Uniting Church sends couple on Medical Mission to Samoa
The congregation of the Dayboro Uniting Church has taken nine months to raise sufficient funds to send Narelle and Zoe Reeves on a Marine Reach mission to Samoa in July. Marine Reach is the ship ministry of Youth With A Mission. YWAM is an international, interdenominational Christian missionary organisation serving in over 130 nations throughout the world. Marine Reach operates ships which match caring people and their skills to needy communities around the world.
Presently working out of New Zealand, the vessel, the M/V Pacific Link, with its onboard dental and ophthalmic clinic, is involved in medical ministry and evangelism.
The ship’s crew, joined by short term or long term volunteers such as Dentists, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Doctors, Nurses, Pastors, or missions teams frequently embark on outreaches to the smaller more isolated Island communities.
Narelle, as a nurse, will assist other professional medical personnel providing general medicine to Samoans, complementing the work of optometrists and ophthalmologists on this exercise.
Zoe, her daughter, will assist on the ship with a range of duties. Both of them are very excited about this opportunity to use their skills and commitments to help Pacific Islanders and to see a beautiful part of the world. They will fly to Apia to pick up the ship which will take them around the Samoan group of islands calling at several villages before sailing back to New Zealand and flying home.
Community Minister, Dr Paul Inglis, said the congregation feels like it is going on this journey with them since it has been so keenly involved in the planning and fund raising. He pointed out that the same congregation has also provided funds to support the Bolivian school and orphanage developed by local identity, Mik Henzell, at Casa Segura. “We have covered the cost of the construction of a large house for an extended family and this month paid for the clothes, blankets, mattresses, pillows, tooth brushes, etc. for the first children entering the orphanage.”
Paul is very pleased with the nice balance of giving by the congregation. “While supporting our local Community Chest for the needy in our area, we have also been able to make a significant impact in some of the most deprived parts of the world. It has been a huge learning experience for us all and we have gained a better appreciation of our own very privileged lives and community.”
