Volunteer Guidelines

The teams are made up of doctors, nurses, translators and pharmacy helpers. For our doctors and nurses who don't speak Vietnamese, we obviously have to have translators. Each patient is triaged, sees a doctor for a thorough evaluation, then receives the prescribed meds, all free of charge. We normally see 250 patients each day, sometimes more. Conditions are sub-standard, the people are very needy, the days are long, and the team itself is always the most wonderful collection of compassionate people you can imagine.

Our first need is doctors, then nurses, and then translators for those medical professionals who do not speak Vietnamese. That of course means that the number of translators will vary according to the overall team size and the language makeup of that team. Once those positions are filled, we usually have room for 2-3 folks to work in the "pharmacy" filling prescriptions for the pharmacist. Spouses of volunteers usually receive priority in selection, all other factors equal. Our groups are small (typical is 16-21, rarely bigger than that), and inevitably close-knit.

Other volunteer work is scheduled on individual bases.  Opportunities for medical professionals to spend 2-4 weeks in Vietnam on short-term work/education projects are regularly available.

Once the team is filled, there is a long process of travel, visa and other arrangements that are part of the project, and that takes a few months. Usually by September we have confirmed a team for the following February. We go in the early part of the year, because of the weather -- after the heat and before the rains.

The number one quality we need in each team member is a sincere Christian spirit and willingness to work for the good of the team, not for a personal agenda. This is a strongly Christian group of volunteers, and although we do not engage in open witnessing, etc., our example to others is extremely important.  The closeness of the team is very important as well -- if we do not all share the same purpose, and have a mutual interest in being a servant, the team suffers for it and we do not present to the world the image that we need to show them as Christians.  This is not meant to be exclusive, but rather it is meant to preserve the integrity of our witness to the people we come in contact with. Each day we have a very brief devotional time together - ten minutes if we're lucky, sometimes - and so the tenor of the group is vital to each member.

Our team positions are filled by Christian volunteers, because we must be of one heart in order for our efforts to be effective. We ask all potential volunteers to correspond with us and share their reasons for wanting to join the teams, and we may ask for references from their pastors and/or other team members. This is to ensure that each individual RECEIVES the most from the mission project, and GIVES the necessary commitment and energy to the team effort.

If you are seriously interested in joining a medical team, we will want you to share a bit of your thoughts about going -- how you feel about being part of a team like that, etc. The purpose for this is to begin a dialogue that will facilitate your participation and enjoyment in the project.

Tet, the lunar New Year, is the major holiday in Southeast Asia. We typically set the med team for approximately ten days before or after Tet. 

You must have a passport that is valid until at least six months after the project, and be in good health. We require that everyone travels TO Vietnam together -- we make all the travel plans so that all flights are coordinated. That gives the team some time to start becoming a real team. We will fly together, stay together during the project, and eat our meals together. Once the project is over, you are free to stay over as a tourist, or travel elsewhere, and we will schedule your travel accordingly.

It is not our intent or desire to be "bossy" about this -- we just have to ensure that things work together, and that we meet the requirements that will make the project a success. I can assure you that if you do join the med team it will prove to be one of the most wonderful experiences of your life, and you will find the others on the team to be the most splendid folks in the world.