Forever in My Heart

It's been too long. I did indeed go to the Middle East in February and returned safely in March. All the wonderful experiences while over there prevented me from having time to update my own personal blog, but if you follow this link you can read my updates written while on the ground doing health work. Since I got back I've been doing the college thing non-stop and haven't had time to even log into my blogger account. It's time to write a little something to share with people around me. Due to the sensitive nature of working in any field in the ME, I cannot share details in public online sites, but you can get a taste of our health work from the Weimar blog above that have more detail than what follows. This is what I wrote recently for a Weimar publication. (photos: Adam Jackson)

Middle East Health Team College PAC

Cami Martin, Health Science

Before leaving for PAC, I was excited about taking Weimar’s NEWSTART lifestyle principles to the Middle East, but it wasn’t until the on-site planning took place and our actual health expos started that the reality of how medical work can be used to touch people deeply hit me. After I realized how far reaching the work of my Weimar PAC team was, my excitement escalated to a high point that hasn’t diminished, even though I’m back in school once again.

The biggest lesson I learned was that even humble college students could make a difference in the lives of people deprived of available health care or health education. Through our health work, we could encourage many people who have at one time or another experienced war, oppression, and are still facing challenging economic times. Seeing the emotions within the eyes of the people and how they responded to the care we had for them touched my heart profoundly.

Through health expos, orphanage visitations, and interaction in the homes of the people in the Middle East, my views concerning health work were confirmed. Health work is the way to win the trust of people. It is the work that is going to make a great impact on the lives of millions of people across the globe, from the Middle East to the United States. This recent experience with simple health work immersion and the far-reaching effects it has been God-sent confirmation for the goals I have for my life. I’m excited about pursuing my Masters in Public Health after finishing at Weimar because it will be so useful in service in other countries! I was incredibly happy in the Middle East and I loved the work we were doing. Potentially, I could have found a home. I was touched, never to be the same.