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.

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.

A Moment of Thanks

It is an especially busy time around the office. We are wrapping up all of the final work from the 2010 Auxiliary Benefit; preparing for the upcoming national Religious Education Congress in Anaheim; gathering materials for the March 26-28 MDA Retreat/Seminar; and making plans for our Annual Mass and Brunch on March 28^th!

Drs. Brent Burket and Dr. Jennifer Thoene along with their four children left for Guatemala this month, Dr. Jim and Mrs. Terry Hake are in the current formation program and will begin three years in Cameroon later in the year. I am also working to try to meet with many of our friends and supporters one on one to share information about where we are – and where we hope to be to make the Mission Possible.

While the work can – at times - feel a bit overwhelming, this is also the most exciting time. The opportunity to spend time with those who make the work of Mission Doctors possible as well as the opportunity to introduce new people to the mission of MDA truly fuels our energy for this work.

I wanted to take a brief moment in this blog and thank all of you who are supporters, volunteers and missionaries who not only make Mission Doctors Association the growing, faith-filled organization it is, but renew my passion for it everyday. Wishing you a prayerful Lent as we all strive to grow closer to God through our prayers, support and service for our sisters and brothers around the world.

Thank you!

If you would like to make a Lenten sacrifice in support of the work of Mission Doctors Association you can do so on our website.

Our Lady Brings the Rain

Drs Melanie and Roy Elfrink served this summer with four of their six children at St. Martin de Porres Hospital in the diocese of Kabale, Uganda. Melanie wrote about the start of the rainy season, and the link to the Feast of The Assumption, which is a National Holiday in Uganda...

Melanie writes:
One of the highlights was seeing the rainy season start. Everyone kept saying that it was going to rain on the 15th, the Assumption. It's a national holiday, and the people say "Our Lady brings the rain on her feast day". Since that was Saturday and we'd had no rain for some time we decided to see. Skeptically, like the Americans we are. Wednesday: a few clouds, no rain. Thursday: a few clouds and a clap of thunder, no rain. Friday: a few clouds, two claps of thunder, and a teeny sprinkle that barely counted as rain. Friday night: downpour. Saturday: downpour. Sunday: downpour. Repeat that last part every day since the Assumption. Father John told us at mass, "Our Lady brings the rain every year on the Assumption to show the people of Uganda that she has a special love for them because we have a special love for her."

It felt like Easter, because after months of that red dust coating everything, including your body/eyes/even teeth if you walked very far, Saturday of the Assumption the air smelled clean, the plants were all clean, and the people were so happy they were giddy with relief and gratitude. Mass was filled with beautiful music, special dancing, people pledging themselves to Mary.

May the changing of the seasons be an opportunity for us too, to recognize our dependence and to celebrate, with gratitude, the example of the lady who said yes to God!