00:00:00,000 --> 00:02:23,060 [Speaker 0]
Welcome, friends, to Faith in Healthcare, where we continue to explore the issues that matter most to Christian healthcare professionals. So whether you're in healthcare, married, or otherwise connected to someone who is, or you're just simply interested in how God is working right now through Christ followers in patient care and beyond, we're so glad that you're here. In this episode, I'm joined by CMDA's Director of Global Health Outreach, Dr. Trish Burgess, along with a veteran GHO, that's Global Health Outreach, team leader who just crossed a remarkable milestone. He's been involved in or leading 50 mission teams, and he's Dr. Andy Lam. Andy is both an Army veteran and an internist, and together we're gonna talk about how one trip to Guatemala reoriented his motives, how praying with patients became part of his daily practice back home, and how serving overseas, it softened a soldier-turned-internist into a more tender dad and mentor. You're also gonna hear how GHO has matured over the years with safer logistics, stronger pharmacy systems, and better preparation for our team leaders so that clinicians on these teams can focus on discipling the members of the team and caring for patients in Christ's name with excellence. And if you've ever wondered, "Hey, is there a place for me in all of this?" I think that today's conversation will give you both vision and practical next steps, so let's dive in. Well, today on Faith in Healthcare, uh, I am just very excited because today we're in the studio, I'm in the studio with not one doctor guest, but I have two physician guests. And today with me in the studio is our director of Global Health Outreach. Uh, I think it's been seven or eight years, hasn't it, Trish? 

00:02:23,060 --> 00:02:25,030 [Speaker 1]
Seven and a half. So, you're right on. [laughs] 

00:02:25,030 --> 00:02:49,560 [Speaker 0]
[laughs] Uh, for our Global Health Outreach ministry, and not, not too long ago, Trish, I asked you, could you share with me, uh, one of, one of your incredible leaders in, in GHO that we could have on the program, uh, who could talk about the experience, uh, with GHO, uh, over the years? And you said, "Wow, good timing. We have someone who's just celebrated going on 50 teams, leading 50 teams." 

00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:51,680 [Speaker 1]
Yes, and one of our team leaders, so, you know- 

00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:51,690 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm 

00:02:51,690 --> 00:02:55,540 [Speaker 1]
... really strong GHO, um, person for us. 

00:02:55,540 --> 00:03:04,980 [Speaker 0]
So with us today is Dr. Andy Lam. And, uh, Andy, congratulations on having, uh, been on an, probably for most of those, leading 50 teams. 

00:03:04,980 --> 00:03:12,840 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. Oh, thank you very much. I'm thrilled to be here, and it's hard to believe that it's been 50 missions. 

00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:17,660 [Speaker 0]
Wow. Before we get jumping into those, [laughs] into that history with GHO- 

00:03:17,660 --> 00:03:17,690 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:03:17,690 --> 00:03:27,500 [Speaker 0]
... I want you to tell our listeners, our watchers, uh, about your career here in the US, in medicine in particular. What i- what's your specialty, and, and what does that look like in practice? 

00:03:27,500 --> 00:03:39,560 [Speaker 2]
Yeah, sure. Um, so I'm an internal medicine specialist, retired now as of four years ago, although I stay plenty busy. Um, I, 

00:03:39,620 --> 00:04:19,459 [Speaker 2]
growing up, my plan, goal was not to be a physician, it was to be a Airborne Ranger infantry officer and, and s- serve in the Army, so that's why I went to West Point. But, you know, God and time just kinda changed my heart, and, uh, decided to go to medical school. I went to University of Alabama in Birmingham on the Armed Forces Scholarship, which is a great scholarship, and did my training, um, in internal medicine, uh, at Fort Gordon, Georgia, at Eisenhower Army Medical Center. And finished that in 1987. Spent five years at Fort Campbell, Kentucky 

00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:25,640 [Speaker 2]
as an internist, and then got out of the Army in 1992 and went into private practice. 

00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:47,870 [Speaker 0]
Okay. Well, I've seen a very strong correlation, and I know, uh, Dr. Burgess has as well, of those who, uh, go on these Global Health Outreach teams and do ministry overseas who also have a strong heart for being an ambassador for Christ right here, uh, in the United States. So what does looking like an ambassador ... What does being an ambassador for Christ look like for Dr. Andy Lam? 

00:04:47,870 --> 00:05:01,300 [Speaker 2]
Well, I know for me, uh, it's a couple different areas. One was with, with my patients themselves. Before I did my first mission with GHO, I would 

00:05:01,300 --> 00:05:04,340 [Speaker 2]
pray 

00:05:04,340 --> 00:05:21,280 [Speaker 2]
periodically with my patients. But once ... after I started doing the missions with GHO and God just really impacted me, I began praying with the majority of my patients. And that was such a important 

00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:29,920 [Speaker 2]
for me to do that, and I think for the patients. And I think that had an impact on them and really on 

00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:37,320 [Speaker 2]
even the clinic where I worked. Um, but the other thing is I'm just very involved in mentoring 

00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,600 [Speaker 2]
and investing in and teaching those coming behind me. 

00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:41,500 [Speaker 0]
Students and residents? 

00:05:41,500 --> 00:05:45,240 [Speaker 2]
Yes. Uh, and I've done that my entire career. 

00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:45,510 [Speaker 0]
Okay. 

00:05:45,510 --> 00:05:49,938 [Speaker 2]
And that's really, I would call, my passion.Is it? 

00:05:49,938 --> 00:05:50,628 [Speaker 1]
That's awesome. 

00:05:50,628 --> 00:05:51,178 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. 

00:05:51,178 --> 00:06:19,708 [Speaker 1]
And so now we're talking about, you know, you've hit this milestone of your 50th missin- mission, which I was blessed because it was on my team. Um, and I had asked him to join me 'cause I needed physician help. And his wife, um, had never been on a mission with GHO before, so they both came with me. And so we had this great celebration. The last night we went to a nicer restaurant for dinner and I asked to buy a cake to celebrate that. And so it, well, I think it said, "Congratulations, 50th mission." 

00:06:19,708 --> 00:06:19,858 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:06:19,858 --> 00:06:35,668 [Speaker 1]
And so I'm, you know, I presented it to Andy and talked about how much he meant to me personally, um, as a good friend, a mentor for me over the years on my advisory council. Um, but so I was talking about that and, um, they even put I think a candle on that cake. 

00:06:35,668 --> 00:06:36,368 [Speaker 2]
They did. [laughs] 

00:06:36,368 --> 00:06:42,668 [Speaker 1]
And so the restaurant staff didn't read English, so they're assuming that we're celebra- 

00:06:42,668 --> 00:06:42,708 [Speaker 0]
It's his birthday. 

00:06:42,708 --> 00:06:48,778 [Speaker 1]
Yeah. So they came over and sang a birthday song for him, which was just, just so perfect. It was- 

00:06:48,778 --> 00:06:48,838 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] I know 

00:06:48,838 --> 00:07:06,308 [Speaker 1]
... it was, made it so joyful. Um, but anyway, when you hit a milestone like that, Andy, um, I know it makes you start reflecting, you know, over the years. And, and so can, do you, can you share like how this all began, like, how you got involved in GHO and, and what that beginning looked like? 

00:07:06,308 --> 00:07:41,588 [Speaker 2]
Yeah, absolutely. Around 1998, I just felt this, um, um, desire to do a m- a medical mission. And, uh, yeah, I know that was God prompting my heart. And so I, I, I went to Billy Graham's The Cove for their medical mission weekend that they do once a year, and that just motivated me more. So I g- I remember coming back and coincidentally, of course not coincidence, right after I got back, I got a flyer from 

00:07:41,588 --> 00:07:45,648 [Speaker 2]
G- CMDA with the GHO missions. 

00:07:45,648 --> 00:07:45,848 [Speaker 1]
Hmm. 

00:07:45,848 --> 00:08:02,208 [Speaker 2]
And the whole list for the upcoming year. And I took it to my partner, uh, Mark Miller, who's been on many missions with me. I said, "Hey, Mark, you wanna do, you wanna do a mission?" And he goes, "Yeah, sure." 

00:08:02,208 --> 00:08:04,268 [Speaker 1]
Were you already a CMDA member then? 

00:08:04,268 --> 00:08:05,268 [Speaker 2]
Um- 

00:08:05,268 --> 00:08:07,088 [Speaker 1]
Is that how you got the flyer? 

00:08:07,088 --> 00:08:14,028 [Speaker 2]
Yes. I, I had, I had just joined CM- CMDA probably n- not even a year before 

00:08:14,028 --> 00:08:14,808 [Speaker 2]
that. 

00:08:14,808 --> 00:08:15,308 [Speaker 1]
Okay. 

00:08:15,308 --> 00:08:19,688 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. And, um, so 

00:08:19,688 --> 00:08:31,197 [Speaker 2]
you know, Mark goes, "Yeah, sure." And, uh, I said, "Well, where do you wanna go? When do you wanna go?" And we just looked at the list and we chose the very last mission of the year 'cause it'd give us plenty of time to prepare and, you know. 

00:08:31,197 --> 00:08:31,928 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. 

00:08:31,928 --> 00:08:35,888 [Speaker 2]
And we just, it was Guatemala in November of 2000. 

00:08:35,888 --> 00:08:36,608 [Speaker 0]
Hmm. 

00:08:36,608 --> 00:08:41,648 [Speaker 2]
And had no idea what was gonna happen, what it was gonna be like. Um, 

00:08:41,708 --> 00:08:46,898 [Speaker 2]
Andy Sanders was the team, team leader and my life's never been the same. 

00:08:46,898 --> 00:08:46,948 [Speaker 0]
Hmm. 

00:08:46,948 --> 00:08:57,748 [Speaker 1]
So was there something specific or, um, like a word from the Lord or something that he spoke into you on that first mission trip about continuing with GHO? Or how did, how did that happen? 

00:08:57,748 --> 00:09:00,208 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Um, 

00:09:00,208 --> 00:09:03,048 [Speaker 2]
we get to Guatemala and 

00:09:03,048 --> 00:09:06,348 [Speaker 2]
anyone who knows Andy Sanders knows what a great teacher he is. 

00:09:06,348 --> 00:09:06,588 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:06,588 --> 00:09:16,748 [Speaker 2]
And, um, at first, I have to back it up, my reasons for doing the missions were really, as I look back, very 

00:09:16,748 --> 00:09:32,148 [Speaker 2]
selfish 'cause it was all about me. You know, 'cause I l- you know, I love to travel. I love adventure. Um, I love the Spanish culture and, uh, and Spanish. And I knew, you know, I wanted to be able to help people and all that. 

00:09:32,148 --> 00:09:32,278 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:32,278 --> 00:09:35,868 [Speaker 2]
But it was just, it was just all about what was I gonna get out of it? 

00:09:35,868 --> 00:09:36,848 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. 

00:09:36,848 --> 00:10:09,828 [Speaker 2]
And we get there and after the first day of the clinic and hearing words that Andy Sanders had to say, it just, it's like this epiphany. I realized, no, you know, it's, it's not about me at all. And I know this sounds simplistic, but, you know, I ju- it just hit me, you know, it's all about God. And that was a huge turning point in my life. I mean, just the reality that, um, 

00:10:09,828 --> 00:10:14,848 [Speaker 2]
to live a life that honors and glorifies God 

00:10:14,848 --> 00:10:16,848 [Speaker 2]
and not 

00:10:16,848 --> 00:10:19,928 [Speaker 2]
for my own reasons. 

00:10:19,928 --> 00:10:22,628 [Speaker 2]
And that was the biggest thing that happened that very first mission. 

00:10:22,628 --> 00:10:41,408 [Speaker 1]
Well, Andy, I don't think you're alone in that. Um, I mean, mine was similar too. It's all about I wanted to serve God. I wanted to do this. I wanted to work hard, you know, for the Lord. Um, so I think somehow that's how you get drawn in. Um, and I was the very same way where it was more of a, a personal encounter with Christ on that first trip- 

00:10:41,408 --> 00:10:41,628 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:10:41,628 --> 00:10:54,188 [Speaker 1]
... that, um, I just could never stop going after that. I just, that's how He really spoke to me, um, for the first time, you know, a true honest encounter, you know? So I think we're, a lot of us are like that. 

00:10:54,188 --> 00:10:55,968 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. So it was a huge blessing. 

00:10:55,968 --> 00:11:18,318 [Speaker 0]
Well, there are plenty of, I mean, there, we're talking about maybe some, there's some paradoxes in the Kingdom of God and that, uh, we should be giving our, we give ourselves away and then w- w- we are so, so blessed. So y- y- while we start off with selfish, often selfish reasons to b- to be blessed, the discoveries that you've made over the years, that I'm gonna give myself away and, and give glory to God. 

00:11:18,318 --> 00:11:18,328 [Speaker 1]
Yes. 

00:11:18,328 --> 00:11:37,988 [Speaker 0]
And then such joy and blessing comes back. So over the years, all of these various trips that you've been on, how have you seen your life impacted and your wife's l- uh, your family, your church? What impact, global impact has had, this had on you as you've been serving and, and leading and mentoring others? 

00:11:37,988 --> 00:11:45,108 [Speaker 2]
Well, I can, I can tell you I am not the same person 

00:11:45,168 --> 00:11:46,848 [Speaker 2]
now 

00:11:46,848 --> 00:11:49,828 [Speaker 2]
that I was when I did my first mission. 

00:11:49,828 --> 00:11:50,408 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:11:50,408 --> 00:12:13,415 [Speaker 2]
And if you'd have talked to my three sons, and they're all, all grown now, but they were-... um, you know, younger then. And they would say the same, that I'm not the same person because of how God's worked on my heart. Um, before that, before I started doing missions, um, I was pretty, 

00:12:13,415 --> 00:12:16,055 [Speaker 2]
um, I was a 

00:12:16,055 --> 00:12:26,906 [Speaker 2]
pretty tough father. You know, uh, disciplinarian, um, I was just pretty tough. I was raising my boys like I'd been raised. 

00:12:26,906 --> 00:12:27,196 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:27,196 --> 00:12:28,626 [Speaker 2]
And, of course, I mean, that I think that's- 

00:12:28,626 --> 00:12:29,695 [Speaker 0]
Good arm- good army- 

00:12:29,695 --> 00:12:29,746 [Speaker 1]
And you're mili- 

00:12:29,746 --> 00:12:30,776 [Speaker 0]
... army man with discipline. 

00:12:30,776 --> 00:12:30,876 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. 

00:12:30,876 --> 00:12:32,376 [Speaker 1]
Oh, I was gonna say your military background. 

00:12:32,376 --> 00:12:32,536 [Speaker 0]
[laughs] 

00:12:32,536 --> 00:12:39,576 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Yeah. That was just coming out. And there's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it, 

00:12:39,576 --> 00:12:46,185 [Speaker 2]
I wasn't showing my sons the love that they needed and in a way that they needed. 

00:12:46,185 --> 00:12:47,106 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:12:47,106 --> 00:12:54,956 [Speaker 2]
And doing these missions, as God worked on my heart, and especially as He began to teach what a servant heart looked like- 

00:12:54,956 --> 00:12:55,596 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm 

00:12:55,596 --> 00:13:01,996 [Speaker 2]
... um, I realized 

00:13:01,996 --> 00:13:07,876 [Speaker 2]
how wrong I had been in so many of my approaches as a father. I can give a quick example, um- 

00:13:07,876 --> 00:13:09,256 [Speaker 0]
Sure, give it. 

00:13:09,256 --> 00:13:17,336 [Speaker 2]
Remember at the dinner table, the boys were all acting up, um, complaining about food or whatever and just kinda, you know, irritated me? 

00:13:17,336 --> 00:13:18,396 [Speaker 1]
[laughs] 

00:13:18,396 --> 00:13:28,276 [Speaker 2]
And I took my right fist and I slammed it on the table. And I slammed it hard. And I said, "This house 

00:13:28,276 --> 00:13:30,795 [Speaker 2]
is not a democracy." 

00:13:30,795 --> 00:13:31,286 [Speaker 1]
[laughs] 

00:13:31,286 --> 00:13:41,636 [Speaker 2]
"I rule this house with an iron fist. You understand?" [laughs] And I think back on that and it's like, "Who was that guy?" 

00:13:41,636 --> 00:13:42,736 [Speaker 0]
[laughs] 

00:13:42,736 --> 00:13:47,156 [Speaker 2]
I mean, I don't recognize him now. And, 

00:13:47,216 --> 00:13:55,776 [Speaker 2]
and it's because of how God used, s- seriously, used each and every one of these missions to change my heart. 

00:13:55,776 --> 00:14:03,765 [Speaker 0]
And y- unpack that a little bit for us. Um, I mean, Trish, I don't know how many trips you've been on now, but it's, it's m- it's dozens and dozens and dozens, right? 

00:14:03,765 --> 00:14:03,776 [Speaker 1]
Right. 

00:14:03,776 --> 00:14:10,136 [Speaker 0]
But unpack that for our listeners. What ab- what about the trips is doing that to you? 

00:14:10,136 --> 00:14:14,136 [Speaker 2]
It's, um, 

00:14:14,136 --> 00:14:17,776 [Speaker 2]
it's hearing, it's seeing the need,

00:14:19,076 --> 00:14:28,556 [Speaker 2]
 a need that, um, I'd never really had seen before and recognizing, and seeing how overwhelming it is. 

00:14:28,616 --> 00:14:33,576 [Speaker 2]
But being in, being in the country 

00:14:33,576 --> 00:14:44,756 [Speaker 2]
with the people, you know, actually seeing and hearing and feeling, you know, just your whole senses are, are experiencing the need, it, it fi- it, the need became real to me. 

00:14:44,756 --> 00:14:46,736 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:14:46,736 --> 00:15:02,415 [Speaker 2]
A- and because it became personal. And, and that was very impactful for me, um, that finally it wasn't just something I saw on the TV or read in the paper and I might feel, "Oh, that's terrible," but then you forget about it. 

00:15:02,415 --> 00:15:02,615 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:15:02,616 --> 00:15:04,695 [Speaker 2]
But when you actually experience it- 

00:15:04,695 --> 00:15:05,175 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm 

00:15:05,175 --> 00:15:07,616 [Speaker 2]
... it, it changes you. 

00:15:07,616 --> 00:15:08,236 [Speaker 0]
Wow. 

00:15:08,295 --> 00:15:10,516 [Speaker 1]
Right. You put a name and a face to it, um- 

00:15:10,516 --> 00:15:10,856 [Speaker 2]
Yes 

00:15:10,856 --> 00:15:56,726 [Speaker 1]
... like, for example, on this last trip we did together, just a little over a month ago, I had a woman who was, who came in with anxiety, but really she had her, he- her 18-month-old on her lap with her. And I was like, "Well, what, is there something particular that's making you anxious?" Well, this 18-month-old has several heart defects, like major heart issues, and they need open heart surgery to survive, you know, probably beyond two. Um, and so we talked about that, and even if she had surgery in Managua, which is, you know, the capital of Nicaragua, um, they said they can't do it safely there, that she would need to be in the United States to have that surgery done for him. So you put a name and a face, and I'm watching this mother with her, who looks healthy at the time, 18-month-old, 'cause then I'm like checking capillary refund stuff- [laughs] 

00:15:56,726 --> 00:15:56,726 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] 

00:15:56,726 --> 00:16:12,366 [Speaker 1]
... while she's talking. Um, it's a name and a face, and you see, you know, the lack of healthcare there. Um, so it, it just, it's suddenly personal to you, like you said, Andy, and just profoundly impacts what you think. And I- 

00:16:12,366 --> 00:16:12,366 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:16:12,366 --> 00:16:30,175 [Speaker 1]
... I've thought that too about all the, uh, the handicapped, you know, children we see, and these moms and dads don't have wheelchairs even. You know, they're carrying them on their back or dragging them in a wheelchair through the house and you see the grooves in the house. I mean it, you just suddenly realize, I think for one, how blessed we are- 

00:16:30,175 --> 00:16:30,316 [Speaker 0]
Yeah 

00:16:30,316 --> 00:16:35,496 [Speaker 1]
... you know, here in the United States, but also to practice medicine in the United States where we can offer much more. 

00:16:35,496 --> 00:16:37,486 [Speaker 0]
With fewer limitations, right? Yeah. 

00:16:37,486 --> 00:16:40,336 [Speaker 1]
Yeah. Like, you know, we work alongside physicians. 

00:16:40,336 --> 00:16:40,465 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. Mm-hmm. 

00:16:40,465 --> 00:16:48,955 [Speaker 1]
Like in Nicaragua, there's always a, a Nicaraguan physician. And so you think how blessed we are that, like in the ER, I don't have to worry about if they can even pay. 

00:16:48,955 --> 00:16:50,056 [Speaker 0]
Right. Right. 

00:16:50,056 --> 00:16:54,556 [Speaker 1]
But they have all those. They have their limitations. So the humility that you have to approach- 

00:16:54,556 --> 00:16:55,046 [Speaker 0]
Right 

00:16:55,046 --> 00:17:01,796 [Speaker 1]
... our national partners and the physicians with, because they don't have the same ability we do- 

00:17:01,796 --> 00:17:02,215 [Speaker 0]
Yeah 

00:17:02,215 --> 00:17:16,066 [Speaker 1]
... you know, to provide healthcare. So it's, it's not just the patients, but even the healthcare professionals in these countries that are struggling to practice good medicine. So yeah, it suddenly just becomes almost overwhelming- 

00:17:16,066 --> 00:17:16,066 [Speaker 0]
Yeah 

00:17:16,066 --> 00:17:55,296 [Speaker 1]
... because the humility that you feel in those situations. [instrumental music]

00:18:05,186 --> 00:18:31,666 [Speaker 0]
[dramatic music] 

00:18:31,746 --> 00:18:48,826 [Speaker 0]
For either one of you, uh, because you've been both on so many teams and Trisha's the director, GHO, I'm sure has changed, uh, over the years. So Andy, let's start with you. 50- 50 trips, 50 teams, um, those experiences don't change. They're... you know, that you've just described. 

00:18:48,826 --> 00:18:48,976 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:18:48,976 --> 00:18:53,646 [Speaker 0]
But there are other things, technical things, uh, customs, blah, blah, blah. What has changed in the years? 

00:18:53,646 --> 00:19:03,786 [Speaker 2]
Well, uh, a lot, and a lot for the good, that's for sure. With those first, um, missions, all the medicines we brought were 

00:19:03,786 --> 00:19:55,145 [Speaker 2]
pretty much donations from pharmaceutical companies or reps. You know, you just get what you could. And everyone would just take them out of their packets and bag 'em up, and, you know, we brought what we had. And GHO was working with King's Pharmacy some, but that... King's Pharmacy wasn't doing... able to provide nearly the- the drugs that they used to be. So again, you know, each physician got together as much as they could, and that's what... We inventoried it and brought it. You know, and... You know, and now you go ahead 20 something years and GHO has this great, I'd say, sophisticated, um, um, way of keeping up medications. And they have a formulary that's specific for different regions of the world because- 

00:19:55,146 --> 00:19:55,856 [Speaker 0]
And predictable, I would guess. 

00:19:55,856 --> 00:19:56,766 [Speaker 2]
Yeah, and predictable. 

00:19:56,766 --> 00:19:57,566 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. 

00:19:57,566 --> 00:20:13,726 [Speaker 2]
And it's- it's just a huge help. It's a big difference. Um, another big difference is, uh, when I did my first mission, all the cameras were just regular cameras. Now they're all on the phone. 

00:20:13,726 --> 00:20:13,935 [Speaker 1]
[laughs] 

00:20:13,935 --> 00:20:27,066 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] Yeah. You know, you know? I saw my first digital camera the very first trip, and it was- it was like, "Wow." But, um, that's just a little aside. Uh, but 

00:20:27,066 --> 00:20:36,726 [Speaker 2]
I- uh, you know, and the... another big improvement is just the whole emphasis that GHO has on team- team leader preparation- 

00:20:36,726 --> 00:20:37,706 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm 

00:20:37,706 --> 00:20:47,086 [Speaker 2]
... uh, and, uh, and the measures that GHO goes through to make sure that every team is safe as possible. 

00:20:47,086 --> 00:20:47,375 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. I- 

00:20:47,375 --> 00:20:48,476 [Speaker 2]
Because that's important, you know? 

00:20:48,476 --> 00:20:50,726 [Speaker 0]
Yeah, I think that's especially been under Trisha's leadership- 

00:20:50,726 --> 00:20:50,735 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Yes 

00:20:50,735 --> 00:20:56,095 [Speaker 0]
... that we're making sure that there are not adverse outcomes or if there are, that they're documented. 

00:20:56,095 --> 00:20:58,106 [Speaker 1]
And- and dealt with appropriately. 

00:20:58,106 --> 00:20:58,336 [Speaker 0]
Dealt with, yeah. 

00:20:58,336 --> 00:20:58,846 [Speaker 2]
Yes. 

00:20:58,846 --> 00:21:20,226 [Speaker 1]
Um, yeah, just in- in my time, so I'm about nine years, but so around 10 years after you, but seeing the changes, um, in GHO, I think has been, um, for one thing, the emphasis, um... I think GHO has worked to do a lot of the logistical details for our team leaders now, so that our team leaders can focus on discipleship. 

00:21:20,226 --> 00:21:20,485 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:21:20,485 --> 00:21:44,446 [Speaker 1]
You know, watch this video for safety, but let's share this devotion, you know? So they can really focus on mentoring, discipling the teams, which is your best, you know, characteristic of you and how you handle your teams. He's such a good discipler. Um, but it allows you more freedom to not focus on, okay, who's got this medicine? Who's got what? You know, not deal with all that equipment. Lu- GHO's handling all that. 

00:21:44,446 --> 00:21:44,586 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:21:44,586 --> 00:22:00,636 [Speaker 1]
Let's focus on mentoring and discipling our teams well. Um, so I think for me that's been a goal of mine as director, to do everything I can to make your job easier as a leader, 'cause most of our team leaders are- are not retired, so they're still working and have practices. 

00:22:00,636 --> 00:22:01,155 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:22:01,155 --> 00:22:21,046 [Speaker 1]
And I remember when I was getting ready to leave on missions, you know, as an ER physician, I packed my shifts around and I could take, you know, a week off, but that gave me two less shifts, so then I still had to pack trips around that week. And so you're busy doing your extra shifts to have that week off, and for me, getting my family ready and making frozen Crock-Pot meals, all these things, so I could be gone for a week. 

00:22:21,046 --> 00:22:21,746 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. 

00:22:21,746 --> 00:22:26,846 [Speaker 1]
Um, so having to do all that too, I don't think I could have done it. I couldn't have been a good team leader. 

00:22:26,846 --> 00:22:27,906 [Speaker 0]
Without logistical support. 

00:22:27,906 --> 00:22:32,514 [Speaker 1]
Yeah. If... Without the logistical support of GHO, um, so I think that's- 

00:22:32,514 --> 00:22:47,086 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Oh, that's absolutely true, because, um, in the peak of my career when I was busiest, uh, I was leading two, even three teams a year. You know, my, uh, fortune being in a private practice that they were very understanding and f- and supportive. 

00:22:47,086 --> 00:22:48,005 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

00:22:48,005 --> 00:22:49,325 [Speaker 2]
You know? But, 

00:22:49,326 --> 00:22:49,456 [Speaker 2]
yeah. 

00:22:49,456 --> 00:22:58,556 [Speaker 1]
Yeah, that's helpful. So in all these years, I know there are many, but you... can you think of like one, um, patient encounter that just profoundly impacted you and sort of- 

00:22:58,556 --> 00:22:58,606 [Speaker 2]
Oh, yeah 

00:22:58,606 --> 00:22:59,706 [Speaker 1]
... changed your trajectory- 

00:22:59,706 --> 00:22:59,806 [Speaker 2]
Yeah 

00:22:59,806 --> 00:23:00,886 [Speaker 1]
... and share it with us? 

00:23:00,886 --> 00:23:08,086 [Speaker 2]
When I- when I read that question ahead of time, um, 

00:23:08,146 --> 00:23:31,366 [Speaker 2]
it's easy. So I was in Moldova, and I've written about this. Uh, we just finished the first day of clinic, and one of the... our host pastor wanted me to do... us do a home visit. And so we go walking up, um, this hill. And we get to the top of the hill, and there's this tiny, probably 10 by 10 foot concrete 

00:23:31,366 --> 00:23:37,686 [Speaker 2]
home. Um, uh, one window, 

00:23:37,686 --> 00:24:00,066 [Speaker 2]
two pieces of furniture that were just, you know, made of wood. And that... I mean, that's about it. And sitting on the steps was this very elderly Moldovan woman. She was crippled with arthritis, and she's just sitting there. And so, um, I sit down beside her with some of the other team members. And- and through my interpreter we're talking to her about, you know, who we were, 

00:24:00,066 --> 00:24:16,129 [Speaker 2]
why we were there, and, you know, could we help her? And she didn't say anything. She's just staring straight ahead. Um...... and then I look where she's staring, and it's a, it's a graveyard. 

00:24:16,129 --> 00:24:22,250 [Speaker 2]
And in Moldova, all the graves are above the ground. And 

00:24:22,250 --> 00:24:32,270 [Speaker 2]
then all of a sudden, she said, "The only end to pain is the graveyard." That's the very first word she said. 

00:24:32,270 --> 00:24:33,820 [Speaker 0]
[laughs] 

00:24:33,820 --> 00:24:41,010 [Speaker 2]
And, uh, it just hit me that... And what she meant 

00:24:41,010 --> 00:24:43,859 [Speaker 2]
was that... 'Cause she, she was atheist. 

00:24:43,859 --> 00:24:44,150 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. 

00:24:44,150 --> 00:24:57,490 [Speaker 2]
She didn't believe in God 'cause she had- had grown up under communism. Um, all of her family was gone. She had no one there. She was alone. And, and 

00:24:57,490 --> 00:25:08,770 [Speaker 2]
she just meant that all the emotional and physical pain that she... her, her entire life had been, the only time it's gonna come to an end is when she died. There was nothing. 

00:25:08,770 --> 00:25:08,790 [Speaker 0]
No. 

00:25:08,790 --> 00:25:12,230 [Speaker 2]
And I remember thinking how sad that is. 

00:25:12,230 --> 00:25:13,490 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. 

00:25:13,490 --> 00:25:24,490 [Speaker 2]
You know, that that's... She, she was living without any hope of anything ever getting better. And to live without hope is not truly to live, it's, it's to exist, and that's about it. 

00:25:24,490 --> 00:25:24,980 [Speaker 1]
Right. 

00:25:24,980 --> 00:25:30,490 [Speaker 2]
And th- I remember thinking to myself, "This is why 

00:25:30,490 --> 00:25:32,470 [Speaker 2]
GHO 

00:25:32,470 --> 00:25:35,490 [Speaker 2]
missions are so important 

00:25:35,550 --> 00:25:41,090 [Speaker 2]
because we bring hope." And of course, that hope is the hope of Christ- 

00:25:41,090 --> 00:25:42,070 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm 

00:25:42,070 --> 00:25:47,110 [Speaker 2]
... to people who too often live without hope or 

00:25:47,110 --> 00:25:53,690 [Speaker 2]
very little. And that was a, that was... I will always remember that. 

00:25:53,690 --> 00:26:16,930 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. You told us earlier on that you just... your passion is mentoring, discipling, and Trish affirmed that, that that's a real gift of yours. So this may be a tough question to answer, but are there one or two examples of those who've come along with you that you have mentored or discipled over these 50 teams that you've been a part of, uh, in which others have followed and you're like, 

00:26:16,930 --> 00:26:21,210 [Speaker 0]
"I am so proud of that young, young healthcare professional man or woman- 

00:26:21,210 --> 00:26:21,219 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:26:21,219 --> 00:26:28,650 [Speaker 0]
... who has caught the vision and has been transformed and has gone on to be a leader, and has done... has followed in your footsteps"? 

00:26:28,650 --> 00:26:37,050 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Well, the, um... I can think of a number of, um, individuals. The first one that comes to mind, he's not even a physician, but he's a team leader, Kevin Jordan. 

00:26:37,050 --> 00:26:38,150 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. 

00:26:38,150 --> 00:27:04,830 [Speaker 2]
So Kevin is a, um... from the same town I'm from, North Carolina, and he's a, um, a land appraiser. But we went to the same church, and, um... So I invited him to come on El Salvador mission with me. And this was, you know, 20 years ago. And he did, and he was in his 20s at that time. It just changed his life. 

00:27:04,830 --> 00:27:05,630 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:27:05,630 --> 00:27:07,750 [Speaker 2]
And so he went 

00:27:07,750 --> 00:27:29,650 [Speaker 2]
for the next couple of years again. And... But he's a gifted speaker and teacher, so, um, I encouraged him to become a team leader, uh, which he has. And, uh, and he's led any number of teams. Um, th- there are several other team leaders, current team leaders that I 

00:27:29,650 --> 00:27:53,750 [Speaker 2]
mentored and encouraged to, uh... and helped, and I helped train, uh, who are, again, continue to lead teams. Uh, there are many students that... Hmm. There's so many students it's hard to even think of names, and no need to mention names, but I will say this. 

00:27:53,750 --> 00:27:55,850 [Speaker 2]
I probably have written 

00:27:55,850 --> 00:28:07,490 [Speaker 2]
well over 100 letters of recommendations for young people wanting to go to, typically, medical school, sometimes dental, and every single one of them 

00:28:07,490 --> 00:28:09,190 [Speaker 2]
ha- was accepted into medical school. 

00:28:09,190 --> 00:28:10,830 [Speaker 0]
Wow. That's a pretty good- 

00:28:10,830 --> 00:28:11,010 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. 

00:28:11,010 --> 00:28:11,680 [Speaker 1]
That's good. 

00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:11,710 [Speaker 0]
Aw, that's- 

00:28:11,710 --> 00:28:12,099 [Speaker 2]
And, And I'd like to say- 

00:28:12,099 --> 00:28:13,330 [Speaker 0]
You wanna share your email address- 

00:28:13,330 --> 00:28:13,340 [Speaker 1]
[laughs] 

00:28:13,340 --> 00:28:14,310 [Speaker 0]
... with the listeners? [laughs]. 

00:28:14,310 --> 00:28:17,430 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I- I'd say, "Well, you know, boy, I must be a great letter writer." 

00:28:17,430 --> 00:28:17,520 [Speaker 0]
[laughs] 

00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:21,170 [Speaker 2]
And of course, it's not that. It's the quality of the young- 

00:28:21,170 --> 00:28:21,490 [Speaker 0]
Uh-huh 

00:28:21,490 --> 00:28:23,889 [Speaker 2]
... people that come on these teams. 

00:28:23,889 --> 00:28:24,290 [Speaker 1]
Right. 

00:28:24,290 --> 00:28:26,070 [Speaker 0]
A selection bias that's coming- 

00:28:26,070 --> 00:28:26,450 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. 

00:28:26,450 --> 00:28:26,560 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. 

00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:26,770 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. 

00:28:26,770 --> 00:28:27,739 [Speaker 0]
Your way. 

00:28:27,739 --> 00:28:40,490 [Speaker 2]
And, and the opportunity to get to serve with them and get to develop relationships with them that many... that I still maintained through the years, um, is just wonderful. 

00:28:40,490 --> 00:28:51,150 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. I'm, I'm a little taken aback, though maybe not totally surprised that you had picked someone, you know, who's not even a healthcare professional that would be your example, the o- the one who caught the vision. And so- 

00:28:51,150 --> 00:28:51,550 [Speaker 2]
Right 

00:28:51,550 --> 00:28:53,470 [Speaker 0]
... Trish, maybe just tell us about, uh- 

00:28:53,470 --> 00:28:53,780 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] 

00:28:53,780 --> 00:29:01,070 [Speaker 0]
... some of those listening, they go, "Wow, it's not even a healthcare professional that was involved." The, the team makeup, on average, what does that look like? 

00:29:01,070 --> 00:29:16,050 [Speaker 1]
Right. Um, yeah. You know, i- it... People are shocked that... And I remember my first trip thinking, "Wow, I thought I was going on a healthcare mission," 'cause all these non-healthcare-related people were signing onto the trip. Um, but it takes about a third of our team of non-medical- 

00:29:16,050 --> 00:29:16,409 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm 

00:29:16,409 --> 00:29:33,869 [Speaker 1]
... servants. Because for me to be in a room seeing a patient means I can't be out there watching flow, I can't be out there helping pharmacy, you know, and they're swamped. So we need people in there that can help them. It doesn't... With the pharmacists in there, it doesn't necessarily have to be another pharmacist to count 20 pills out and put it in a bag. 

00:29:33,870 --> 00:29:33,900 [Speaker 0]
Right. 

00:29:33,900 --> 00:29:46,190 [Speaker 1]
Um, but then we can do so many other things we like to do on our trips, the more non-medical we have. So for instance, we can do a pastor training conference. We can do a marriage enrichment conference with pastors and their wives in the area. 

00:29:46,190 --> 00:29:46,530 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:29:46,530 --> 00:30:14,474 [Speaker 1]
We do public health training, and we specifically ask for non-medical people in the community that want to learn this so that they can then be the church for their community. 'Cause basically we're teaching first aid for them, so they can help their community. Um, and usually, we ask for people from the church or the ministry we're working with, um, that want to learn this. But I don't have time, you know, from... to take break away from seeing patients to teach that. Um, but if we have th-... um, a lot of times college students, 'cause a lot of us know basic first aid just meaning- 

00:30:14,474 --> 00:30:16,424 [Speaker 2]
And are these often family members of like- 

00:30:16,424 --> 00:30:16,663 [Speaker 1]
Yeah. And often- 

00:30:16,663 --> 00:30:17,974 [Speaker 2]
... healthcare professionals who are on the team? 

00:30:17,974 --> 00:30:23,833 [Speaker 1]
Yeah, often they are. Th- c- th- you know, 'cause that's, I think, one of the blessings at GHO is you can bring your spouse, you can bring your children. 

00:30:23,833 --> 00:30:24,333 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:30:24,333 --> 00:30:30,714 [Speaker 1]
Um, uh, the whole family can go. I did that my first trip. God just really spoke to me about this was my ministry. 

00:30:30,714 --> 00:30:30,734 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:30:30,734 --> 00:30:33,293 [Speaker 1]
And I'm thinking about that, praying about that. How's that gonna look? 

00:30:33,293 --> 00:30:33,813 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:30:33,813 --> 00:30:44,024 [Speaker 1]
Um, God said, "Bring them." So I, my second trip was with my whole family. My husband's an engineer, and he learned missionary optometry working in the eyeglass clinic. 

00:30:44,024 --> 00:30:44,033 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] 

00:30:44,033 --> 00:31:07,704 [Speaker 1]
And my children were ages 11, 13, and 16, and they were out doing public health and teaching people how to brush their teeth or working at triage. You know, just hitting the button, starting the automatic blood pressure cuff and then escorting them where they needed to go. My youngest did reading eyeglasses. And she was cute at it though, because she would help them figure out what size, you know, what strength they needed, but then she wanted to style them too and be like, "do you need the purple ones?" We're like, "no, I really don't." 

00:31:07,704 --> 00:31:07,984 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] 

00:31:07,984 --> 00:31:37,884 [Speaker 1]
"Yes." And, you know, and she, you know, it was hysterical. So, um, but, but, but the part, point to me was that they all loved it, especially my children because for, you know, they had done youth group missions where they maybe go paint a wall or whatever, but they hang out with kids, you know, and play a lot, um, where... And they did do that on ours 'cause we'll do a vacation bible school type program and they did work in that, but the rest of the time, you know, they're working in the clinic and they liked being a working functioning part of the team and not just there to hang out, you know, and wait for the t- 

00:31:37,884 --> 00:31:39,374 [Speaker 2]
And one became a nurse, correct? 

00:31:39,374 --> 00:31:56,533 [Speaker 1]
Yeah. Uh, yeah. O- and there's a whole story about how my middle one became a nurse based on an experience she had, um, helping this woman, um, she was just before college who wi- who was coming to a public health clinic to have her fifth baby in Africa and didn't make it. So Marissa's right there with her- 

00:31:56,533 --> 00:31:57,293 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:31:57,293 --> 00:32:05,174 [Speaker 1]
... helping and watching this baby be born, not that she really helped 'cause she didn't know what she was doing, but, you know, [laughs] they're coming out at some point. 

00:32:05,174 --> 00:32:05,214 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] 

00:32:05,214 --> 00:32:10,303 [Speaker 1]
But she got to be there and experience that. Now she's a labor and delivery nurse. It was like a calling on her life. 

00:32:10,303 --> 00:32:10,353 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. 

00:32:10,353 --> 00:32:18,654 [Speaker 1]
So it's amazing experiences that you get to have and you never know how God's gonna use that to change the directory of your life. 

00:32:18,654 --> 00:32:18,994 [Speaker 2]
Right. 

00:32:18,994 --> 00:32:24,553 [Speaker 1]
You know, or at least enhance it. Um, so that's what's so special about- 

00:32:24,553 --> 00:32:24,603 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:32:24,603 --> 00:32:40,194 [Speaker 1]
... them to me and, um, after that one time each child of mine has come back with me one-on-one 'cause I like that experience too of not having the whole family there, but one-on-one with your child, um, when a lot of people do that. A lot of physicians and dentists will bring us a child- 

00:32:40,194 --> 00:32:41,063 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:32:41,063 --> 00:33:03,134 [Speaker 1]
... with them. But talking about experiences with healthcare, on this past trip we did, Andy and I together, um, we had, um, he wasn't... He was, he was three years out. He was a physician assistant three years out. And at our team closing meeting what he shared was that this trip has been amazing. He said, "I didn't know people like you existed." You know, he's practicing- 

00:33:03,134 --> 00:33:03,144 [Speaker 2]
Wow 

00:33:03,144 --> 00:33:11,654 [Speaker 1]
... in California and, and, and he was talking, I think, not about Christians, but about Christian healthcare people that are serving so hard, 'cause you work hard. 

00:33:11,654 --> 00:33:11,924 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. Yes, yes you do. 

00:33:11,924 --> 00:33:18,832 [Speaker 1]
You know, on those trips it's hot and you're tired and patients keep coming, but he had never seen service like that before in his life. 

00:33:18,833 --> 00:33:19,234 [Speaker 2]
Hm. Yeah. 

00:33:19,234 --> 00:33:32,813 [Speaker 1]
So that's how they can impact these younger generations. And, and they've shared since then on our group WhatsApp how they've gotten to share in church, how they're praying more with their patients, so we've been hearing some follow-up which has been- 

00:33:32,813 --> 00:33:33,754 [Speaker 2]
It's been awesome. 

00:33:33,754 --> 00:33:35,224 [Speaker 1]
Yeah. It's just beautiful- 

00:33:35,224 --> 00:33:35,234 [Speaker 2]
Ah, wow 

00:33:35,234 --> 00:33:36,874 [Speaker 1]
... to see the impact these trips have. 

00:33:36,874 --> 00:33:41,674 [Speaker 2]
Praise God. Trish, why don't you tell our listeners about what opportunities are coming down the road? 

00:33:41,674 --> 00:34:06,634 [Speaker 1]
So we post, um, you know, always we post on our trip calendar is online. Um, and you can find us at cmda.org/gho, um, and pull up, you know, find the trip and you pull up the trip calendar. Um, we do have, um, Middle East trips. We have s- quite a few Central America trips. We do have some trips into this fall, like, um, September and October that still need participants on it. 

00:34:06,634 --> 00:34:06,844 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:34:06,844 --> 00:34:15,634 [Speaker 1]
So if you would look at our trip calendar, there is a place for you to serve and we still need some help for the rest of this year. And we're starting to put next year's calendar online as we get to it. 

00:34:15,634 --> 00:34:25,134 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. And you've also got plans, uh, for a regular, I'm not sure what frequency, a, a, a podcast where you're gonna have guests, uh, come on and talk about their experiences. 

00:34:25,134 --> 00:34:48,453 [Speaker 1]
Right. We're gonna, um, relaunch. We have had a Let's Go GHO podcast, but, um, we had a season of being understaffed and overwhelmed, um, at GHO and had to let that go. But, um, Christian Healthcare Missions/GHO or Let's Go GHO podcast will be relaunching in the next couple of months or so. Um, and that'll be biweekly, um, at that point. So look for that to come soon. 

00:34:48,453 --> 00:35:21,674 [Speaker 2]
Okay. Mm-hmm. Thanks. So Andy, any, any final thoughts, comments? I mean, there's just a wealth of experience and knowledge- Mm-hmm ... that I w- I wish we could just pull out from you over a very, very short period of time, but that's not gonna be possible, but any, any final thoughts about this experience? Just, um, a couple. Um, again, it's- it is hard to put into words the impact that GHO has had on my life, um, because it- I am not the same person I was tha- 

00:35:21,674 --> 00:35:40,154 [Speaker 2]
you know, praise God. The other thing is, um, just to see how, um, GHO's impacted my youngest son, and Trish knows David, uh, and David grew up going to El Salvador with me on, on mission stand, so he developed a love for 

00:35:40,154 --> 00:35:53,933 [Speaker 2]
that part of the world and culture and he lives in Nicaragua now. You know? 'Cause he loves the country down there and, and his- and, um, GHO's been huge in his spiritual walk 'cause he is gone 

00:35:53,933 --> 00:36:09,334 [Speaker 2]
from a vowed atheist to, um, you know, seeking God hard and so many m-... team leaders, uh, with GHO have been... Played a huge part in his life- 

00:36:09,334 --> 00:36:09,703 [Speaker 0]
Wow 

00:36:09,703 --> 00:36:10,534 [Speaker 2]
... in mentoring him. 

00:36:10,534 --> 00:36:10,993 [Speaker 0]
Praise God. 

00:36:10,993 --> 00:36:12,534 [Speaker 2]
And forever grateful for that. 

00:36:12,534 --> 00:36:12,833 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. 

00:36:12,834 --> 00:36:14,464 [Speaker 1]
And David did join us on that mission- 

00:36:14,464 --> 00:36:14,464 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:36:14,464 --> 00:36:17,194 [Speaker 1]
... as an interpreter, you know, a month or so ago, so- 

00:36:17,194 --> 00:36:17,344 [Speaker 2]
Yeah 

00:36:17,344 --> 00:36:18,173 [Speaker 1]
... it was really special. 

00:36:18,174 --> 00:36:19,854 [Speaker 2]
It was great to see him. Yeah. 

00:36:19,854 --> 00:36:25,013 [Speaker 0]
Our motto for many years, CMDS, CMDA, has been changing hearts and healthcare. 

00:36:25,013 --> 00:36:25,473 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:36:25,473 --> 00:36:47,314 [Speaker 0]
And I've often thought, Andy and Trish, that the most powerful testimony to our families, those who... You've described so well today, is that your family saw the change that was taking place because of your service. And your sons, maybe they've told you or not told you, "Well, we knew that there's a God because we watched him change our dad, uh,- 

00:36:47,314 --> 00:36:47,354 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm 

00:36:47,354 --> 00:37:00,064 [Speaker 0]
... over those years." So, um, it's always my prayer for our CMDA members and their constituents that, that the hearts... We- we think about that we're out there to change and transform the world, but it... Obviously, it's our own hearts, uh- 

00:37:00,064 --> 00:37:00,064 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm 

00:37:00,064 --> 00:37:10,533 [Speaker 0]
... where that change has to start and prove that God... That the Gospel is real because it starts right here in our very own heart. So, thank you be- for being a poster professional- 

00:37:10,534 --> 00:37:10,824 [Speaker 1]
[laughs] 

00:37:10,824 --> 00:37:13,254 [Speaker 0]
... for demonstrating that for us today. 

00:37:13,254 --> 00:37:15,953 [Speaker 2]
Well, thank you for allowing me to be here. 

00:37:15,953 --> 00:37:16,064 [Speaker 0]
Yeah. 

00:37:16,064 --> 00:37:17,424 [Speaker 1]
Yeah, we've really enjoyed it, Andy. 

00:37:17,424 --> 00:37:17,453 [Speaker 2]
Yeah, it's been great. 

00:37:17,453 --> 00:37:19,114 [Speaker 1]
You're special to GHO. 

00:37:19,114 --> 00:37:19,154 [Speaker 0]
Mm-hmm. 

00:37:19,154 --> 00:37:26,074 [Speaker 1]
You always will be, but you have been, um, wonderful, servant-hearted, and encouraging other team leaders at GHO. 

00:37:26,074 --> 00:37:26,114 [Speaker 2]
Right. 

00:37:26,114 --> 00:37:31,154 [Speaker 1]
So I especially really appreciate everything you've done for me personally and GHO. 

00:37:31,154 --> 00:37:31,173 [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Thank you, Trish. 

00:37:31,174 --> 00:37:34,214 [Speaker 0]
And imagine you did 50 trips by the time you had your 50th birthday. 

00:37:34,214 --> 00:37:34,284 [Speaker 1]
[laughs] 

00:37:34,284 --> 00:37:36,473 [Speaker 0]
You celebrate your 50th birthday in the 50th trip. 

00:37:36,473 --> 00:37:37,854 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] That would have been something. 

00:37:37,854 --> 00:37:38,774 [Speaker 0]
[laughing] 

00:37:38,774 --> 00:37:45,973 [Speaker 2]
You know? And to think that, you know, when I did that first mission, I was just going to do one mission, see what it was like. 

00:37:45,973 --> 00:37:46,654 [Speaker 1]
[laughs] 

00:37:46,654 --> 00:37:49,263 [Speaker 0]
Well, if you wanna sign up and- and find out more, uh- 

00:37:49,263 --> 00:37:49,344 [Speaker 2]
[laughs] 

00:37:49,344 --> 00:37:53,374 [Speaker 0]
... as Trish has described these trips, just go to cmda.org/gho. 

00:37:53,374 --> 00:37:54,144 [Speaker 1]
Mm-hmm. 

00:37:54,144 --> 00:38:06,354 [Speaker 0]
Uh, and, uh, lots of tours, uh, different trips, uh, that- that are, that are posted. And- and as Andy has described, logistics are take... Even if you're busy in practice, busy healthcare professional, they're gonna make it easy for you. 

00:38:06,354 --> 00:38:06,614 [Speaker 2]
Mm-hmm. 

00:38:06,614 --> 00:38:06,854 [Speaker 1]
Right. 

00:38:06,854 --> 00:40:18,814 [Speaker 0]
So, God bless you. Thanks for joining us today on Faith in Healthcare, uh, the CMDA Matters podcast. I just wanna say thanks to both Dr. Trish Burgess and Dr. Andy Lamb. Andy, as you heard, has served faithfully on 50 teams and has seen countless lives in so many countries transformed. What an inspiring reminder of the power of our obedience. His story shows that when we step out to serve, even for reasons that may seem somewhat insignificant or small, God can reshape our hearts and our families and even our careers for His glory. Through discipleship, mentoring, and prayerful patient care, Andy has shown how the ripple effects of faith can extend far beyond the US borders. If this episode stirred your heart, I wanna encourage you today to explore upcoming trips and opportunities by going to cmda.org/gho. There's a place for non-medical servants as well and even whole families to serve together. And be sure to share this episode with a colleague, friend, or student, and follow the podcast on social media to stay connected. I bet you've got some colleagues who've been thinking about short-term missions, and this is the perfect on-ramp opportunity. Your support, friends, helps us grow this community and equip healthcare professionals in every single specialty to take Christ to all the earth. And remember, here on our podcast and throughout CMDA, friends, you've got a community that stands with you. We're here to encourage you, to strengthen you, and support you as you navigate the moral and the ethical, as well as the spiritual challenges of practicing healthcare today. You can visit us by going to cmda.org for various resources and a community where Christ followers experience a belonging. 

00:40:18,814 --> 00:41:55,854 [Speaker 0]
Next week on the podcast, I'm gonna be joined by Grant Hewitt. He is CMDA Southern Region Director, and we're gonna have a thought-provoking conversation about what he calls cut flower medicine. While the culture often defines this cut flower medicine as care that falls short of treating the whole person, Grant points to the deeper reality that much of modern healthcare has become detached from its Christian roots. A heritage that for over 18 centuries, it actually anchored patient care in the compassion of Christ and the image of our God. Together, we're gonna explore how reclaiming that vision impacts today's practice, the vital role of campus ministries and the unique challenges that students and residents who follow Christ face in their training environments. Don't miss it. Thanks for listening today to Faith in Healthcare, the weekly podcast from CMDA, where our mission remains the same, bringing the hope and healing of Christ to the world through committed Christ followers in healthcare. That's what matters to us at CMDA. May you recognize this week that the Lord is with you, that He's for you to do His good work. Thank you for listening today, and we'll see you next time, Lord willing, on Faith in Healthcare. [instrumental music]