In This Issue: Dear Friends, When one of our volunteers recently heard I was stepping down as CEO, he thanked me for investing in my relationships with our volunteers over the years. I replied that it was so easy. As volunteers, you serve because you are filled with compassion for those who are suffering. You are filled with joy in your service. Being with you fills me with the same joy and renews my passion for the work God has called us to do together. It has been my great privilege to serve as the CEO and president of Medical Teams International for the past 15 years. I look forward to continuing as president for another year, when I’ll retire at the age of 65. Meanwhile, I am excited about the leadership that Jeff Pinneo will bring as our new CEO. Jeff has served as a volunteer with us on our board of directors and as a co-chair of our auction in Seattle. Jeff’s wife, Janey, is a nurse who has volunteered on a number of our international disaster teams. Jeff understands and values the unique dimension of service that volunteers bring to our work. As you know, our mission is “to demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world.” We could not carry out this mission without your service and involvement with us. Thank you so much for giving your time to serve with Medical Teams International during the years I have been privileged to lead the organization. You have been a great inspiration and blessing to me and to so many others through your service. May God continue to bless each of you. 
Bas Vanderzalm
President
As an employee of Medical Teams International, I’ve read the reports and seen the statistics on how stoves in Guatemala can cause serious respiratory illness and even lead to death. But this issue didn’t really sink in until I traveled to Guatemala and saw it firsthand. One of the best things about this stove project is that our team was able to visit people in their homes and see what everyday life is like for them. They introduced us to their children, found a place for us to sit and offered us warm coffee. Their hospitality was overwhelming. But the smoke in the homes was overwhelming as well. It was hard to simply breathe; my eyes would start to burn and I would cough. Every few minutes I would have to step out of the house to get some fresh air. These Guatemalans were using the open-fire stoves to fill a basic need of eating. But in exchange, they were compromising the basic need of breathing clean air. No one should have to live that way. We all deserve a good meal and fresh air under the shelter of our own roofs. During the week, our team installed 40 stoves in the village of Saqib. That means 40 families are now able to cook dinner in smoke-free homes, 40 families will breathe clean air when they sleep and dozens of kids have less risk of developing respiratory illness. Learn more about Mary's experiences by visiting her blog. Bring your talent to parts of the world that have a great need for them. Here are some of our urgent volunteer needs: Please contact Brenda Porter at bporter@medicalteams.org or through 503.624.1020 for more information. CAMEROON Mbingo Baptist Hospital near Bamenda, Cameroon is in need of the following healthcare professionals. A general internist with working experience in Africa is requested to work with the hospital's resident internist for 2-4 weeks. Travel dates are flexible between July and November 2012. A general surgeon is needed to provide coverage for 2 - 4 weeks. Several travel dates are available between July through December 2012. A pathologist is needed to work alongside residents and other hospital staff at the same hospital. Volunteer will provide clinical services, hands-on training and classroom lectures for 2 – 4 weeks. Travel dates are flexible between mid-August and mid-September 2012. Pediatricians are needed to provide services at the hospital on September 6 - 23, 2012. ETHIOPIA Soddo Hospital in southern Ethiopia requests an obstetrician/gynecologist to come serve with them for 3 weeks in July 2012. GABON Bangolo Hospital in Lebamba, Gabon need opthalmologists to provide surgery and training as part of the surgery residency curriculum. Volunteers will work alongside residents and other hospital staff. Mission dates are flexible between July 3 through September 30, 2012. MALI Obstetrician/gynecologists are requested to support staff in Koutiala Hospital for a minimum of two weeks. Volunteers are asked to serve during July and August 2012. For the complete list of international volunteer opportunities, please visit www.medicalteams.org/IntVolunteer. We love to receive your volunteer stories and photos! If you volunteered in the past year and have a photograph or story to share, please e-mail it to Chiqui Flowers at cflowers@medicalteams.org. Thank you, volunteers! Do you have family or friends who would like to receive this e-newsletter? If so, please forward this message on or ask them to visit www.medicalteams.org/newsletter. |