By Christine Farmer
My mission journey began Dec. 17, 2019, prior to the COVID pandemic, on the invitation of Bishop Rayarala Vijayakumar, Diocese of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India. On my arrival there, I was greeted with an overwhelming reception of joy, welcome and cheers that is usually reserved for rock stars. I would be spending the next several weeks as a guest of the bishop and a member of the mobile medical team from the diocese.
Having worked for more than 40 years as a registered nurse in the United States and having volunteered as a nurse with a medical team caring for victims of the Haiti earthquake in 2010, I felt prepared and eager to serve the missions in whatever capacity needed. I also felt a deep sense of privilege to be given this opportunity.
I was embraced by the mobile medical team. Our five-member team included a doctor, a nurse (myself), a social worker, an interpreter and a driver. Also, of great importance was the overland vehicle that would carry us to the remote mountain villages to serve the tribal people who otherwise had no access to medical care.
Roads to the villages were nonexistent and best described as washed out gulleys and dirt paths, edging along sheer cliffs dropping into thickly forested valleys. Edgy to say the least.
On arrival, the team was warmly met by a village contact person who helped set up tables and chairs and a makeshift pharmacy. Once organized, we would sit and wait … and wait … and wait. As an American used to efficiency, I would need to quickly learn the rhythm of village life. Our patients would eventually appear for care once their field work was finished.
Most often, women appeared requesting help with pain in the joints, hands, knees, and back usually from the demands of hard physical labor. High blood pressure was another problem needing monitoring from the team’s monthly visits.
I soon realized the villagers only access to health care was the mobile medical team. If more care was needed, the team doctor would write a hospital referral, and the social worker would facilitate a future appointment for the patient requiring many obstacles to fall away, the stars to align and transportation to appear.
Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, I could not travel to India for the next two years. However, I have gladly accepted Bishop Rayarala’s invitation to return to the Diocese of Srikakulam and look forward to being among the tribal people again in 2023.