Mission Projects
As a Parish Saint Marks' has recently been involved in mission work close to home at the Church of the Crucifixion at 8th and Bainbridge Streets, where we led efforts to help clean up the Church and its Parish House and to provide funding for the new roof, which was put on this past Spring.
After Hurricane Katrina wreaked so much damage on the Gulf Coast in 2005, a team from Saint Mark's, augmented by volunteer students from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine travelled to Gulfport, Mississippi to work for a week at Camp Coast Care. Many people from the parish supported this work with their contributions.
Other recent mission work was done with Appalachian Outreach in East Tennessee where members of Saint Mark's travelled to help work on home repair projects.
Members of Saint Mark's have recently traveled with the diocesan Youth Mission Trip to Guatemala.
Honduras Mission - 2008
The Proposal is that we make a mission trip to Honduras in June of 2008. The primary purpose will be to operate a medical clinic for 3 – 4 days.
“Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and truth.” (I John 3:18) A mission trip is an expression of Christian love, sometimes across an extended distance. Such trips bring our love to those who need our help. These trips are often at least as transformational for those who go as they are for those to whom we go, as we discover how God blesses us in our encounter with others who are in great need, and still give us the gift of their love.
In Honduras, according to the UN, 23.8 % of the population lives on less than $1 a day. Another 44.4% lives on less than $2 a day – this is extreme poverty. 30.1% of the population receives no regular health care; 83% are un-insured(World Health Organization). The population of Honduras accounts for 60% of those in Central America who are living or dying with HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis (W.H.O.)
DATES – 7 – 15 June, 2008 (roughly)
COST – We estimate the cost will end up being somewhere around $1,500 per person. We hope to defray part of the per person cost by finding a subsidy from Saint Mark’s funds or other sources, and/or by doing some fund-raising. We will do everything we can to make sure that no one chooses not to go because they cannot afford it.
GOAL – to operate a drop-in medical clinic near San Pedro Sula for 3-4 days. You do not need medical expertise to go on this trip, however, some medical professionals will be required. We hope to recruit::
• 2 physicians
• 2 physician’s assistants or nurse practitioners
• 3 recently graduated medical students
• 1 dentist
• 3 nurses
• 5 ordinary people
• 1 member of the clergy
SUPPLIES – in order to facilitate the care of patients we will be soliciting the following:
• Cash
• Medications (list to be provided)
• Medical Supplies
REQUIREMENTS
• Participants must be over the age of 18
• Must have a valid US Passport
• Medical professional must have appropriate licensure documentation
• Up-to-date vaccinations for hepatitis A & B, Tetanus and typhoid. Possible anti-malarial prescription.
• A lively sense of adventure, a commitment to teamwork, and a love of your neighbor.