FAME’s mission statement reads: FAME is sending help and hope in the name of Christ to the world’s most vulnerable through medical evangelism.
If you go on a short-term medical mission trip with FAME, one of the first publications you will receive is a Trip Packet full of introductory information about your upcoming trip. One of the pages toward the front of this packet includes FAME’s mission statement and core values which clearly defines our reason for going to the mission field to serve.
In October, FAME took our first team to the Philippines to serve with the Charles W. Selby Memorial hospital staff, led by Ofelia (Pia) Tabilisima. It was such a wonderful trip as the hospital staff and the FAME team joined together to minister to over 771 patients who attended a total of 6 medical outreaches. Several of our patients came from indigenous Filipino tribes. Finding meaningful work in order to support their needs and the needs of their families is a stress they wake up to every morning. In many communities, men turn to alcohol when met with these types of life’s challenges.
As a FAME medical team, we serve many purposes. One of those purposes is to open doors for our in-country hosts to meet more than just the physical needs of the patients who come seeking help. Although treating the physical needs is important, we know there is a greater need for each person who shows up that day and that is the need to know Jesus.
Our medical teams usually attract a lot of attention which means a lot of patients to care for. This was true for our Philippines team. Patients came with many physical problems such as pain, stomach issues, skin rashes, respiratory problems, and infections. Some patients however needed help that did not come from a pharmacy prescription. I know of two occasions where Deb Trego, RN, talked openly with two gentlemen about their problem with alcohol abuse. When Deb asked each one if they drank alcohol excessively, they openly and honestly confessed that they did.
In addition, we had a 19-year-old young lady who came to our last medical outreach. She and her boyfriend had just broken up and she thought she might be pregnant. We were blessed to give her the news that she was not pregnant as well as spend time with her in prayer. She also brought her 68-year-old neighbor with her that morning who was not feeling well. As Deb talked with this young lady about her neighbor, we found out that Erlinda, lived in deplorable conditions with no family members to help care for her. This young lady and her family had been giving Erlinda food each day and provided the care that she needed. She also shared that she and her family were moving, so of course, no one would be there to continue providing the attention she needed.
FAME teams are limited to how much time they can invest in individual patient’s lives because of the short time they spend on the mission field. For this reason, we depend on our in-country host to provide an avenue for help that can be extended to our patients who are openly seeking it and need it. We were grateful that traveling along with our Philippine’s team were 2 hospital chaplains as well as local pastors.
We are so grateful for our FAME donors and supporters who understand the importance of investing in FAME as we strive to send help and hope in the name of Christ to the world’s most vulnerable through medical evangelism.
May God receive all the glory as we seek to connect people all around the globe to the avenue leading to Him. It is for this reason that “We Go”.
If you would like to join us on our next trip to the Philippines, please contact me and let’s talk!
Dates are April 18th – May 2nd, 2020.
Lonnie Burley
FAME Director of Short-term Trips
(317)358-2480
LBurley@fameworld.org