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Locals show generosity
to India orphans
Published Sunday, July 19
By L.A. Story
Staff Writer
Volunteers have poured out their time, their money, their service and their hearts in an impressive show of generosity toward more than 500 orphans in India.
Forty-two bags are packed with medical supplies and local "Hopegivers" have embarked on a much anticipated medical mission trip that will bring medical services, dental and eye care for 500 abandoned and orphaned street children who live in an orphanage in the city of Kota in Ragastan, India.
The mission trip came about after the visit and the plea for help from Dr. Samuel Thomas, president and CEO of Emmanuel Mission International ‹ the American version of the same mission group is Hopegivers. The orphanage in Kota houses at least 500 of the 5000 abandoned street children in the care of the Hopegivers ministry.
A large crowd turned out recently for a special send off service for the local doctors, medical professionals and volunteers that left today for India on a medical mission trip that will help the lives of the street children.
Locally, four medical doctors, a dentist and an optometrist were compelled to be a part of the mission. The rest of the mission team is made up of medical professionals and other volunteers that combined to make up one of the largest single volunteer medical mission teams that Crosswind Ministry Director, Bobby Capps, said he has ever been a part of.
Capps noted that his previous experience with medical mission forming in the city of Phoenix, Ariz., garnered far fewer volunteers.
"When I compare that experience to this little town, I've been impressed to say the least and have been really blessed by it ... there's a spirit here that has been here since before I arrived," said Capps.
Capps attributed some of the spirit simply to old fashioned southern hospitality, but said that in this case there was more at work.
"Take that hospitality and put Jesus into it and it takes on a very different temperament and has a strength and depth that is just wonderful and I think that's what I'm witnessing," said Capps.
A list of locals currently committed to go to on the medical mission trip includes: Dr. Mat Johnson (surgeon); Dr. Erica Noyes (general practitioner); Dr. Patrick Hsu (OB/GYN); Dr. William Bell; Dr. Bubba McQueen (dentist) and Dr. Mike Weeden (optometrist); Anna Lancaster, RN; Donnie Lawrence, RT; Bonnie Mitchell, RN; Dianna Griffin, Dental Assistant; Lauren Lindsey, medical student; Abby Noyes; Judy Wilbanks; Bobby Capps ‹ Director of Crosswind Ministry; Blake Weeden; Audie Osborn; Jeremy Osborn; April Clifton; Paula Devore; Adam Stanford; Steven Eaton and Jessica Eaton. Mission trip organizer Tony Childs said Dr. Pat Tucker had been instrumental in getting much needed medications for the children and both Childs and Capps said there had also been a lot of donated medications.
Dentist and mission trip volunteer Dr. Bubba McQueen will bring every child a toothbrush and toothpaste, according to Childs. Capps noted that McQueen also invested in a very expensive piece of equipment he will be taking along for the trip ‹ a portable machine that the dentist will have almost no need for once he returns home.
Optometrist and mission trip volunteer Dr. Mike Weeden will be bringing a pair of sunglasses for every boy and girl in the orphanage. Capps and Childs also said Weeden will be bringing prescription glasses ‹ adding up to six suitcases full of eyeglasses.
With volunteers and community donations, Childs expressed deep feelings over the whole experience, thus far.
"I just can't say enough about how generous and supportive the community has been," Childs said. "It has been an amazing journey with the support and commitment of the team ... God has had His hand in and on this. I can't wait for the team to get back already and share what they've experienced!"
Childs said that a schedule would be posted and Capps said he would blog daily on "Bobby's Blog" at the Crosswind website. The team's schedule will reveal what they are doing each day, and it is hoped that prayers from the community will be garnered for every step the team takes over course of what Capps admits will be a grueling week. The medical mission team is due to return Sunday, July 26.
For more information regarding Hopegivers, go to www.hopegivers.org. A daily blog about the team's work in India can be see on "Bobby's Blog" at
www.crosswind.ms.
