After months of planning and fund After months of planning and fund raising, the mission trip beginsraising, the mission trip begins

Sometimes mission families travel long Sometimes mission families travel long distances in very tight spacesdistances in very tight spaces

Mission doctors usually carry Mission doctors usually carry new medical supplies, x-ray machines, new medical supplies, x-ray machines,

and medicines to remote areasand medicines to remote areas

Upon arrival, the family takes a few days to Upon arrival, the family takes a few days to acclimate and learn to live in a new cultureacclimate and learn to live in a new culture

A host doctor takes time to show the mission A host doctor takes time to show the mission doctor the needs of the communitydoctor the needs of the community

When a mission doctor first arrives in a When a mission doctor first arrives in a village, the waiting room is often village, the waiting room is often

full for weeks on end.full for weeks on end.

Some villagers walk for hours, even days, on steep mountain Some villagers walk for hours, even days, on steep mountain paths to see the doctor. Most have not gottenpaths to see the doctor. Most have not gotten

any medical attention for many years any medical attention for many years

Mission doctors learn to take their time and Mission doctors learn to take their time and really listen to the needs of a communityreally listen to the needs of a community

They get to know the elders in a community in order They get to know the elders in a community in order to plan for a future of sustainable healthcareto plan for a future of sustainable healthcare

A mission doctor must work A mission doctor must work

with primitive technologywith primitive technology

The clinics are usually cement shells The clinics are usually cement shells with no lab or x-raywith no lab or x-ray

Working with outdated and rusted Working with outdated and rusted medical supplies is the normmedical supplies is the norm

Mission doctors often see Mission doctors often see over 60 patients a dayover 60 patients a day

Doctors offer medical education, Doctors offer medical education, giving hope for better health care giving hope for better health care

in developing countriesin developing countries

Teaching midwives and nurses helps to sustain the Teaching midwives and nurses helps to sustain the clinic when a doctor is not availableclinic when a doctor is not available

Without paper work and computers, a mission Without paper work and computers, a mission doctor has more time to get to know the communitydoctor has more time to get to know the community

Sometimes a mission doctor has Sometimes a mission doctor has to do “odd jobs” as wellto do “odd jobs” as well

(Mark’s first calf delivery)(Mark’s first calf delivery)

A mission doctor may even get to relax with A mission doctor may even get to relax with his family while on missionhis family while on mission

Mission families are able to see the world Mission families are able to see the world through a different windowthrough a different window

A mission couple works together in A mission couple works together in

all areas of their ministryall areas of their ministry

Spouses usually get involved in the Spouses usually get involved in the community by volunteering in the clinic, community by volunteering in the clinic,

parish, or local schoolparish, or local school

Local village leaders are welcoming to Local village leaders are welcoming to mission doctors and their familiesmission doctors and their families

The family takes part in all aspects of The family takes part in all aspects of parish and community lifeparish and community life

Simplicity brings many joysSimplicity brings many joys

and brings the family closer and brings the family closer through work and prayerthrough work and prayer

Mission Doctors families learn to see poverty Mission Doctors families learn to see poverty

as an invitation to loveas an invitation to love

The children learn to love by helping othersThe children learn to love by helping others

and experience the satisfaction of helping and experience the satisfaction of helping someone to live a better lifesomeone to live a better life

Even the very young can volunteer Even the very young can volunteer (Cecilia as pharmacist)(Cecilia as pharmacist)

and grow to love being part and grow to love being part of a close-knit communityof a close-knit community

Teenagers bond with kids from Teenagers bond with kids from completely different backgroundscompletely different backgrounds

and learn to live in areas and learn to live in areas where people of different faiths where people of different faiths

and traditions co-existand traditions co-exist

And they learn to create And they learn to create their own kind of fun!their own kind of fun!

Mission families see what it means for most of Mission families see what it means for most of the world to live inthe world to live in very small spacesvery small spaces

to visit with people of to visit with people of all ages and backgroundsall ages and backgrounds

And to be inventiveAnd to be inventive(Jake’s home made weight bench)(Jake’s home made weight bench)

They learn to love unconditionallyThey learn to love unconditionally

They gain strength and fortitude by They gain strength and fortitude by knowing that they can make a tangible knowing that they can make a tangible

difference in peoples livesdifference in peoples lives

And they learn to work hard And they learn to work hard with a smilewith a smile

Being part of a community of people Being part of a community of people living in poverty helps us to see living in poverty helps us to see

life through different eyeslife through different eyes

Mission families get to see peopleMission families get to see people sacrificing their own comforts for sacrificing their own comforts for

a good education and a better a good education and a better life for their own familieslife for their own families

We see that the world We see that the world is in dire need and is in dire need and

that we have much to sharethat we have much to share

““One really never gets used to being surrounded by poverty. One really never gets used to being surrounded by poverty. It brings about a deep sadness and a constant reminder that It brings about a deep sadness and a constant reminder that we have the responsibility, as a wealthy people, to share all we have the responsibility, as a wealthy people, to share all

that we have been given.” Molly Druffnerthat we have been given.” Molly Druffner

Some communities live in dire conditions with Some communities live in dire conditions with virtually no resources available to themvirtually no resources available to them

And yet, a very small amount of support can And yet, a very small amount of support can build hospitals, educate medical students, and build hospitals, educate medical students, and

provide health care for manyprovide health care for many

We have the means (and the excess) to help We have the means (and the excess) to help people living in desperate povertypeople living in desperate poverty

““Working with a mission hospital opened my eyes to the Working with a mission hospital opened my eyes to the wealth of education and resources we have to offer poor wealth of education and resources we have to offer poor communities. We are grateful for the opportunity that communities. We are grateful for the opportunity that

Mission Doctors gave us to serve.Mission Doctors gave us to serve.” ” Mark DruffnerMark Druffner

““We are grateful for the opportunity we had to grow We are grateful for the opportunity we had to grow closer as a family” Jake and Julian Druffnercloser as a family” Jake and Julian Druffner

We are grateful to have been part of an We are grateful to have been part of an international faith community.international faith community.

We are grateful for all of the We are grateful for all of the friends we madefriends we made

We are grateful for the We are grateful for the adventures we sharedadventures we shared

The road to mission work is The road to mission work is long and arduouslong and arduous

The path to get there isThe path to get there is sometimes frightening sometimes frightening

But, if we can do it, But, if we can do it, anyone can!anyone can!

And we even had a lot of fun!And we even had a lot of fun!

The world is waiting for you. The world is waiting for you.

Mission Doctors Association Mission Doctors Association can make it happencan make it happen

What is MDA?What is MDA? Mission Doctors Association has sent and supported Mission Doctors Association has sent and supported

Catholic doctors and their families in mission Catholic doctors and their families in mission hospitals and clinics around the world since 1959. hospitals and clinics around the world since 1959. 

Doctors work for free to care for patients and provide Doctors work for free to care for patients and provide training and support to improve the quality of training and support to improve the quality of healthcare in the long term.healthcare in the long term.

MDA is a Catholic organization that collaborates MDA is a Catholic organization that collaborates with and receives support from many faith groups.with and receives support from many faith groups.

What is the impact of MDA?What is the impact of MDA?

In the short term, Mission Doctors help In the short term, Mission Doctors help individuals and families by improving and individuals and families by improving and saving lives one person at a time, which can saving lives one person at a time, which can never be quantified or undervalued.never be quantified or undervalued.

In the long-term, Mission Doctors train, In the long-term, Mission Doctors train, educate, and provide equipment and support to educate, and provide equipment and support to sustain better healthcare for the whole sustain better healthcare for the whole community long after MDA has left.community long after MDA has left.

Where does your donation go? Where does your donation go?

For For doctors and their families who serve long-doctors and their families who serve long-term, MDA provides airfare, insurance and a term, MDA provides airfare, insurance and a small stipend--$150/month. small stipend--$150/month.

Doctors and their families who serve short-Doctors and their families who serve short-term, one – three months, cover all of these term, one – three months, cover all of these expenses with the help of family and friends.  expenses with the help of family and friends.  

MDA is making the most of MDA is making the most of your donationsyour donations

National office in Los Angeles is staffed by 2 employeesNational office in Los Angeles is staffed by 2 employees

Mission families on short-term assignments raise funds on Mission families on short-term assignments raise funds on their own.their own.

Committed board of directors underwrites many activities Committed board of directors underwrites many activities with personal resources. with personal resources.

For every $100 Mission Doctors Association receives, a For every $100 Mission Doctors Association receives, a volunteer physician can care for 33 patients.volunteer physician can care for 33 patients.

How can you support MDA?How can you support MDA? Support MDA directly through a Support MDA directly through a donation.donation.

Support MDA by Support MDA by underwriting fundraising eventsunderwriting fundraising events so that 100% of donations can go directly to MDA. so that 100% of donations can go directly to MDA.

Consider becoming a Consider becoming a medical missionarymedical missionary. MDA . MDA offers short and long-term missions. offers short and long-term missions.

Support MDA financially by Support MDA financially by joining our new joining our new MDA MDA Midwest Auxiliary.Midwest Auxiliary.

We could not have considered We could not have considered

going on our Tanzanian missiongoing on our Tanzanian mission

without the support of without the support of

Mission Doctors AssociationMission Doctors Association

PleasePlease make it possible for more mission doctors make it possible for more mission doctors and their families to do the sameand their families to do the same