by Dr. Jaekwan Yang
13 June 2005
The clay roads were furrowed with ruts and pockmarked with potholes, making our journey to the remote villages of Paraguay treacherous and jarring. This was our medical mission team's second short-term trip to Paraguay. As we bounced along the difficult roads, we were eager to arrive at our destination.

Pastor Im and his wife Esther planned well for our medical ministry. They are serving with SIM in Paraguay and are supported by the First Korean Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Pastor Kyoungsik Kim led our team. I was one of the medical doctors who helped to organize the mission team.

This year our short-term team of fifteen included a dentist. We embraced the challenge of trucking supplies, medication, and a dental chair with all its equipment into the heart of the country. We brought our own voltage transformer. When the transformer blew out three extra light bulbs the dentist had brought for her head lamp, we recruited an additional person to hold a utility light. It was unbearably hot. Even with these obstacles, she saw over 40 people every day.

God's overwhelming grace empowered us through those days in Paraguay. In spite of long hours with little sleep, we had no accidents and no sickness. It took almost military precision and discipline for the team to see and treat more than 1850 people in four days. We extracted more than 120 teeth, checked over 600 blood tests for diabetes, dispensed vitamins and parasite pills to each patient, gave out 750 pairs of new and used glasses, and distributed pens, balloons, and candies.

Pastor Im and his family partnered with us every day to bring the good news of Jesus to the people needing treatment. Equipped with a portable music keyboard, they entertained the waiting crowds with Spanish songs and dances and taught them about Jesus' love. Our hearts were moved as we watched and listened.

As we bounced our way back home over the difficult roads, we thanked the Lord for guiding us and using us in this monumental task of healing physical needs. Now we trust Him to bring spiritual healing as well.