Enrique and Carolina

"I love my job!"  I tell people this all the time. And contrary to what you might think I don't love my job because of the hours of bookkeeping, or the long wire transfer forms, or even the travel to some of the most beautiful places in the world.  I love my job because of the people I get to work with and for, the amazing doctors and donors that are doing this work and making it possible.

I wanted to use this week's blog to introduce you two of the newest members of this group, Enrique and Carolina.  Dr. Enrique Wulff and Mrs. Carolina Rojas will be joining the 2012 long term formation class at the end of the month and serving the people of rural Tanzania for three years.  They have graciously offered to author their own blog to keep us all updated on their service.  
 
You can click here to read all about them on their blog, Enrique and Carolina on Mission.

How are you planning on celebrating Mardi Gras?

Well it may sound a little odd to be thinking about a celebrating Mardi Gras during the Christmas season, but around the office plans for our Mardi Gras celebration are well underway. This year we will be hosting our annual Mission Doctors Auxiliary benefit with a Mardi Gras Celebration at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.

Join us February 18, 2012 for a fun evening of cocktails, fine dining, dancing, and a silent auction to benefit Mission Doctors.  All of the proceeds will support the work of Mission Doctors in Africa and Latin America.

If you would like an invitation to this event, please contact our office.

A Busy Year

2011 is almost over and it was a busy year for Mission Doctors;  our Auxiliary hosted the largest Gala Benefit in over forty years, our annual Retreat / Seminar brought doctors from across the country to learn about our short-term mission opportunities, and this made it possible for thousands of patients to be cared for by Mission Doctors in Africa and Latin America. 
 
As 2012 begins we will have two families begin the preparation for three-year assignments, our Auxiliary is busy planning the Mardi Gras Gala to be held on February 18th, and we are already receiving  reservations for the 2012 Retreat/Seminar to be held March 30 – April 1.

You  are the ones who make this work possible.  You put the doctors 'in the picture' in Africa and Latin America.   

Please consider making a year-end donation.  By donating online and you will receive a tax deduction receipt immediately.

Thank you for your support and wising you and yours a very happy New Year!  

And for our friends who are 70 ½ years old or older, December 31, 2011 is the deadline to make a donation directly from your IRA under the “Charitable IRA Rollover”. 

Reason for the Season

Tom and I served in Thailand with our children for three years and had the opportunity to go to the beautiful midnight mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Udon Thani  for Christmas during our time there.

The joy of being in the missions for Christmas for us was  that the emphasis is on the celebration within the Church and little else – and the luxury of time.  With few distractions it was easier to just spend time together.  Of course being in the missions at the holidays,  it is also a time when everyone more acutely misses family and friends being so far from home.

Trying to bring the mission joy forward to me means working to keep the emphasis on ‘the reason for the season’ and letting go of the pressure that exists for so many of us in our culture regarding spending, gifts, rushing around and the lack of time for what really matters.

Today our Mission Doctors who are serving in Africa and Latin America will celebrate a Christmas where the emphasis will be on the birth of Jesus.  They will however, also be missing family and friends during the special time of year.   Please keep them and all missionaries in your prayers this Christmas and always.

Last Minute Shopping?

Shopping online for Christmas has made the holiday season a little less stressful for many of us. 

Avoiding crowded malls and long lines can be a blessing! Your online shopping with iGive can be also be a blessing for others. 

By simply registering for free with  iGive and then just shopping online at your favorite stores (including Amazon.com) up to 25% of your  purchase goes to support the work of Mission Doctors.

It only takes a moment to register and then you can buy everything from books, children’s toys, CDs, clothes, food, sports gear, jewelry, toiletries,flowers, computers, pet food, and much more.  Please consider taking a moment and shop  for "goodness sake".

And right now iGive will donate $5 to Mission Doctors for just trying it out!

Thank you for your support of Mission Doctors!

Guest Blog 2-Photo of the Week

This week Laurie McElroy, our wonderful, hard working Administrative Assistant, is sharing her favorite photo.  An image of the blessing of the hands from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles White Mass celebration last month. 

This was my first time attending the White Mass and it was really a wonderful experience.  It was beautiful to see the Catholic community support and show their appreciation for those in healthcare.  There were so many people that came up to me expressing their gratitude and appreciation for all those that participated in acknowledging all of their hard work and dedication.

Guest Blog- Photo of the Week

Our Executive Director, Elise Frederick is currently out of the country visiting mission locations in East Africa.  So, we thought that as the other staff members at Mission Doctors, we could take over her photo of the week blog for the two weeks she is out of the country.  As the amature blog editor for Mission Doctors I am excited to be the actual author of a blog this week. 

I would like to share with you my favorite Mission Doctors photo.  This photo was taken by veteran Mission Doctor, Dr. Richard Stoughton of orpahns in rural Zimbabwe.  This photo of beautiful childern graces my desktop background and motivates and keeps me enthusiastic about my work at Mission Doctors.  I am excited to share it with you!  I hope you will remember it and those smiling faces when you think about the work of Mission Doctors.