When I was little, I grew up in what I thought was a small town, Smyrna, TN. However, as I grew, it grew until it was swallowed by the large metropolis of Nashville and became just another place to grab a white mocha raspberry latte from Starbucks and see another soon-to-be-forgotten film. Then I moved to Johnson City and took trips to a place called Rogersville. I thought it was a small town, but no town can be classified as small if a Super Walmart exists within its premises. This week I finally went to a small town, several of them, in rural southwest Virginia.
When I came to medical school, I was certain that real poverty only existed in "third-world countries" After all, with the US being such a "blessed nation," how could the poverty in our own country be equivalent to that in other countries? This week I was reminded that real poverty is alive and well in our own country. You may have to find it in the cracks and crevices between mountains where the river and road run and on a small piece of land in between someone has tried to etch out a living by means of a small coal-heated dwelling or elsewhere but it exists. Maybe the people have more than a few dollars a day but trying to support a family of 5 on less than $800 a month by legitimately working hard several hours a week is a seemingly impossible task. Not to mention that the nearest store and/or medical service is several miles away over curvy two-lane mountain roads and with gas being $3 a gallon...you can do the math...
This week as we worked to try to provide health care to those that have none, I met several beautiful, generous people. I'm never ceased to be amazed that no matter where I travel, it seems that those that have the least are willing to share the most. The generosity of local church members kept us amply fed everyday (I firmly believe that 3 days of church potluck consumption is very bad for the waistline but very good for the appetite :o) ). The children we visited in some of the local schools kept us amply supplied with curiosity-driven questions as we showed them organs and explained the function of each. Very bright children, but most may never have the opportunity to go to college due to lack of funds and opportunity.
So I guess with all this being said, it's made me think more than I'm comfortable doing so. When I came to medical school I was firm in my belief that "I'm going to be a longterm medical missionary somewhere in Latin America." Missions is what brought me to medicine. Yet the past week and months have opened my eyes to many seemingly equivalent needs here in my own country. I guess the crux of the matter is what's the best way to "go unto all the world?" People in other countries are suffering and need to hear about Jesus yet people in the United States are suffering and need to hear about Jesus, too. Any thoughts?“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” –Peter Drucker
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