Reciprocal Service in Nepal
Mutuality. Partnership. Relationships across cultures and languages. Learning from one another with humility and respect. All those core values are exemplified by our teams of volunteers.
Dr. Chris Kafka and his daughter Mackenzie, from Kansas City, served on the Nepal August 2019 Volunteer Corps. Dr. Kafka is a family physician with many years of experience. We often have a small group of medical professionals on Volunteer Corps. The Nepal trip had a few nurses, two dentists, and a family doctor, Dr. Kafka. They teamed up with local practitioners and worked side by side, learning from one another, exchanging best practices, and becoming fast friends.
This is what Dr. Kafka shared: “Working side by side with the Nepalese medical professionals was awesome. The people of Nepal were wonderful. They were giving and excited that we were there. I particularly enjoyed being with Dr. Suraj Babu, one of the Nepalese physicians who worked with us while on the HVC trip. He is an excellent, smart physician. He taught me that most people of the world, including Nepal and China, are loving individuals who just want the best for their families and lives. He did all his medical education and training in China, and his practice of medicine was the same as ours in the U.S. with just the limited resources that they have in Nepal. We are friends now on Facebook!
I was impacted personally by the HVC disciples themselves. We had dentists, nurses, and a physician (myself), as well as other professionals who were great servants and ardent disciples of God from all over the world. It was encouraging to be around them and to be spurred on to be faithful despite difficult circumstances in each of our lives. Just because we have been disciples for years does not mean that all goes well for each of us. We still must follow God with a full heart, no matter what is before us.
HOPE worldwide reminded me to be humble again. We are incredibly blessed by God in the mainstream churches in the industrialized world. Our brothers and sisters all over the world who may not have been born into this overabundance are dedicated and personally give up many things to serve our great God. I was humbled by their love and commitment.”
Dr. Suraj, the Nepali physician who served alongside Dr. Kafka, had this to say about his time collaborating with his U.S. counterpart: “It was a great experience working with the HOPE worldwide team. I really appreciate all of the team members, the leadership, and HOPE worldwide for conducting the programs and camps to serve our community. It was a great opportunity for me to work and learn with Dr. Chris Kafka, sharing about the chronic illnesses that are predominant within the remote communities of Nepal. I am very willing to work with HOPE worldwide in future programs as a medical doctor. Thank you to all the team, who are really making a great effort to improve health awareness in our remote communities. Thank you all.”
It is so encouraging to see professionals from totally different backgrounds and cultures come together to serve humbly, learn from one another, and forge a strong partnership in two short weeks.
We are offering a Medical Corps in Kathmandu this coming September (5th to 13th). If you have a medical background, click on this link for more information and to apply:
