Love others… in our world
Annual Medical Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic
The annual Medical Mission team is led by a local Kansas doctor every March. Westwood volunteers along with approximately 60 others from MMI — medical professionals and general helpers from all over the U.S. and Canada — work in medical clinics set up daily in villages located in poverty-stricken areas of Dominican Republic. Part of the group also performs surgeries in a local hospital. All patients hear the Good News of Jesus Christ in addition to medical care. Both bodies and souls are healed on this trip.
The trip is open to anyone willing to share Jesus’ love with others. No medical experience is needed. Volunteers are also needed to pray for the trip, provide financial support, sew cloth bags for patient medications, paste Spanish health messages on used greeting cards, and help pack tubs of supplies. Donations of small bars of soap, toothpaste, matchbox cars, small dolls and hair barrettes are always needed.
2025 Mission
The Medical Mission Team at work in the Dominican Republic. Participants for our March project arrived Saturday. We made our way to Dajabon/Villa Los Almacigos Sunday and set up the hospital and pharmacy for two weeks of project. Today the clinic team served in a town called Sabana Larga. We had a busy day.
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One shining moment from Dr Stephanie at the MMI medical clinic in the DR. Antonio, with degenerating ankles, gets a can to help him walk.
The MMI had a great day with lots of patients seen and helped. Dr Stepanie was busy seeing patients in her “exam room’ and giving knee injections. Today they served in a school in a town called Los Rodriquez. The clinic was located down a very narrow road which at the most narrow point would only allow one vehicle to pass. The patients in line broke out in applause as everyone got off the bus. At the end of the day Eduardo backed the bus down a quarter of a mile. The people in the village, many of whom had been patients, were out in front of their homes watching the spectacle and waving farewell.
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The medical clinic was set up at a Red Cross building which was very small. The eye team saw patients in a tiny kitchen. The pharmacy area was so small that only two people could work there. We had to use a neighbor’s driveway for an overflow area. The highlight of the day was making two house calls to patients who were to sick to come to the clinic.
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MMI was in a town called Moncion. We had quite the road waiting for us when we arrived. It was an hour and a half from the camp There were many patients who really needed us.
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The medical team sets up a clinic every day in a different city. Today we are set up in a club with no electricity, running water or flushing toilets. The generator was broken so the dental work was delayed. You never know what you will find. Some participants are staying for next week, some are leaving, and some new participants are arriving this weekend.
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The MMI surgical team in the DR blessed many patients the first week of the project. They were able to help so many individuals! God is so good.
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Westwood MMI mission team week two are arriving. Carter and Donna arrived safely today and will spend the night in Santo Domingo before the 5-hour bus ride to Dajabon. Pastor Tom and Abby arrive tomorrow.
We are officially on the second week of the March project. Today clinic was in La Ceiba de Loma. We were so busy. We had a lot of new participants in the clinic, they all did an amazing job. Our Westwood MMI participants had a busy day serving in the DR. Pastor Tom, Donna, Carter and Abby were working in the surgical area of the hospital and Dr. Stephanie was with the Medical Clinic in a village.
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Today we were in a town called Restoration. We were so busy, we saw 100 patients. And we filled 406 prescriptions. Westwood MMI DR participants serving different ways. Pastor Tom is praying before surgery with a Haitian patient. His prayer was translated into Spanish, then into Creole. Carter and Abby were helping in surgery, Donna was starting IVs before surgery and Stephanie weas seeing patients in a village.
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The DR MMI team went to a local church tonight where the team led singing with Pastor Tom playing the keyboard and he also brought the message thru a translator.
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The Westwood DR MMI surgical team, including Donna, Abby, Carter and Pastor Tom, has delivered essential surgical care to many Dominicans. Stephanie continues to make daily visits to various villages to provide medical consultations.
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A great week of serving by the Westwood DR MMI mission team along with people from all over the country. All the surgical supplies and equipment are packed up in the big white truck and medications and supplies from the medical clinic are packed up in the big yellow school bus. So proud of all our Westwood participants.
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The MMI team in the DR has finished their week and will be traveling back to Santo Domingo today and flying home tomorrow. Safe travels!
“Well done good and faithful servants” Matt 25:21
2024 Mission Trip
Westwood Medical Mission team, Dr. Stephanie, David, Donna, Pastor Tom and Abby along with Jim, Sharon and Glenda, are on their way to the Dominican Republic. Our Prayers are with you as you serve the wonderful Dominican people.
The Westwood Medical Mission team arrived safely Saturday and today they drove 4 hours across the country to Las Matas de Farfan to the campsite where they are staying. They unpacked all the supply tubs and organized the surgery area at the hospital in El Cercado. There were 60-70 patients waiting to be seen by the surgeons to schedule for surgery.
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Westwood Medical Mission Team in the DR.
The medical team went by bus to the village El Naranjo where they set up a clinic in the primary school. They saw 58 adults and 30 children and the dentist had 21 patients.
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Thursday the Dominican Republic Mission team’s Medical Clinic is set up in Elias Pina which is on the Haitian border
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Westwood Mission team at the hospital in El Cercado.
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Westwood Mission team members enjoy a great dinner after a long day at work!
The Traditional Las Matas de Farfan Mission Auction was held Thursday night to raise funds for the work of MMI in the Dominican Republic. Participants bring home town tee shirts, chocolate, hand quilted blankets and bags etc to be auctioned off. The biggest auction item was a wood sculpture depicting scenes from last years project. The auction is fun and this year raised over $8000 for mission work in the DR.
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The Dominican Republic mission team set up a medical clinic in the primary school in the town of Carrera de Yeguas.
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A group picture of The MMI Mission Team to Las Matas de Farfan, DR who served the local Dominicans this past week. There were 52 participants from all over the US who joined with about 15 local staff who brought physical, emotional and spiritual healing to many. Most participants will be going home tomorrow but there is a small remnant of participants who will continue to serve next week. Many blessing to all of you for blessing others.
The DR team is smaller this week but still mighty working in the villages. Dr. Stephanie sees patients and David helping in spiritual counseling. There are some surgeons also doing minor procedures.
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The last day of clinics for the Dominican Republic Mission team was in Olivero. The team will return to Santo Domingo on Friday and fly home on Saturday. “Well done good and faithful servants”. Safe travels home.
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The MMI DR medical mission project is finished. The last of the group are back in Santo Domingo and will be flying home. A few pictures showing what is involved in setting up and taking down a surgical mission project.
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Outstretched Hands
Vision:
To be Jesus’ hands and feet so that people find hope in Jesus Christ, place their faith in Him and see their lives changed, renewed and set free by the life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the FATHER, except through Me.'”
Presbyterian General Mission
Committed to sending mission personnel, Empowering the global church and equipping the Presbyterian Church (USA) for mission as together we address the root causes of poverty, work for reconciliation amid cultures of violence, and share the good news of God’s saving love through Jesus Christ.
Presbyterian Education Board
Provides a quality, Christian-based education for students in Pakistan. We sponsor several children with their tuition, room & board and uniforms.
Mission Aviation Fellowship – The Gandy Family
Westwood helps to sponsor Jack and Leigha Gandy, who serve Jesus through the MAF in the Papua, Indonesia. Jack is a pilot/mechanic. Jack has a passion for reaching the lost and sharing God’s love with the world. Leigha continues to raise their children, Elisabeth and David, as well as cultivate gospel-centered relationships with whomever she meets. Updates on the Gandy family and their work in the Papa are posted on the Outreach bulletin board in the Westwood atrium. Prayer is always needed. Visit the MAF website to discover other ways you can support this ministry.
MissionGO
Mission:
Evangelical in every way, MissionGO (Global Outreach Mission) is committed to spreading the Gospel of the grace of God as revealed in the Word of God. We enjoy fellowship with Christians of like faith and cross many denominational lines for the primary objective of winning souls for Jesus Christ.
One Collective
One Collective is a global non-profit that works in communities around the world and is passionate about making sure no one is invisible, and everyone has access to food, freedom, and forgiveness. Following Jesus-we bring people together to help the oppressed in order that lives and communities can be transformed.
Frontier Partners International
Mike Parks and his wife Sheri, serve in crisis regions with unreached/unengaged communities that have little or no assistance and that suffer from oppression, persecution, war or natural disasters.
Since helping repatriate refugees from the Kosovo conflict in 1999, Mike and Sheri have overseen disaster response and development operations for more than 20 years in places such as Afghanistan, Sudan-Darfur, Lebanon and Northern Iraq to bring physical, mental and spiritual healing and health. Prior to this work, Mike was Pastor for Calvary Chapel in Wichita, Ks, and an engineer for Boeing.
Mike and Sheri have five beautiful children.
Alaska Christian College
Alaska Christian College is located in Soldotna Alaska. Their Mission is to empower Alaska Natives through Biblically based higher education and Christian formation to pursue excellence in character, learning and service as followers of Christ.
Westwood volunteers travel to Alaska each year to assist in many projects such as building maintenance, restore and renovate roadways and much more.
2023 Trip
Day 1
Westwood’s Alaska Mission Team is off to Soldotna Alaska to serve at the Alaska Christian College. A lot of time in the airports!
Day 2
The team have a day of sightseeing before they start serving at the College. They went to Homer for Church and lunch. Tonight, they are all dressed and ready for a raft ride.
Day 3
The team has been serving today at Alaska Christian College. Some of the ladies are making quilts for a fundraiser in October. Others are working on a new gym with framing, sheet rocking, mudding. Then others are doing yard work.
Day 4
Mama moose and her babies visit the Westwood Alaska Mission team every morning. Our ladies were busy working on quilts, Jaxon fixed the bikes, guys working on the gym and Bruce is the master van cleaner. Then a little fishing after dinner.
Day 5
The Mission team is making progress on the gym. The van washer got some good help to clean the vans. The quilters went shopping for more fabric. Be sure to check out what they had for lunch.
Day 6
The Westwood Alaska mission team quilters have finished beautiful quilts. The construction men are up on ladders. There is unity of the group with devotions and meals.
Last Day
The Westwood Alaska mission team accomplished a lot and had a fun time working together. They made new friends and experienced God’s presence while putting their skills to work in His name.
