then there must be a power so much greater than ourselves guiding us and giving us strength to live. In a world of war, poverty, and illness, it is easy to forget about the good of the human nature. This trip helped show me how much can be achieved when the “good” of the world collaborate and work together.
Yes, I saw extremely sad, depressing situations. As much as I want to cast these memories from my mind, I am thankful to have experienced them. I can see the smiling faces of children given vitamins, the eyes of parents who have just received medications to cure their infection, hear the thanks of praise from voices of men, women, and children. I will keep these memories with me each day, and remind myself that no matter how difficult my life may seem, I must give thanks for the fact that I was born into a home where I was offered the opportunity to reach my dreams, whatever they may be. I have always had food on my plate when hungry, clothes on my back when home, and a home to protect myself from the cold. We all must recognize how blessed we are to be here and use our blessings to help those who have not been as fortunate.
We may have been in Jamaica for only a week, but upon my arrival back to Cincinnati, I feel I have been gone for months. The clinic work kept us busy from sunrise to sunset. We would come home exhausted, both emotionally and physically, but there is not one moment I regret. I gained firsthand experience in the medical field while growing individually and spiritually. It is easy to forget about the pain and suffering in the world when secluded in our safe community at Xavier with our new buildings, cars, clothes, etc. Whether or not we acknowledge that there are mothers unable to feed their children each day and people walking miles to work each day barefoot does not mean these sad situations don’t exist. I believe it is important for every student to make trips such as this in order to remind themselves of the suffering and motivate them to use their good fortune to help those in need and stop the suffering.
What I am most thankful for is being able to witness the human spirit at its best. Here were thirteen students, two faculty members, two nurses and one doctor giving their time and skills to help those less fortunate. I am so very thankful for meeting and getting to know the 17 amazing individuals who were with me during this week. Their kindness and faith is truly touching, and gives me hope for the future of our world. I know there are others with these same attributes scattered across our world, and that helps me stay optimistic for the future. Not only was the spirit of our group uplifting, but also the spirit of the Jamaican people. Despite their depressing situations, they were smiling and thanking God for their blessings. Our last station in the clinic was the prayer station, where we would offer the patients the opportunity to pray with us. The majority agreed and several offered prayers for us. It was almost ironic. These people are destitute, in situations we cannot even imagine spending one day in, yet they still want to ask God to keep us safe, healthy, and blessed. While part of me wanted to feel guilty accepting these prayers, I was also touched. If these individuals were able to keep their faith despite their suffering and pray for us, then there must be a power so much greater than ourselves guiding us and giving us strength to live. In a world of war, poverty, and illness, it is easy to forget about the good of the human nature. This trip helped show me how much can be achieved when the “good” of the world collaborate and work together.
Yes, I saw extremely sad, depressing situations. As much as I want to cast these memories from my mind, I am thankful to have experienced them. I can see the smiling faces of children given vitamins, the eyes of parents who have just received medications to cure their infection, hear the thanks of praise from voices of men, women, and children. I will keep these memories with me each day, and remind myself that no matter how difficult my life may seem, I must give thanks for the fact that I was born into a home where I was offered the opportunity to reach my dreams, whatever they may be. I have always had food on my plate when hungry, clothes on my back when home, and a home to protect myself from the cold. We all must recognize how blessed we are to be here and use our blessings to help those who have not been as fortunate.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Abie from the old slave shacks 1-7-10
Tonight we traveled into the era of slave shacks - extreme poverty. We were literally practicing bush medicine. Passing meds hand over hand across mud and through rain to get from shack to shack. Students were scribbling BP readings and vitals on their arms by flashlight. We were amid the shacks in darkness but could not dismiss the children pulling at our arms to see their mothers. Half the students went home; they made and waited with dinner until we got back. Brenda R. from Kenya did a nice blessing before our food. Now we are trying to resurrect our intake forms from the numbers written on boxes, scraps and arms. Then, we will offer reflections and get some sleep.
Friday 8am we start in Steer Town. Then we will lunch in Ocho Rios and purchase breads to use as tonight’s Shabbat challah. We will make a brief visit to the Falls and then return for Shabbat dinner. And unbelievably - it's over. Our students have had hands-on medical experiences with over 500 patients - infants and elderly, well and terribly sick. And, they have had hands on human experiences with the exact same people. Did we see Jamaica? Maybe more than any tourist ever has. Not a hint of a tan or beach sand in anyone's shoes. Incredible.
Friday 8am we start in Steer Town. Then we will lunch in Ocho Rios and purchase breads to use as tonight’s Shabbat challah. We will make a brief visit to the Falls and then return for Shabbat dinner. And unbelievably - it's over. Our students have had hands-on medical experiences with over 500 patients - infants and elderly, well and terribly sick. And, they have had hands on human experiences with the exact same people. Did we see Jamaica? Maybe more than any tourist ever has. Not a hint of a tan or beach sand in anyone's shoes. Incredible.
Fariba from Jamaica January 7
I would have to say that one of the most memorable points of this trip happened when we went to a small girls' home the other day. I was told the girls living and studying there are victims of sexual abuse. They were removed from their homes and families and placed here for safety and ultimately hope for a better life and future. These girls were not here out of choice, rather because someone or, in some cases, multiple people put them through pain and harm which forced them to leave everything and anything familiar. It was heart-wrenching to hear some of the stories of what these girls had been through. I became very close to one girl in particular; she opened up to tell me she had been raped three times in her sixteen years of life. I froze when hearing those words. I have never been in such a situation and I honestly did not know what to say. So I listened. She told me she isn't going to let those things affect the rest of her life in a negative way. She was going to keep smiling and rise above all the negativity and suffering. She said that what she really wants to do is speak the word of God to those around her. She wants to be the one to give strength and wisdom to others during their times of difficulty. I couldn't believe it. This sixteen-year-old girl who had been through things I could never even imagine was looking to move beyond it and remain strong and faithful. This was the highlight of the day for me. At that moment, I felt so honored and grateful to be where I was. I am so thankful that I spent a little more time talking with and getting to know this young girl. It's during moments like these that we realize how important it is to not only talk but also just listen to others. By opening our ears and hearts to other individuals, we give so much. And, we get so much. Sometimes, all someone needs is a friend to talk to and share their thoughts with. What I will take with me from this trip is that, in addition to continuing to work hard and pursue my goals of becoming a physician and helping those less fortunate in similar situations, but I will also remember to be a good listener along the way and when I do reach that point. I want to be a physician to whom my patients are comfortable revealing themsleves and with whom they will share aspects of their lives. This is my goal thanks to the experiences I have been so fortunate enough to have here in Jamaica.
Fariba K.
Fariba K.
Amber from Jamaica January 7, 2010
The people in Jamaica never cease to amaze me. I have enountered a lot of hardship over the past couple of days and have experienced the uncanny ability of the Jamaican people to count their blessings in spite of that hardship. Today I was blessed to be at the prayer station for the whole afternoon. Praying with so many people for so many hours was a wonderful experience for me, and afterward I realized how much the Jamaican people have helped me grow in my faith. Person after person taught me how to pray. Earlier this week when I was at the prayer station, I gave those who came through the option for me to offer the prayer or for them to offer it, and each time they asked that I offer it. Today I began to just ask them to say a prayer and I listened and prayed with them silently. I was deeply moved to hear the gratitude they felt to God for all of the blessings in their life and how thankful they were that we were there to serve the community. In their prayers they never forgot to pray for their community and to praise God for his mercy and love. Wow...to be so thankful when you have so little. It was a reminder for me to never cease to thank God for the tremendous blessings he has given me and recognize that everything that I have is a wonderful gift from God.
Amber B.
Amber B.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Abie on 1-6-10
We are truly an interfaith group. A Rabbi is leading a mission from a Jesuit Catholic university. IsleGo, our Jamaican service host, is non-denominational Christian. Our first visitor for a presentation was a Rastafarian. Our clinic was set up today in a Methodist church in Golden Spring. Tomorrow we are in a Baptist Church in Liberty. Sunday, we went to Catholic Mass in Ocho Rios and tonight spent ywo hours in the mosque in Ocho Rios with their Imam. Friday night we will have Shabbat dinner in St. Ann's, the parish near Ocho Rios. Perhaps a first, since the island's 200 Jews live in Kingston. I see it's a small world every time I travel it.
The Imam tonight was erudite and eloquent, raised as a Catholic by parents who thought he might be a priest. He went London to study and the rest is history. Truly a model of devout Islam with genuine interfaith knowledge. A fascinating experience for our students.
We have been resolute - every minute has been filled with medical service and interfaith. Xavier's name is really being broadcast for good. We will see over 500 patients. At this point, 4 patients have been sent to the hospital with very serious conditions. Of the 500, but a handful have not accepted our students' invitations at the end to join them in a prayer for healing.
Nice food treat today. I walked down the dirt rural street during a rain break and bought two fresh coconuts. The owner's son cracked 'em and all of us had delicious coconut for an afternoon treat.
The Imam tonight was erudite and eloquent, raised as a Catholic by parents who thought he might be a priest. He went London to study and the rest is history. Truly a model of devout Islam with genuine interfaith knowledge. A fascinating experience for our students.
We have been resolute - every minute has been filled with medical service and interfaith. Xavier's name is really being broadcast for good. We will see over 500 patients. At this point, 4 patients have been sent to the hospital with very serious conditions. Of the 500, but a handful have not accepted our students' invitations at the end to join them in a prayer for healing.
Nice food treat today. I walked down the dirt rural street during a rain break and bought two fresh coconuts. The owner's son cracked 'em and all of us had delicious coconut for an afternoon treat.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Xavier University Students Begin 2010 on Interfaith Jamaica Medical Mission Trip
From January 2-9, 2010 before classes resume at Xavier University in Cincinnati, thirteen Xavier students will cut short their holiday breaks and travel to Jamaica on an interfaith/medical mission trip. Dr. Richard Fry, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Paula Niederbaumer, RN and nurse practitioner from TriHealth Cincinnati will join the group, as will Bonnie Herscher, a nurse from California. The founding director of Xavier’s Office of Interfaith Community Engagement, Rabbi Abie Ingber, is leading the group. The students will shadow the medical professionals in the mountain health centre in Steer Town, Jamaica and will meet with theologians of different faith traditions common in and native to Jamaica.
“In the midst of America’s passionate debate about healthcare,” says Ingber, “Xavier students will come face to face with a Jamaican community desperate for medical attention. The students will shadow professionals from TriHealth in serving hundreds of impoverished residents of Steer Town, Jamaica. While immersing themselves in Jamaican culture, they will also reflect on the multicultural and interfaith diversity of their own group members. Not only will our college students to do good, they will grow professionally in the process. As we spend our week in the midst of this poverty, I want them to reflect on the diversity of this world and on how their different faith traditions brought them all to this same place to use their education to serve an impoverished community. Simply put, we are trying to develop the next generation of American leadership both at home and in our larger world community.”
About Interfaith Community Engagement
Xavier's Office of Interfaith Community Engagement works to create and strengthen a sense of community among those of diverse faiths on campus, in Cincinnati, and on regional and national levels. Interfaith Community Engagement is a student-centered initiative that allows individuals to both deepen their personal faith and enhance their understanding of other traditions. It serves the larger community in areas of social justice, shared religious teachings and leadership development.
TriHealth (the community partnership of Bethesda and Good Samaritan Hospitals) is the Mission Sponsor of the Xavier Medical/Interfaith Service Trip.
“In the midst of America’s passionate debate about healthcare,” says Ingber, “Xavier students will come face to face with a Jamaican community desperate for medical attention. The students will shadow professionals from TriHealth in serving hundreds of impoverished residents of Steer Town, Jamaica. While immersing themselves in Jamaican culture, they will also reflect on the multicultural and interfaith diversity of their own group members. Not only will our college students to do good, they will grow professionally in the process. As we spend our week in the midst of this poverty, I want them to reflect on the diversity of this world and on how their different faith traditions brought them all to this same place to use their education to serve an impoverished community. Simply put, we are trying to develop the next generation of American leadership both at home and in our larger world community.”
About Interfaith Community Engagement
Xavier's Office of Interfaith Community Engagement works to create and strengthen a sense of community among those of diverse faiths on campus, in Cincinnati, and on regional and national levels. Interfaith Community Engagement is a student-centered initiative that allows individuals to both deepen their personal faith and enhance their understanding of other traditions. It serves the larger community in areas of social justice, shared religious teachings and leadership development.
TriHealth (the community partnership of Bethesda and Good Samaritan Hospitals) is the Mission Sponsor of the Xavier Medical/Interfaith Service Trip.
Mena and Jenna from Jamaica January 4
10:12 pm
This is Mena B. and Jenna H. from the Jamaica Interfaith Medical Mission Trip. We would like to offer the following reflection to keep everyone in Cincinnati updated on the work being done here in Steertown.
Jenna: "Today was our first day at the clinic. All in all I would say things went well. We were able to treat 140 people today. I was truly touched by the people of Steertown's joyful spirit. Despite their unfortunate situations, they still greeted each of us with smiles. This spirit and hope is what drives me to continue on my path towards working in a healthcare profession. It is also what deepens my faith and trust in humanity. In the small amount of time I was with each person, I was able to form a relationship with them and feel a common bond between us. I am so thankful that I have been given such an amazing opportunity to experience the interconnectedness of human nature. I am unbelievably touched by the experiences and relationships I am forming here. I know that this is only the start of mission work for myself, and look forward to the days when I can lead one of my own trips. "
Mena: "As Jenna mentioned, today was a beautiful day, and as Rabbi and told us earlier, today was the day we would truly get to experience Jamaica. There are many ailments that afflict the people here. From diseases such as AIDS, parasitic infections, hypertension, a plethora of STDs, to malnutrition and lack of education. However, we all felt that in seeing Jamaica we gave hope to the people here, and in turn were given it. We were able to help treat patients, while getting to know them and their families, and this is what truly provided that sense that we were finally seeing Jamaica. Through the people we treated, we all seemed to find a looking glass into the essence of humanity, and thereby came to appreciate more fully Jamaica, the medical practice, and humanity as a whole. We now look forward to another day of intense experiences and reflection."
This is Mena B. and Jenna H. from the Jamaica Interfaith Medical Mission Trip. We would like to offer the following reflection to keep everyone in Cincinnati updated on the work being done here in Steertown.
Jenna: "Today was our first day at the clinic. All in all I would say things went well. We were able to treat 140 people today. I was truly touched by the people of Steertown's joyful spirit. Despite their unfortunate situations, they still greeted each of us with smiles. This spirit and hope is what drives me to continue on my path towards working in a healthcare profession. It is also what deepens my faith and trust in humanity. In the small amount of time I was with each person, I was able to form a relationship with them and feel a common bond between us. I am so thankful that I have been given such an amazing opportunity to experience the interconnectedness of human nature. I am unbelievably touched by the experiences and relationships I am forming here. I know that this is only the start of mission work for myself, and look forward to the days when I can lead one of my own trips. "
Mena: "As Jenna mentioned, today was a beautiful day, and as Rabbi and told us earlier, today was the day we would truly get to experience Jamaica. There are many ailments that afflict the people here. From diseases such as AIDS, parasitic infections, hypertension, a plethora of STDs, to malnutrition and lack of education. However, we all felt that in seeing Jamaica we gave hope to the people here, and in turn were given it. We were able to help treat patients, while getting to know them and their families, and this is what truly provided that sense that we were finally seeing Jamaica. Through the people we treated, we all seemed to find a looking glass into the essence of humanity, and thereby came to appreciate more fully Jamaica, the medical practice, and humanity as a whole. We now look forward to another day of intense experiences and reflection."
Brenda from Jamaica January 3
10:38 pm
Jamaica, Day 2
My roommates woke me up this morning at 7:50am. I was so surprised. I had slept like a log the entire time. I am normally able to wake myself up and considering that I slept for 8 hours instead of my normal 5-6 this time round. The day started well, the breakfast was sumptuous and whole with uncanned fruit and one of the yummiest bananas I ever ate. We immediately left for church, and on the way, I couldn’t help but notice tiny shack shops and small buildings: hair salons, clothes stores, supermarkets, you name it, it was all there; it kinda reminded me of home (Kenya) because of the set up. A couple of people mentioned this is like going back a couple of years; to me it was like going home, a very humbling experience to draw such similarities across thousands of kilometres of sea. We got to the church itself which was beautiful, with glass windows directly facing the beach. It was hard to imagine how anyone was able to concentrate on the service with the beautiful waves beating down on the shore right behind the priest. There was more, the church was bright inside with colorful writings on the wall. Being there gave me 'happy vibes.' It was not a big church as I had expected, but it was big enough. It was the second Mass I had ever attended in my whole life. The people were extremely friendly. The music was the best part of it I must say. There were drums, a flute and a jiggy piano tune. They almost had me going on a little dance there. The whole day was really good, but my highlights came later on. The first, when we were handing out flyers to the surrounding community at Steer Town letting them know about the clinic. It was very surprising how welcoming and friendly they were, welcoming us through their gates right to the compounds of their houses. The place is very hilly so we had to climb some slopes and descend some valleys to the houses, but the people were very happy to see us. There was one woman I met, she had been diagnosed with pneumonia a few days back, but she was still ill because she had no money to purchase the medication. Of course, I urged her on to come to the clinic, thinking to myself this is the reason why we are here. For me, I am looking forward to meeting the people, learning about them, their life here in Jamaica, their perspective on life. That is one of the main things I am looking forward to in the coming days. They talk really fast in 'Patwa' broken Jamaican, so it is difficult to catch what is being said, but that is not a problem as they are pretty comprehensible in what they say. In the words of David, our Rastafarian friend who came to address us: Jamaica is about getting to know the Jamaican people for who they are and it may be very different from what is presented to us at face value.
Brenda R.
Jamaica, Day 2
My roommates woke me up this morning at 7:50am. I was so surprised. I had slept like a log the entire time. I am normally able to wake myself up and considering that I slept for 8 hours instead of my normal 5-6 this time round. The day started well, the breakfast was sumptuous and whole with uncanned fruit and one of the yummiest bananas I ever ate. We immediately left for church, and on the way, I couldn’t help but notice tiny shack shops and small buildings: hair salons, clothes stores, supermarkets, you name it, it was all there; it kinda reminded me of home (Kenya) because of the set up. A couple of people mentioned this is like going back a couple of years; to me it was like going home, a very humbling experience to draw such similarities across thousands of kilometres of sea. We got to the church itself which was beautiful, with glass windows directly facing the beach. It was hard to imagine how anyone was able to concentrate on the service with the beautiful waves beating down on the shore right behind the priest. There was more, the church was bright inside with colorful writings on the wall. Being there gave me 'happy vibes.' It was not a big church as I had expected, but it was big enough. It was the second Mass I had ever attended in my whole life. The people were extremely friendly. The music was the best part of it I must say. There were drums, a flute and a jiggy piano tune. They almost had me going on a little dance there. The whole day was really good, but my highlights came later on. The first, when we were handing out flyers to the surrounding community at Steer Town letting them know about the clinic. It was very surprising how welcoming and friendly they were, welcoming us through their gates right to the compounds of their houses. The place is very hilly so we had to climb some slopes and descend some valleys to the houses, but the people were very happy to see us. There was one woman I met, she had been diagnosed with pneumonia a few days back, but she was still ill because she had no money to purchase the medication. Of course, I urged her on to come to the clinic, thinking to myself this is the reason why we are here. For me, I am looking forward to meeting the people, learning about them, their life here in Jamaica, their perspective on life. That is one of the main things I am looking forward to in the coming days. They talk really fast in 'Patwa' broken Jamaican, so it is difficult to catch what is being said, but that is not a problem as they are pretty comprehensible in what they say. In the words of David, our Rastafarian friend who came to address us: Jamaica is about getting to know the Jamaican people for who they are and it may be very different from what is presented to us at face value.
Brenda R.
Brittany from Jamaica January 2, 2010
10:45 pm
Hello from Jamaica! I have never been to a country where so many of the people are like me. That is the first thing I noticed when I deplaned. Yet, when I turned to my peers I saw the same thing. Although we are not the same physically I saw in them the same motives that I have. We are all from so many different backgrounds, ethnic groups and religions, but we are all here in the name of service and God. Even though we have just begun our week journey I already see God and good faith in our actions. I am anxious to get my hands dirty; I am ready to learn and actually physically contribute. All of my years of biology and chemistry do not compare to what I will learn in this week. This trip is surreal. I have high expectations and at the same time, I have no expectations. Yet all the while I do not know what to expect. I hope to help a lot of people but I also know that there will be hundreds we will turn away. Whether they are turned away in lieu of a sicker patient or whether they are turned away when we have to close our doors on Friday, still we will have to turn them down. It makes me feel like I am only making a small dent in much larger problem. Contrastingly, I know that even helping one person makes a difference and that gives me hope for our mission. When we started our day at 4 am this morning the town of Steer Town seemed so far away and distant. However, after only being here a few hours and being so warmly welcomed by the people I feel comfortable and like we were destined to come here.
Brittany B.
Hello from Jamaica! I have never been to a country where so many of the people are like me. That is the first thing I noticed when I deplaned. Yet, when I turned to my peers I saw the same thing. Although we are not the same physically I saw in them the same motives that I have. We are all from so many different backgrounds, ethnic groups and religions, but we are all here in the name of service and God. Even though we have just begun our week journey I already see God and good faith in our actions. I am anxious to get my hands dirty; I am ready to learn and actually physically contribute. All of my years of biology and chemistry do not compare to what I will learn in this week. This trip is surreal. I have high expectations and at the same time, I have no expectations. Yet all the while I do not know what to expect. I hope to help a lot of people but I also know that there will be hundreds we will turn away. Whether they are turned away in lieu of a sicker patient or whether they are turned away when we have to close our doors on Friday, still we will have to turn them down. It makes me feel like I am only making a small dent in much larger problem. Contrastingly, I know that even helping one person makes a difference and that gives me hope for our mission. When we started our day at 4 am this morning the town of Steer Town seemed so far away and distant. However, after only being here a few hours and being so warmly welcomed by the people I feel comfortable and like we were destined to come here.
Brittany B.
Kevin in Jamaica January 2
11:05 pm
We landed in Jamaica around 3pm. Customs was quite the ordeal. Thankfully, we were able to smooth over one of the customs officers with our first medical handout of albuterol. We drove about an hour and a half east to Ocho Rios, but the view made us want it to never end. The condo where we are staying is equally beautiful. It’s a stone’s throw from the beach and the back patio turns any meeting into a resort get away. We sat down to discuss the plans for the week and are now heading to bed after a long day. We hope to have one or two people writing you a day. Please let us know if there is anything specific you would like to hear about. Yea man!
Kevin C.
We landed in Jamaica around 3pm. Customs was quite the ordeal. Thankfully, we were able to smooth over one of the customs officers with our first medical handout of albuterol. We drove about an hour and a half east to Ocho Rios, but the view made us want it to never end. The condo where we are staying is equally beautiful. It’s a stone’s throw from the beach and the back patio turns any meeting into a resort get away. We sat down to discuss the plans for the week and are now heading to bed after a long day. We hope to have one or two people writing you a day. Please let us know if there is anything specific you would like to hear about. Yea man!
Kevin C.
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