Our most common request is for general practice mobile health clinics.  This type of project typically will be made up of one to two physicians, one to two nurses, a dentist (if possible), a dental assistant (if needed), and pharmacist. There are many combinations that we can use from these options.  Our average team size is five team members.  We always try to use health care professionals on the team roster.  If for some reason, we are not able to fill all team spots with health care professionals, we will allow students and non-medical professionals to assist on a team. 

For more information on the various roles, click a link below:

• Physicians
• Dentists
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Allied Health
• Non-Medical
• Students

The average length of a team is 2 weeks.  Generally, we send teams on Saturday and have the teams return on a Saturday.  This timing seems to work best for those who are in active work.  It allows a day on the return to try to recover before being back at work and does not cut into a work week to depart for a trip.  Exceptions can be made as necessary.

Some volunteers will desire to bring their children.  As a matter of policy, MMR asks that you not consider bringing children younger than 14.

The cost of participating on an MMR project will vary depending upon the area in which you serve.  All of MMR's projects have a project cost + airfare format. MMR will set a project cost that will cover visas for entry, in-country transportation, medicines, room and board, translators, and other field costs. This project cost will cover everything except immunizations and your own spending money for snacks, tourist trips, and souvenirs.  You will be responsible for paying for your airfare to the country.  MMR will arrange this travel for you.  We do this in order to simplify the arrival schedules of all team members for the sake of field personnel who will have to greet you at the airport.  We work very hard to get the best price possible.  

As a volunteer, your work will primarily be used to build relationships with the target people through the operation of clinics. The project is usually a new work in this area. You will travel to the rural areas by vehicle. When traveling out to villages you will be staying in a variaty of locations from hotels, to homes, or even tents. No hiking is required unless specifically stated.

You will have the opportunity to see many new places, meet many new friends, and be exposed to new cultures. You will be able to develop relationships with the missionaries on the field and the people around them. You are going to be a blessing to others, but it is our prayer that in return you will also receive a blessing. This section will inform you of what we expect from you.

Medical Professional 

You are probably on an MMR team as a medical professional. As such, we expect you to perform your duties as a medical professional to the best of your abilities. We want to provide competent medical care and teaching as healers. Through being competent, we also want to provide ourselves opportunities to share the Message. We ask you to be both a healer and a preacher. If you are on an MMR team as a non-medical individual or as a student, you may have one of the hardest jobs on the team. You will be asked to do seemingly meanial tasks throughout your day. 

For all volunteers how you handle your role will be a tremendous example to all around you. Non-medical personnel may have more opportunities to share than anyone else on your team. Work with the field personnel available to be ready to do so. Also, you may get the opportunity to work with a national and go on home visits to follow up on contacts.  This is a valuable opportunity; be prepared to take advantage of it as the Holy Spirit provides.

Assignments

Work assignments will be given on-site once the needs and the situation are assessed. Be ready to assist in roles that may be outside of your comfort zone. Being flexible and willing to serve will make the clinic run smoothly. There are times when medical professionals are asked to fill a non-medical role. Please be willing to do whatever the field personnel request of you. We are there to assist the field personnel in their needs. While we desire that you have a great and fulfilling experience, we are in the country at the request of the field personnel, not to fulfill the expectations of the volunteers.

Clinic Setting 

This is a list of the roles that team members could be asked to fill in the clinic. Although some roles will be determined by one's level of expertise and some may not be filled at all, please be prepared to pitch in and work in any role!

• Registration


• Healthcare Providers


• Pharmacy Attendants


• Health Educators


• Prayer/Evangelism Team


• Crowd Control


• Data Collection

Church planter 

You are working as a church planter.  You may not directly be involved in actually getting together a group of new believers, but your role is to have the mind set of a church planter.  The goal of each MMR medical team is a self-sustained, replicating church that can reach their area for Christ.  The field personnel who requested your team think this way every day.  They think of strategies that allow them to be able to make disciples and form them into groups (churches) that can offer support and growth for each other.  We want you to think with this same mindset.

Model

You are also there to model a true disciple. If there are believers in the country you go to, you encourage and model a disciple to them. Most will be from a background that is other than Christian. They do not always know what it means to act as a disciple in all situations. They will look to you. You are to model the fruits of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It sounds like a lot, but they are looking to you to show them how a disciple acts.

Hurry Up and Wait

There will be times when you have to rush to your flight, then sit on the tarmac for two hours. That's reality. Developing countries tend to run on their own time schedule, much to our annoyance! You must prepare yourselves to deal with the "Hurry Up and Wait" principle. How you handle inconvenience will be an important part of your overall message. Everyone in your town or village will hear about it if you have an "incident" that is not flattering to our Savior. Conversely, everyone in town will hear about it if you handle it as a true disciple should.

A work trip to a developing country is stressful enough, but when you add in all the possible things that could go wrong, then you have created a situation beyond the limits of most people. That is why being flexible is so important.  It's flexibility to the point of being liquid. No matter what happens; relax, smile, trust your team leader to handle it, and be flexible. This will make the trip much more enjoyable for everyone on the team. You are there as a servant of your King, and for no other reason.