Since its inception, the motto of Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) has been “bridging cultures for Christ,” believing that great things can be done as cultures partner together in Christ.
Perhaps this past November 2 and 3 epitomized that philosophy as medical mission Work & Witness teams from Susanville, California, USA, and Kiev, Ukraine, converged on the APNTS campus to partner with the school’s Student Body Organization (SBO) and the Supervised Ministry Class to bring free medical care, pharmaceuticals and pastoral counseling services to the communities surrounding APNTS.
This event is a part of the continuing commitment and partnership of APNTS with its surrounding communities. Most patients seen in the medical mission came from Rowenas, a low-income community located just behind the APNTS compound, on the banks of the creek that flows through the school’s campus.
The SBO council organized the mission, sorting medications and setting up a temporary clinic and pharmacy in Nazareth Hall on the APNTS campus. SBO Academic Chair Abby Galzote recalls the intriguing experience of doing three-way translation.
One of the medical doctors on the mission team spoke only Ukrainian and many of the patients coming to the medial mission spoke only Tagalog. It was Galzote’s job to translate the patient’s Tagalog into English, so that it could be retranslated into Ukrainian and then returned as the doctor responded.
Steven Jones, a medical technician and one of the team’s leaders found the two-day project to be a moving experience. In the process of working with APNTS faculty and students, he was brought deeply into the midst of the community people's lives.
The timing for such an event could not have been more appropriate. The Rowenas community was strongly affected by Typhoon Ketsana (known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ondoy) only one month prior to this event. The community lost many homes and several lives in the storm. Understanding this, the SBO Council members intended for this event to meet the holistic needs of the surrounding communities, not only addressing their medical concerns and bringing physical wellness, but also providing a chance to talk, build relationships, and bring mental and spiritual healing as well.
-- Jarrett Davis is studying for his master's degree in Christian Communication at the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, in Manila, The Philippines, and edits the seminary's newsletter, The Bridge. To learn more about APNTS, visit www.apnts.org.