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’.