Medical Care for Migrant
Workers (USA)
Gloria watched
the bustling activity going on in the big white tent. It was good to sit
after picking tomatoes during her 12-hour shift in the hot fields. Her two
small boys played in the grass and picnic tables which doubled as the waiting
room for our recent medical mission for Migrant Workers on Virginia’s
Eastern Shore. As she waited to see the volunteer doctor, Gloria shared
her story.
Eight years have passed since Gloria had seen her family in Guatemala.
Her parents were very poor farmers who couldn't afford to send her or
her four sisters to school. When Gloria's father developed a heart condition
there was no money for medical care. So Gloria made a bold move. Not knowing
any English, the brave woman decided to go to the U.S. to make enough
money to cover his medical expenses in Guatemala.
She was quickly hired as a harvest piker by a crew leader working the
migrant camp circuit. While Gloria earned enough money to send some home,
she does not make enough to pay for her return as well. So she continues
to work with the migrant crew. Traveling from state to state with other
workers, Gloria eventually married and now has two boys. During the school
year, the family picks oranges in Florida. It's a hard life, but this
mother hope to one day buy a house and see her family again.
Gloria and her two boys were among the 143 patients that received free
medical or dental care during our weekend medical mission in July. After
receiving care these patients also had prescriptions filled for free!
Gloria was very grateful to see the dentist and for her boys to have a
checkups with a family physician. "God will bless Operation Blessing
for helping us," she commented.
During this mission, a team of 50 dentists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists,
translators and support people volunteered their time to serve men, women
and children living in the migrant camps in rural Virginia. Five medical
centers already exist to help meet the needs of migrant families, but
dental services aren’t offered yet. “Good things are being
said about you,” commented Nancy Stern, CEO of Eastern Shore Rural
Health System. “You are bridging the gap especially by providing
dental services. Building trust with the migrant population is a must.”
This is just the beginning of Operation Blessing’s USA-based medical
mission program. Missions include an upcoming dental clinic October
3-4 in Portsmouth, Virginia! Please help us reach out to others suffering
in the USA, like those in Appalachia or the elderly who have no insurance.
A gift of $50 can provide medications for 15 patients or supply power
for dentists relieving the pain of 130 children with toothaches! We are
beginning to plan our next mission now, but we need your help.
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