CVM East

You've all heard of Christian Veterinary Mission (or you've most likely been throwing away my prayer letters as junk mail.) But you may not have known that the Seattle based non-profit has expanded to the East Coast, specifically to Mary and Jack McDonald's farm in Catawba, Virginia. Pictured below is the farm, its director (Mary--my Bolivian predecessor), and its first two students, Shelley and I, there for the weekend to reconnect with our long lost large animal skills as we prepare for veterinary ministry in South Africa and South America, respectively.

Working with these livestock as well as ducks, horses, cattle, and alpacas was a confidence booster and a good reminder of how valuable our trade can be in underdeveloped countries. Part of our practice was in the art of Participatory Training Methodology. In her book on this subject, Learning Together, Susan Stewart said, "Animals provide the resource base for the vast majority of rural poor around the world. They are the banking system, often providing the buffer between survival and death. When people lose their animals through war, greed, natural disturbances and disease, the family or family members go without schooling, food and healthcare and sometimes die.” I feel so blessed to have such a practical way to serve needy people and share God's love. And I'm so thankful to have such great mentors and resources at CVM both East and West!

(These pictures were not staged to prove that my entire summer has not been merely lounging around enjoying myself and my friends, but they sure do help with that.)