We make quite a few airport runs around here, but two Saturdays ago was an extra special day for flying with VetRed. At 5am I took Dr. Moira Martinez to the airport for her very first trip out of the country. You may have read about Dr. Shawn Kari's three visits from California down to Santa Cruz over the past few years to train the university, and specifically Moira, in ultrasound. His impact on her life, and subsequently imaging in the country, has been transformative, so why stop with Bolivia! 
Last week, Shawn and Moira met in Managua to teach ultrasound technique to students and veterinarians from around Nicaragua. Dr. Jeff Bracht is a CVM veterinarian living there with his family and developing a university ministry similar to the one we have here in Santa Cruz. Shawn and Moira's visit supported his efforts and reinforced his sharing of Christ's love through veterinary medicine. This training of trainers to multiply into their own communities is exactly what we have in mind when we facilitate visits from North American specialists to Latin American schools. Moira has no culture or language barriers when she teaches about ultrasound, or about God's Word, as we pray she'll want to do in the future.
Last week, Shawn and Moira met in Managua to teach ultrasound technique to students and veterinarians from around Nicaragua. Dr. Jeff Bracht is a CVM veterinarian living there with his family and developing a university ministry similar to the one we have here in Santa Cruz. Shawn and Moira's visit supported his efforts and reinforced his sharing of Christ's love through veterinary medicine. This training of trainers to multiply into their own communities is exactly what we have in mind when we facilitate visits from North American specialists to Latin American schools. Moira has no culture or language barriers when she teaches about ultrasound, or about God's Word, as we pray she'll want to do in the future.
I would have loved to join Moira on her trip, to calm her nerves and build our friendship, to witness Jeff and Bethany's ministry in Nicaragua, to see Moira experience the beach for the first time... But when it rains it pours, so as Moira, Shawn, and Jeff were representing VetRed and CVM in Nicaragua, Brett Terhaar and Warren Waybright joined me in Bolivia to do the same. Shortly after her family and I prayed with Moira for her send off, Brett and Warren arrived at the airport just as ready to share God's love through veterinary medicine.
The three of us visited Trinidad, Bolivia for four days to strengthen our relationship with the vet school there and lay some ground work for Dr. Coalson Lacey, the CVM vet who plans to live and work there starting in 2013. The reception from Dean Francis, the faculty, staff, and students was wonderful! Brett and Warren were rockstars as hundreds of students swarmed to see their first bovine c-sections and breeding soundness exams.
We lectured on a variety of topics, demonstrated surgeries and procedures, and fielded questions. We participated in the inauguration of the vet school's new building. We worked on a convenio (agreement between CVM and Trinidad's university.) We visited FexpoBeni, the province's annual fair, and oohed an awed at cattle, horses, and bugs nearly as big as both. And we still found time to enjoy the really friendly people and the really yummy fried alligator.
That's what we're all about; exchanging ideas, sharing what God's blessed us with, multiplying trainers, and growing together.
At the end of our time in Trinidad they told us they'll be purchasing an ultrasound machine soon, you can probably guess who we recommended train them on using it....
I love my job!
1 comment:
Exciting times! Good thing you were there to share in them!
Post a Comment