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.

Mamma and Baby, Photo of the Week

This week's photo of the week comes from Terry Hake who is serving with her husband in rural Njinikom, Cameroon.  She is serving as a teacher in local mission school and her husband is a family practice physician caring for patients at St. Martin De Porres Hospital.


"The other day I was coming through the hospital compound and there were two mamas standing and visiting.  Each woman had a baby on her back.  What a lovely sight, it just brings a smile to your face."

Cocktails for the Photo of the Week

This week's photo of the week is staring actress Clare Carey Seaberg and her mother Jane Fehrenbacher.  Clare Carey was a speaker at this week's Cocktails for a Cause at the elegant Los Angeles Athletic Club, hosted by Mission Doctors Association (MDA) and club member Nicole Gordon.  Clare was born while her parents were Mission Doctors serving in Zimbabwe, she is an enthusiastic part of Mission Doctors. Jane Fehrenbacher recently served with her husband Dick Talbot at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Hospital in rural Cameroon.  This was the first Cocktails for a Cause evening for Mission Doctors and we are excited to share this event across the country.

Ma and Pa, Photos of the Week

They have lived long lives as farmers in the Northwest of Cameroon.  Coming to the outpatient clinic for a visit with Mission Doctor, Jim Hake, this beautiful couple were thrilled to see their photos.  In addition to health issues our US octogenarians may face as well, Jim said that Ma
could hardly straighten her back due to arthritis and the stooped labor women do in the fields of Cameroon with a short handle hoe.  

Mother Antonia

Mother Antonia (The Prison Angel and Foundress of The Sisters of the Eleventh Hour) joined us this year at the Wilshire Country Club for the Auxiliary's annual card party. This photo of her speaking on Wednesday is my choice for photo of the week.  

She joined us for lunch and shared inspirational words about the medical needs of people around the world, leaving many of us in tears.  Here she is speaking about an upcoming raffle to raise funds for the tuberculosis ward in rural Cameroon.  

I always feels blessed when Mother Antonia joins us for an event.

Thanks for the soup, tortillas and hospitality!

My choice this week for photo of the week: 

A few years ago, while visiting in Northern Guatemala with Dr. Linda Novak and Dr. Brent Burket these lovely ladies prepared a lunch of chicken soup and corn tortillas for the doctors and team. 

Their smiles are even more beautiful than their colorful clothes and this has always been one of my favorite photos. 

Photo of the Week

Each day, I am blessed to receive photos from around the world of our mission doctors and their patients.  I thought I should share these wonderful photos with you each week as part of Mission Doctors’ Photo of the Week.

To kick this off, I wanted to share this photo of Dr. Crystal Cunningham.   Crystal is a general surgeon serving short term with Mission Doctors this summer.   She hit the ground running last week, preforming surgeries before recovering from jet lag. 
 
In this photo, Crystal is praying before preforming surgery with the staff at St. Martin De Porres Hospital in rural Cameroon, as they do before every surgery. 

Please join us in praying for the success her time in Cameroon and all of her patients.  

Follow Me

An expression that has become very popular in our language today is ‘Follow Me’ – it now generally refers to a social network site like Twitter, we hear people say ‘Follow me on Twitter’  - this kind of ‘following’ however is pretty passive – when we are called to Follow Jesus he tells us there will be sacrifices involved, He never sugar coats what lies ahead for Himself and His followers.

This Sunday and next, the Gospel of St. Matthew reflects the continuing revelation of just who Jesus is and what that means for us.  In the discussion between Jesus and Peter this Sunday, Peter speaks of an understanding he is told has been revealed to him by the Father, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

As the discussion continues and Jesus tells the disciples what this will mean for Him, impending suffering, death, and resurrection, Peter is rebuked when he says, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you."   Not only does Jesus denounce this, He goes further to say that "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Dr. Jim and Mrs. Terry Hake serving in Cameroon

Does following Jesus make life easy?  Usually not.  How often are Mission Doctors and their families asked – “Why would you walk away from all this country has to offer in the field of medicine? Why would you leave your friends and families behind to serve in Africa or Latin America? Why would you do this in such economically uncertain times?  How frustrating is it for doctors to be unable to provide for their patients in Africa all that could be provided for them here?

Keeping the good news in our hearts makes it much easier to remember that we are indeed called to take up our cross and follow Him. For some this means actually leaving home and caring for the poor and suffering in the world, for everyone it means living our lives in such a way that puts the other at the center of our decisions and actions.  Not passively following Jesus as someone follows a social network, but living our lives knowing that this is what actually matters. “For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?”

Sharing the Mission

One of the things that I get to do as the Executive Director of Mission Doctors is speak in parishes that are assigned to us by the Mission Office of Los Angeles, as part of the Mission Cooperative.  

This year I spoke at the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin in Pasadena In June.  Last week I was in Long Beach at St. Barnabas, and this weekend I will be at Holy Redeemer in Montrose.  

Once I’ve overcome my initial nerves of speaking at all the Masses; I have to be honest now, I really enjoy this.  I enjoy meeting so many people, being in a new parish, enjoying new choirs, and of course having the opportunity to tell the story of Mission Doctors Association.  

I tell people about this amazing legacy of Msgr. Brouwers, that began right here in Los Angeles – more than 50 years ago. I tell them about the work that is being done today in Africa and Latin America.

And, I share a story or two from the doctors – I always like to share this one from Dr. Cavanagh, from their long-term assignment in Zimbabwe. A patient asked if the photo on his desk were his daughters.  To which he replied (no doubt with the pride I’ve heard him speak of his family) ‘Yes these are our daughters.’  The patient’s next question…, ‘Then why are you here?”   Tim’s response was so perfect and sums it up completely…. "We are here, because there are people in the United States who sent us to be here with you.”

As we redid our web site this past year we added something new. 
A Mission of Healing.  A Partnership of Hope.

I always stress when I am speaking at the Masses that the doctors and their families do not do this alone, we are the ones who make it possible, we are all the partners in hope for this mission of healing.

Dr. Tim Cavanagh is just finishing up two months in Cameroon – I invite you to read his post on The Full Chapel, thoughtful as always – this one made me cry. 

Newsletters, envelopes, stamps, oh my!

Boxes are overwhelming the Mission Doctors office this week.
 
Each summer we send out a print newsletter to all of our supporters and friends.  The newsletter is filled with stories from the missions, upcoming events and news from our office.  We are especially excited about a couple of the patients stories included this year.  We get to hear from our doctors about their service in general, but rarely do we get to hear about individual patients.
 
Would you like to receive one of these 2011 Mission Doctors Newsletters?

You can contact our office to sign up to get one in the mail.
 

Freedom

Yesterday, families around the country gathered in backyards celebrating the fourth of July, Independence Day in the United States. As for me, I spent my holiday with family sharing stories, eating veggie burgers and watching my nieces and nephew's  children grow right before my eyes.  We are blessed in this country with rights few are afforded around the world.  
 
When I sit down and reflect on Freedom, I am often reminded of a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility."  We are  blessed with this freedom and with it comes the responsibility to care for others.  I feel fortunate to work with Mission Doctors, doctors who are willing to leave their practices and the comforts of home to care for patients a world away.  It is only with our freedom that we are able to care for the world.
 
What is your favorite quote about freedom?  How did you spend your holiday celebrating our freedom?

Get Social With Us

Are you on Facebook, Twitter, Change.org or YouTube?

Or are you like me, who only a couple years ago, were not sure what these are?

We are working on bringing Mission Doctors Association into the 21st century, with the goal of helping more people learn about the work and hopefully become involved in this 'Mission of Healing, Partnership of Hope!' and we would to include you!

So, check out our social networks and get social with us!

Follow, Fan or Join us on:
Twitter:  www.Twitter.com/MissionDoctors
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MissionDoctors
Change:  www.Change.org/MissionDoctors 
YouTube:  www.YouTube.com/MissionDoctors



If you’re still not sure what we are talking about – ask the closest 12 year old! 

Growing Blog Family

Over the last two years we have been creating and maintaining blogs for our long term mission doctors, those committing to a service of three years at a mission hospital or clinic in Africa or Latin America. Recently, we started working with our short term doctors to help them share their experience this same way. 

This week I wanted to share some of these blogs with you. I invite you to take a few minutes and visit these, they are filled with the ups and downs of service, inspirational patient stories and some funny reflections on their days. You can sign up to follow these blogs and you will know when something new has been added. 

Hakes in Cameroon: http://hakesincameroon.blogspot.com/ 

Dr. Jim Hake, a family practice physician and his wife, Terry Hake, are long term mission doctors. They share their experiences serving at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Hospital in rural Ninjinkom, Cameroon. 

Burket Thoene Family Mission: http://burketthoenefamilymission.blogspot.com/ 

Drs. Jennifer Thoene and Brent Burket write about their time serving with their four young children at a Hospitalito, Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. 

A Step Along the Way: http://astepalongtheway.blogspot.com/ 

After returning from his most recent long term mission in Zimbabwe, Dr. Richard Stoughton discusses the progresses made at St. Theresa Hospital and his annual month long trips. 

Dr Malphus in Africa: http://drmalphusinafrica.blogspot.com/ 

Santa Monica pediatrician and former Mission Doctors board president, Dr. Edward Malphus documents his time serving at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Hospital in Cameroon. 

Maria and Milans Mission: http://mariaandmilansmission.blogspot.com/ 

A new blog written by a mother and son will share their first mission with Mission Doctors Association. We are espeically looking forward to son Milan's experience adjusting to life in rural Cameroon. 

Cavanagh Missions: http://cavanaghmissions.blogspot.com/ 

Dr. Timothy Cavanagh, a long time board member and veteran mission doctor just started another short term mission to Cameroon. He will continue to share about his experience living and serving at St. Martin De Porres in South West Cameroon.

Visits

One part of my job as Executive Director is visiting with our dedicated supporters. This provides the opportunity to thank them, and update them on our work; where we are in the world and our plans for the future. Last Friday, after the closing retreat for the 2011 Class of Lay Mission Helpers, I had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Leo Poxon.

I have seen Leo’s name on mailing lists, donation envelopes and invites for thirty years, so it was wonderful finally getting a chance to sit down and speak with him one on one. I am working on putting together a special article about our conversation and his history with the organization in the 2011 Mission Doctors print newsletter.

Are you signed up to receive our print newsletter? If not, please contact our office to sign up. And to view newsletters from previous years, visit our website.

Retreat

I will be out of the office all next week on retreat with the 2011 Lay Mission Helpers (LMH) class.  As a member of the LMH formation team, I get the opportunity to share in their formation and to participate in this retreat.   Next week will be the close of their four month formation program and a chance for the candidates to reflect on their formation before leaving for their mission assignments.  

At the end of the retreat, on Sunday, May 22, they will be commissioned at John the Evangelist in Los Angeles.  Please keep these missionaries in your prayers this week as they spend time together in prayer in the final steps of their formation.

Small Group of Thoughtful Committed Citizens...

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead

This is one of my favorite quotes and one we have up in our office at Mission Doctors. Often times the news from around the world can be overwhelming.  Stories about unstable political situations, the spread of HIV/AIDS and the treatment of women around world can leave even the most experience nonprofit employee feeling exhausted.

2011Auxiliary Benefit

Fortunately, for us here at Mission Doctors we work with one of these small group of thoughtful, committed citizens our Mission Doctors Auxiliary and Friends of Mission Doctors in Wisconsin.  We could not do our work without these dedicated men and women.

We are currently working on our next local, Los Angeles area Mission Doctors Auxiliary roster.  If you are interested in learning more about the Mission Doctors Auxiliary and would like to receive invites to great events in the area, drop us a line at the office.  If you don't live in the Los Angeles or Wisconsin areas, check out website about starting your own Friends of Mission Doctors.

Without the help of this small group of thoughtful, committed citizens we could not do our work. Please join us.

Puzzle Pieces Come Together for Health in Los Angeles

Working with the parish leadership members of Mission Doctors Association, Dr. Laura King, and Millie Sterz, RN, and I worked to invite representatives from Lions Club, Aids Healthcare Foundation, St. John’s Family Clinic, QueensCare, St. Vincent’s Multicultural Health Awareness and Prevention Center, NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness), Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, which supports friends and family members of problem drinkers. Parishioner and registered dietitian, Ann Crockenberg also provided opportunities to learn more about healthy cooking.

The Pastor at St. John’s, Fr. Damian Kabot, said “Parishioners and their families were very grateful and surely took advantage of the free services that were provided.” The current class of lay missionaries, living in the Mission House adjacent to the church, helped on the day of the event to set up keeps things running smoothly.

Cheryl Fabien, parishioner and Health Fair Committee Chair thanked us all “for the idea, execution, and help given to make this a complete success. It was truly appreciated by everyone.”

We are grateful to everyone at St. John the Evangelist for the warmth and welcome provided every year to all who are preparing for long-term mission service, and this was a small way to say ‘thank you’.

Easter

In your resurrection, O Christ, let heaven and earth rejoice!

My husband and I attended sunrise Easter Mass at San Gabriel Mission – a parish that was established as part of the California Missions in 1771. 

As I reflect on the meaning of Easter I am reminded that Christ came and is risen, not only for the peoples who have celebrated here for more than 200 years – but for all people in all time; those who came before and those yet to be born;  for all people in all places; those in Africa, Asia and Latin America.   In your resurrection, O Christ, let heaven and all the earth rejoice!

A Holy Week for the Whole World

One of the great joys of being in the missions is the opportunity to celebrate our Catholic celebrations with both the familiar and the new. Everything from a 5 hour Chrism Mass with offertory gifts that include chickens and goats in Cameroon to the elaborate, beautiful and temporary decorations on the plaza in front of the Church in Guatemala.

Offertory Procession at Chrism Mass in Cameroon

“alfombras” or carpets made of 

colored saw dust in Guatemal

In parishes around the world our Holy Week celebrates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus whose suffering and death was indeed for the whole world.

Every Eucharist is the opportunity to re-live the last supper. Holy Thursday also reminds, with the washing of the feet, that we are all called to be servants; called to share our very lives with each other.

On the Friday we call good we find ourselves again on the path and at the foot of the cross. How is it that the creator of universes embraces our humanity even to suffering this seemingly ignoble death?

The answer is always that we may be redeemed, that we may live, that we may serve, that we will love as Christ has shown us. We too are called to give our lives to others.

Today, Mission Doctors and their families are doing just that. They serve that others may live.

Please keep them and their families in your prayers this Holy Week.

Joy, Connections, Excitement, and Anticipation

The 2011 Retreat / Seminar at Loyola Marymount has come and gone… but the feelings of joy, connections, excitement, and anticipation lingers!

This was the 14th year we have hosted this event for doctors and their spouses considering short-term service and we brought together surgeons from Pennsylvania and Alaska; a Cardiologist from Michigan; Family Practice from Arizona; and our California representation included dentists, family practice docs, an ophthalmologist, physical therapist, psychiatrist, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, pediatricians, as well as spouses with as varied background as attorney, potter, pilot and writer.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the presentation of Dr. Joseph Llewellyn of Palmer, AK, who had attended the retreat for the first in 2010, and who served at Njinikom, Cameroon at St. Martin de Porres Hospital in the fall. He made a presentation this year on “Thoughts From a First‐Timer”. Dr. Ed Malphus who will be leaving to serve in Cameroon for a month in May told me that Dr. Llewellyn’s presentation had been exactly what he needed for his upcoming one month mission to the same hospital.

So – now the planning begins, those attending are already making their plans to serve, interest in sites from Guatemala to Cameroon over the next year.

Next year will be our 15th Annual Retreat / Seminar – and we are already making plans and taking reservations for 2012! If you are, or know, a Catholic Doctor interested in learning about the possibilities, we would love to hear from you.

Bambelela / Never Give Up

A weekend spent at the Religious Ed Congress in Anaheim with 40,000 Catholics is something that I have head referred to as the ‘Catholic County Fair’!

The spirit of the event is busy, beautiful, tiring, and blessed!

My role for the weekend was once again to represent Mission Doctors Association at a booth, and specifically the One Million Patient Project. We gave out hundreds of fliers describing the T-Shirt design contest that ends April 30 – and invited people to sign up to receive the packet for High Schools, Youth Ministries, Confirmation, etc. We had many sign up and Jessica is working on getting these out today!

As we were packing up in the rain on Sunday I still found myself singing Bambelela from the Mass on Friday with Fr. Martin and Marty Haugen leading the music. Never Give Up is a strong message as it related to the people of South Africa and their struggles toward independence, but it is a message that resounds for all people all the time.

The middle of Lent can be a time when we can feel like throwing in the towel on our sacrificing, we can become weary with the season – so this may be why even now on Tuesday a.m. I am singing ‘Never Give Up’ as I face a desk covered with more projects than I have hours!

So… Bambelela – Never Give Up! Take heart – we are on the journey together!

(Bambelela by Marty Haugen is available on ITunes)

Prayer, Fasting and Good Works

Perhaps it is being on the other side of 55 - or the result of a busy job and family life, but Ash Wednesday - even though 'late' in the year really feels like it suddenly appeared on the calendar. The wisdom of celebrating seasons in the Church!

Years ago I taught a 3rd grade RE class and we made Lent books for all the students. For each day there were three lines - Prayer, Fasting and Good Works. I think I need to be a third grader again so I can make myself really focus on the daily consideration of Prayer, Fasting and Good Works this Lent again ..... Maybe I will try to use the blog this way?

Today, Ash Wednesday Prayer - 6:30 a.m. Mass on the way to work. Fasting and Good Works - (accomplish two with the effort of one) No yummy soy latte from the shop downstairs, that I confess I indulge in from time to time - and take that $5 and make an on line donation to the One Million Patients Project. Done.

OK, one day down...the rest of Lent to go...

Take a moment and share what you are planning on doing for Lent.

Celebrations, Dancing, Working Together for the Mission…

One of the great highlights of visiting the missions is the celebrations. The community often comes together to greet us as we arrive and say good bye when we are preparing to leave, even for a brief visit.

This week in the North East of Cameroon they celebrate National Youth Day. Terry Hake’s class, the entire school, and all young people across the country take time away from class (although I know one math teacher who may think more time in class is called for) and celebrate this national holiday together!

We are getting ready for our annual celebration and while not a national holiday, the Mission Doctors Auxiliary is once again hosting the Gala Benefit. This year on February 19, we will be ‘Celebrating the Mission, Creating the Possible’ at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles.

It is important to celebrate and this year we will honor a couple who have done so much for the work of MDA. Dr. Ed and Mrs. Mary Lou Malphus have been involved for many years in this work and we will thank them for their commitment and service. Dr. Malphus, outgoing president of the board of MDA will also be the recipient of the Msgr. Anthony Brouwers Award.

So we celebrate! There will be dinner and dancing, working together for the mission. We are gathering to ensure that we will be able to continue to make it possible for doctors like Jim Hake to serve and dance in the missions. Visit this YouTube video that I took while visiting the Hakes in Cameroon he is just back from an emergency at the hospital and joins in the dance!

If you can join us, please contact our office, tickets are still available!

Mission Continues...

January 14, 1964, Msgr. Anthony Brouwers, founder of Mission Doctors Association lost his battle with cancer at 51 years old.

Today, we strive to continue his legacy by making it possible for Catholic doctors and their families to serve at mission hospitals and clinics.

"As never before, the sufferings of mankind easily transverse oceans and become part of the consciousness and the conscience of the American Catholic medical expert. Their plight is our problem. Their cries of pain and misery are necessarily as personal and impelling as those of our loved ones at our own hearths." Msgr. Anthony Brouwers, 1963

How much more in 2011 are we exposed to the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world - perhaps to the point of a sense of saturation and increasing sense of impotence. Yet today, when it is easier to stay put and chose comfort over sacrifice, Mission Doctors Association has seen an increase in the number of doctors willing to share their skills.

We pray that more will continue to answer the call to serve and that those who can not themselves deliver a baby in Guatemala, or provide care for emergency patients in Uganda or treat HIV patients in Cameroon will make their service possible.

"Am I my brother’s keeper?...This is no rhetorical question. To be Christ-like each of us has be one declarative statement: ‘I, we and all of us everywhere are our brother’s keepers’." Msgr. Anthony Brouwers, 1959

Mother Antonia (The Prison Angel and Foundress of The Sisters of the Eleventh Hour) reminds us to ask Msgr. Brouwers to intercede on our behalf, and to note when these prayers are answered.

A book on the life and legacy of Msgr. Brouwers is available - contact our office to learn more.