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Amor Zion Lutheran helps fund overseas health mission

In September 2006 Pasibeth Seeman of Battle Lake requested four of her high school classmates to join with her, and her husband Craig Seeman, to help fund a medical mission to the Philippines. The mission included a medical outreach and breast cancer awareness campaign.

One mission took place in 2007 and two this year, in 2008. Funding came from Zion Lutheran Church, Amor, and residents from throughout Otter Tail County.

“We were able to serve 406 people at the free clinics,” said Seeman, whose husband, Craig, is owner and electrical contractor of CD Electric.

Patients had access to medical and pediatric consultations. Almost all of the adults in the Philippines who had their consultations underwent fasting blood sugar (FBS), echocardiogram and cholesterol tests. The 20 patients with blood sugar of 120 and above proceeded to foot Screening.

Others had chest x-ray, complete blood count (CBC), and urinalysis as their symptoms required.

The November 2008 mission in Butuan City, Philippines, in conjunction with the Philippine Medical Society, will be financially supported by Battle Lake native Garry Harrington and his wife Karalyn who reside in rural Battle Lake, and others. Also involved is Battle Lake High School graduate Faith Totushek, pastor in Becker County and daughter of Arlene Sherman on Richville.

In March 2007 the outreach and campaign was materialized. The beneficiaries were 63 children ages 6 to 16 years old. They were given physicals and provided free prescription medicines, including antibiotics. The rest of the patients were given different types of vitamins and medicines, not limited for just coughs and colds and fever.

The medical professionals volunteering their free services were from the Army Infantry Brigade, Rural Health Center and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. Clinica Caritas and its doctors, nurses and personnel comprised the clinic that provided the free laboratory on the second mission.

“After the first outreach and campaign, Craig and I believed that continuing a medical mission to benefit certified indigent patients would be something we would do without any monetary compensation — all for and to God’s glory and honor,” Pasibeth Seeman said.

In August 2007 she approached Pastor James Gronbeck of Zion Lutheran Church of Amor, requesting to extend and share the Gospel of the Lord to the Philippines by being part of the medical mission. The proposal was submitted to the newly-formed church’s Mission Board, headed by Dan Thorson.

The second medical mission was funded by the Zion Lutheran Church of Amor, Vance and Arlene Sherman of Richville and Craig and Pasibeth Seeman.

On April 26 and May 3 of this year a pre-screening of indigent patients and pre-diagnostic activities were conducted in two different sectors of Butuan City in the southern Philippines, about 500 air miles from the nation’s capital city. The poorest of the poor were given top priority to benefit from the overseas medical, surgical and dental mission/free clinic.

Later on, On May 11, the medical, surgical, and dental mission/free clinic was held in Clinica Caritas, Butuan City, Philippines.

“All the patients coming from Libertad and Fort Poyohon, about a 30 minute jeep ride away from the free clinic venue, were given free land transport going to the venue and back home,” said Pasibeth Seeman. “The free clinic was held on Mother’s Day. All the mothers were greeted and given brownie treats.”

There were eight nurses and eight medical representatives came to help the volunteer doctors. Good healthy snacks and lunch were prepared for the doctors and all the workers.

“We’re grateful to the Zion Lutheran Church of Amor and the Mission Board for having the heart to help,” said Seeman, “allowing God to move them forward. The resulting benefits are really immeasurable to the indigents and underprivileged patients.”

Thorson, who heads the church’s Mission Board, said he supports continuing the mission and organizing a group to fly to the Philippines.