SAY
YES to CMM
by Joseph Ng
The postcard reads “Wish You Were Here!” Instead of
a wonderful sunset view of Boracay, we see a picture of an open
air gymnasium in Miagao, Iloilo. We see hundreds of Filipinos
being cared for by dedicated CMM volunteers. This scene is just
as beautiful, especially knowing first hand how much work it takes
into making it an amazing reality. Aboard a flight to Phoenix
I’m thinking about the upcoming Carolina Medical Mission.
Giving back to those in need has always been taught to us since
we were kids. CMM gives us the opportunity to do so. It’s
important to me and my family. We live for CMM. As I sit here
wishing this was a Northwest flight to Manila, I wanted to express
my opinions on the medical mission. I’ve been silent for
too long. Forgive my purposeful ramblings.
As a photographer, I’m always looking for something more
than a snapshot. So with camera in hand I see what I can discover
during the medical mission. Looking through the lens, I see endless
stories in the faces of the Filipinos. From the innocence of youth
to the experienced stares of the elderly. I seek their story.
I learned their story is simple. They are people needing people
to care. Patients look into our doctor’s eyes and ask simply
“Can you help me?” Through the
years, CMM has been able to confidently answer YES!
After my first mission, I got hooked on volunteering. I wanted
to put down the camera and get more involved. I have been blessed
to be a part of the last 5 missions. It has become part of my
life. Something I look forward to every year. It has taught me
a lifetime of lessons—making me a better person.
It’s given me a new perspective on life. I struggle with
the typical stresses of money, career, and family. However, when
I’m on the mission there is no questioning what I’m
doing. It’s the one time I know I’m doing the right
thing. I’ve gained a second a family with CMM. It’s
nice to share and work with such great people. I cherish every
moment. My only regret is not volunteering sooner.
It is a wonderful experience giving back. We give so much, yet
we gain even more from volunteering. One lesson is simple. I’ve
learned the power of a smile. Whether we’re in Laoag, Illocos
Norte or Hagonoy, Bulacan, the Filipinos we treat are able to
smile.
They have an infectious smile. It shows me a unique strength the
Filipinos have. We see patients who stand in the heat for hours
to
be seen. Patients that struggle to earn enough money to feed their
families. Yet they are able to find their smile. I’m not
known for a quick smile. I yearn to gain some of their unique
strength.
The mission has allowed me to see talented people work and help
those in need. More specifically, I’ve had the pleasure
of working with the two people I love the most in life—my
parents. I got to see the man described to me by his patients
as a god send. To see his healing hands operate has been awesome.
I’ve learned the importance of dedication from my mom. She
is tireless in her efforts, from newsletters to supplies to problem
solving. She does it all. Everyone is important to the mission,
but if I were to pick the most valuable it would have to be
the duo of Mom and Dad. My apologies for this biased opinion.
Throughout the mission, we sometimes get caught up in numbers.
Are we going to see enough patients? Are we giving enough medicine
to make a difference? The answer is YES and YES. Yes, we’re
going to see enough patients. All we can do is see as many patients
as we can. If we see one, that’s one patient that knows
somebody cares and
wants to help. We can see thousands, yet there are thousands more
that we didn’t get to see. All it proves is we must continue
to serve.
With medicines, we can only give a month supply. However, we’ve
given them that much more hope for a better tomorrow. A prescription
that has no expiration. It’s just important for us to keep
on with our missions and serve to the best of our abilities and
resources. We must continue caring for our brothers and sisters
with dignity.
The ability for the Carolina Medical Mission to answer yes to
the Philippines relies on the continued support from volunteers
and contributors. Many of our regular volunteers can’t join
this year—including myself. However, this does not mean
we can’t
stay involved. We need to continue our fund-raising efforts. Monetary
donations go the farthest in ensuring the future of the missions.
A simple 5 dollar donation treats a single patient. So I challenge
new and old to make a pledge to adopt anonymous patients who need
our help.
5 patients $25
10 patients $50
20 patients $100
40 patients $200
100 patients $500
200 patients $1000
If I were to send a postcard to the 2005 volunteers it would read
“Wish I were there!” Best wishes to CMM 2005. Let’s
meet the challenge and allow CMM to always answer YES to those
in need in the Philippines.
