Field Report: Central Asia

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If you've followed this blog, you know that part of it is dedicated to international mission trips. Often, it is trip that I have led or been a part of but I am excited today to have a good friend and guest on the blog today to share about his recent experience using his PT skill on mission in Central Asia. Mac Corbitt, from my home town, recently had the opportunity to travel to Central Asia with a medical team. He was willing to share some of his experiences and perspectives for you. So, I hope you enjoy hearing about what God is doing abroad and how PT plays in integral part of that plan.

Which region of the world did you travel to? Central Asia

Who else was part of your team? What was your role in the team? What was the overall mission of the team?
There were 3 physicians (2 ER docs and 1 family med), 1 med student, 1 nurse, 1 in healthcare technology, and a physical therapist (me). My role on the team was to provide physical therapy to patients we would see in village clinics. As a team we would go into village clinics outside of the capital city and patients would first see a physician. If the patient had orthopedic or neurologic problems, they would get referred to come see me for physical therapy to be evaluated and treated. The overall mission of the team was to try to get home visits with patients that maybe could not come into the clinic because of different barriers like physical limitations or transportation. Because the clinics we were working in were federally funded, it was not a good idea to try to share Jesus within the clinics however if we were invited into someone’s home, we had a better opportunity to try to share Jesus if the right circumstances allowed. Obviously, our entire goal was to share Jesus with whoever we could but because this was a closed country we had to be careful about how we shared the Gospel and when we would try.

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 Briefly describe the people and the culture of the country.

The culture of this country was very hospitable to us and thankful to us for coming to work in the village clinics. The people in this country were very kind to us anywhere we went. Food, music, and education seemed to be very valued by this culture.
 
How was your PT skill set able to impact the team and people with whom you interacted?

This country does not have true physical therapists (physiotherapists) or a real physical therapy educational program offered. The people that they called “physios” were just nurses who only provided modalities like estim on old russian devices left over from the Soviet Union, ultrasound, and some massaging. I was able to not only treat many orthopedic cases (lots of low back pain) and help physicians identify neurologic conditions such as cauda equina, but I was also able to help teach other nurses and physicians about how to perform orthopedic and neurologic examinations and then how to treat various musculoskeletal conditions.
 
Describe an impactful moment or interaction you had on this trip.

One of the home visits I was able to perform with another physician from our team was to see a man who had a stroke with resultant hemiplegia. Since this country had almost no existing care beyond primary care, many people in this country who suffer stroke or other neurologic incidents are just taken to their home and left to lie down on a mat for many hours each day. The families of these people also do not know how to help them or what they should do for them. Through this home visit, the physician and I were able to go in and teach this man and his wife how to perform transfers to allow for this man to be more independent and for improved safety for his spouse to help him. It was a wonderful moment to not only see this man and his wife work together and enjoy one another in a new way again but to also show them what is still possible to do functionally. We were not able to share the full Gospel with this family while in home because it was not the safest opportunity, but we were able to pray with this family before we left.
 
What is something that God taught you on this trip and how will that impact your life back in the US?

God showed me that His name is being spread and proclaimed throughout the whole world every day regardless of the barriers, restrictions, and difficulties that Satan employs to try to prevent it. I was also reminded that God does not need anyone to do His will, however, for those who have believed in Him, He has called to this mission of taking His name to the nations and we are to be obedient in going and putting our faith in Him. Trips like this make me realize just how much work there is to be done all around the world in sharing Jesus with those who have never heard. Truly, the harvest is plentiful. As Kingdom-minded Christians here in the US, it is most helpful and crucial for us to pray for the work of those who are in these countries and partner with them in support through our local churches to encourage them in any way needed. Constantly praying and encouraging these workers is what we should be doing as believers.

A big thank you to Mac for taking the time to share about his experience. I hope you encouraged and motivated to use your skill to help advance God's Kingdom. And if you would like to share an experience you had on a mission trip, I would be happy to publish it for you on the blog as I think a consistent "Field Report" segment would be really cool. 

Jason

**Check out my book "Rehab the World" written for Physical Therapists and other rehab professionals to encourage us in our workplace and prepare us to serve those around us. If you like, please leave a review and spread the word!!**