A group from Concordia University, Nebraska will spend their break doing medical mission work in Amatitlan and La Avanzada, Guatemala.
The group, led by Assistant Professor in Health and Human Performance Dr. Jennifer Janousek, includes seven students, pediatrician Dr. Sarah Matthias, physician assistant Heidi Solano and Carol Dettmer. The students making the trip are seniors Aaron Hanneman, Omaha, Neb., Lauren Awe, Tilden, Neb., and Mia Pauluhn, St. Louis, Mo. and juniors Megan Schmidt, Seward, Neb., Zachery Schnell, Lincoln, Neb., Adam Strohschein, Annandale, Minn., and Timothy von Behren, Falls City, Neb.
“We will be providing medical clinics, educating the patients on how to prevent illnesses, training health workers and leaders in the communities, and performing a health needs assessment in a remote village in the mountains,” said Janousek. “It’s great to provide medical clinics, but we need to teach and help equip them to prevent many of these health problems.”
Janousek, who traveled to Guatemala in September to receive training for this trip from the Central America Lutheran Mission Society, has several goals for the mission.
“First and foremost, we want to serve God by sharing His love in a cross-cultural setting. We also want to use the gifts God has given us to serve the Guatemalan people and hopefully be a blessing to them,” Janousek explained. “The students will also be able to see the information they are learning in their Global Health class first hand and gain experience educating others on preventative health practices that affect community health.”
While the group is traveling to help the Guatemalan people, Janousek believes the group members have the most to gain.
“As much as we hope to give and serve, I have a feeling we receive so much more than we would ever be able to give.”