2023 Nursing Missions Trips Recaps

Action International Ministries – Shalom Birthing Home

Philippines

by Lisa Smithers, Assistant Professor of Nursing

“(ACTION) is an evangelical, nondenominational missionary-sending agency working amongst the poor — mainly in Asia, Latin America and Africa. ACTION missionaries seek to penetrate the slums of major Third World cities and reveal Christ and His Word to neglected families and their children through practical ministries that specialize in reaching street children, impoverished families, and victims of political and natural disasters. This is done through street evangelism, drop-in centers, camps, literature, and other ministries. ACTION desires to bring hope to the Urban Poor and this is our mission and passion. ACTION’s three-prong strategy for ministry amongst the poor involves grassroots evangelism, life-transforming discipleship, and innovative development. Committed to fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), ACTION networks with local churches, national organizations, and other mission agencies to reach people for Christ (evangelism), train them in Christian living (discipleship), and assist them in their physical and economic needs (development)” (Shalom Birthing Home Internship Guide).

ACTION partners with Shalom Birthing Home in Antipolo, Philippines, in providing care for pregnant women and families, while sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. “Shalom was founded in 1992 by retired British nurse midwife, Mavis Orton. Observing the high infant and maternal mortality rates, Mavis opened her home as birthing center. Due to the overwhelming birth rate and her compassionate care, her home quickly became too small to meet the demands of the community. In 2013, a new facility was opened to expand the quantity and quality of services offered. Shalom’s staff of 13 Filipinos; midwives, drivers, custodian, book keeper and chaplain, now see approximately 30-40 births per month and over 100 women each week for routine prenatal care” (Shalom Birthing Home Internship Guide).

Cedarville has sent four female students each summer for four weeks over the last several years for an ‘internship’ experience with Shalom Birthing Home, partnering with the ministry in providing care to Filipino women/families, prenatally, during labor and delivery, and postpartum. They also participate in prenatal outreach, home-visits, working at a primary care clinic, and visiting other non-healthcare ministries while they are there.

In preparing students for ministry with Shalom, the director of the Birthing Home stated, “we encourage our interns not to view your time here as a missions trip, but as a learning exchange. You will learn more than you ever thought possible. You will learn the beauty of birth, the pain of poverty, and how a gracious God works through both for His glory. And your skills as a nurse will be stretched and deepened. You will learn to love the midwives, to build friendships with them, and get a glimpse into how believers worship the same God in a different cultural context. You will be invited into the homes and lives of virtual strangers with open arms…and leave as friends. Your heart may be broken, but it will be strengthened and filled at the same time.”

2023 Teams – May & June
Leader Stateside: Lisa Smithers
May: Eden Burson
Rhea Dutta
Mykaela Holst
Rebecca Woolard
June: Hailey Fry
Erica Impraim
Kayla Maurer
Carolyn Sutherland

2024 Teams – May & June
Leader Stateside: Lisa Smithers
May: Kassidy Applegate
Abigail Adkison
Katelyn Sills
Jessi Smarrella
June: Hailey Fry
Emmersyn Losee
Rebekah Nielsen
Kathrine Redding

Association of Baptists for World Evangelism – Hôpital Baptiste Biblique

Togo

by Scott Long, Assistant Professor of Nursing

The Togo team will serve in Hôpital Baptiste Biblique, a healthcare facility run by the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, for 1 month after commencement. The mission team will primarily work in Hôpital Baptiste Biblique’s southern facility, where they will help cover patient assignments, support a local clinic, observe and assist with surgeries, and provide inpatient care. Other team members will work in the maternal and pediatric clinic to provide vaccines for babies. Malaria is one of the most common medical issues that Cedarville students have encountered, along with trauma injuries from motorcycle accidents, as motorcycles are a common mode of transportation. Some patients come late into the hospital with such conditions as cancer and broken bones, having waited to follow advice from local witch doctors. Finally, many of their patients live meal-to-meal and come in malnourished.

In addition to caring for physical needs, members of the mission team hope to serve the spiritual needs of their patients as well. The nurses eagerly asked last year’s Cedarville team members about their faith, and they seek to share their faith in Jesus Christ with their patients. Hôpital Baptiste Biblique has chaplains who pray with every patient and share Bible verses with them every day. The hospital also engages in community health evangelism, where nurses go into local communities to teach basic health lessons such as hand hygiene or cleaning water before drinking and share biblical teachings as well. Finally, the student team will work with missionaries who teach lessons from the Bible.

2023 Team
Leaders: Scott Long & ToniLynn Fleming
Taylor Carnegie
Molly Cropsey
Rhyan Fought
Rebekah Leonard
Addison Long
Bradyn Long
Cheryl Long
Emmy Long
Chloe Wassei
Jyun Wu-Klein

2024 Team
Leaders: Scott Long & ToniLynn Fleming
Lydia Rucker
Madison Johnson
Noah Harvey
Emma Logothetis
Audrey Abalos
Madeline Heigley

Caring Partners

Guatemala

by Michele Dodds, Assistant Professor of Nursing

The nursing/medical trip to Guatemala starts with collaboration with the local missions organization, Caring Partners International. Caring Partners has been in the Lord’s service for nearly three decades through various medical missions work, both domestic and abroad. This particular trip involves taking 10-12 undergraduate students interested in healthcare or translating services to open the door for gospel opportunities.

Caring Partners has a model that allows for both effective evangelism and continued fruit after the team leaves Guatemala. The trip does not occur unless there is a Bible-believing Guatemalan church to partner with. The team then utilizes members of that local church to tell every single person who attends the healthcare clinics about the gospel in their own language from their peers. The medical/nursing team’s role is to host health clinics that bring the public to events and to diagnose and treat common medical problems. However, the team is doing so much more than caring for physical needs since the team ensures that each person has the direct opportunity to receive Christ if they are willing. This work will then be continued by the local pastor and his church long after the team leaves.

We are blessed to travel with Caring Partners to Guatemala. This year we are going to an area called Los Doloros. Caring Partners works through the local church to provide medical care as an avenue to share the gospel. The local church prepares for this clinic with the assistance of the Caring Partners Regional Director who trains the church members on clinic set up and sharing the gospel. We work as an interdisciplinary care team with physicians, nurses, chiropractors, pharmacists, and laypeople as well as students from pre-med, pharmacy, allied health, and nursing programs to provide a comprehensive clinic. Every person who comes to the clinic goes through the clinic of the soul and hears the gospel of Jesus Christ and is prayed with for any concerns. Last year, there were 76 decisions for Christ in the clinic!! Praise the Lord.

”I was able to go on the Guatemala medical trip and I couldn’t have been impacted more than what I was while I was there! I felt the true calling to pursue short term medical missions as well as saw the Lord work in so many ways behind the scenes. Our trip was a struggle to kick off and was delayed, but that didn’t stop the Lord!” (Paige Shepherd)

2023 Team
Summer Leaders: Michele Dodds & Angelia Mickle
Savanna Harkleroad
Sara Hazelton
Abigail Miller
McKayla Naill
Abigail Neinhuis
Hallie Northrop
Nichole Ritzman
Paige Shepherd
Rachel Whittles

2024 Team
Spring Break Leaders: Michele Dodds & Angelia Mickle
Sierra Bognear
Kassidy Applegate
Trixie Aguila
Anne Stoll
Eliakim Lain
Thomas Bonifield
McKayla Naill
Marina O’Hare
Paige Shepherd
Thomas Squier

SCORE International Ministries

Dominican Republic

by Nancy Stell, Assistant Professor of Nursing

The Dominican Republic team comprises 12 students and approximately 20 individuals from Grace Brethren church in Greenville, Ohio. This diverse group includes dentists, nurses, pharmacists, retired teachers and engineers, and various healthcare professionals who serve as mentors, collaborating with students. Throughout our week in the DR, we partner with Score International to establish Dental/Medical clinics in multiple villages within the sugar cane region. Additionally, the team engages in a construction projects benefiting the local church and Score International headquarters.

“Getting to serve in the Dominican Republic was an incredible blessing. I was able to see not only how I can apply my nursing skills in various settings, but also how important the local church is in every setting.” (Jennifer Creasy)

2023 Team
Leader: Nancy Stell
Jennifer Creasy
Andrew Finsaas
Emmersyn Losee
Mackenzie Niemeyer
Marie Weinhold
Rachel Cox
Grace Dudley
Joseph Grimes
Adam Hershey
Isaac Seabra
Grace Zadnik

2024 Team
Leader: Nancy Stell
Emmersyn Losee
Brennen O’Brien
Mackenzie Niemeyer
Joseph Grimes
Adam Hershey
Caleb Hartman
Grace Dudley
Leonela Turcios
Marie Weinhold
Benjamin Vincent
Daniel Tellock
Greta Blakemore

Posted in: Global Outreach/Missions