TARAPOTO, Peru - SCRUBS Medical Mission Tackles Mountain Jungle Regions of Peru

05 August 2010

Travelling To TaraPoto Yields Life-Changing Results

EDITORS NOTE: Melanie Wallace travelled to Tarapoto, Peru, in the jungle regions of the Andes Mountains in July with SCRUBS Medical Mission of Texas. She filed this report after her return to the United States

"This was a battle for the people, not just physically, but spiritually." - Roland Heddins, SCRUBS team member

By MELANIE WALLACE
Special Correspondent to ResonateNews.com

Their destination was the jungle region of Peru, South America. Their purpose was to provide free medical care to the impoverished people of Tarapoto and surrounding villages, high in the Andes Mountains July 9-18.
And team members with Lindale-based “Sharing Compassion, Restore Unity, Becoming Servants” (SCRUBS) had eagerly anticipated their departure date for six months, said the ministry’s co-founder Holly Garland. There was excitement in the air as 15 team members left Lindale on July 8 for the high Andes Mountain city of Tarapoto and surrounding small villages of impoverished Peru.







During the first part of 2010 SCRUBS leaders decided to turn their focus on Peru. A trip to Guatemala had also been planned in June but when the trip was cancelled, people from both teams joined to make up the group traveling to Tarapoto.

The Garland’s took a team of volunteer medical professionals, students and those, “who have a heart to serve” said Mrs. Garland in both medical and children’s ministries. The team consisted of 16 people from Texas and six additional people in Peru joining those from the states.

Mrs. Garland said the foremost reason for the domestic and foreign missions of SCRUBS is, “to show the love of Jesus Christ and bring people to the knowledge of eternal life.”
“We use free medical care to meet the physical needs of people while also meeting their spiritual needs,” she said. “Many illnesses have deeper roots such as bitterness or unforgiveness that affects the physical body. Through free medical care we are able to meet physical needs but also emotional and spiritual needs. It is not only through medication and treatment that people are healed, but also education and prayer.”
In Peru, SCRUBS built temporary medical clinics utilizing resources at local churches. Tables were used to hold medications. Benches or chairs were set up inside and behind churches, under tents or trees to provide medical care in various villages. Activities were prepared to entertain children waiting for doctors or simply sitting with their parents who were being treated.
Due to long waits for a doctor or nurse SCRUBS children’s team members spent in-depth time with many children. Team members colored with crayons or made bracelets with the children and played ball games. They also shared stories about creation, the crucifixion of Christ and how God could be their friend and mend their broken hearts.

The entire SCRUBS team also visited a government-run orphanage to provide medical care and spend one-on-one time with children. They taught Bible lessons, provided gifts and gave away a “United States” snack consisting of caramel popcorn and trail mix.

Team member Roland Heddins said the SCRUBS Peru trip was, “more than humanitarian” and that Peru was “a spiritual undertaking.”
“This was a battle for the people,” Heddins said, “not just physically, but spiritually. We made a powerful impact spiritually and our efforts were important in the spiritual realm.”
Heddins recounted his most vivid memory of the trip concerning a young woman plagued by rheumatoid arthritis.
“She had to be carried into the church to see the doctor but walked out after being ministered to, prayed for, renouncing bitterness, unforgiveness, and witchcraft,” he said. The doctor also administered a shot to the woman.
“The grip of the enemy was on her life and it is exciting to see her free physically and spiritually,” he said.

Jessica Casebeer, a Lindale high school student agreed with Mr. Heddins that she had, gotten to see God in Peru.” Casebeer said she had “felt led to be in mission work for years” and previously told God she would go wherever he sent her.

Ms. Casebeer had been scheduled to join the Guatemala trip. When that trip was cancelled, she said she cried. Praying about the opportunity to go to Peru, she believed she should join the team. She said she discovered her purpose in life in Peru.
“I loved it,” she said afterwards. “I loved the people and it was an amazing trip. We worked together as a team. God told me while I was in Peru that I’m to become an interpreter.”
Mrs. Garland said people often ask her why SCRUBS goes on mission trips and why they visit other countries. There are two reasons, she said.
“It’s to make a difference in the lives of people going and to affect the people of the place receiving care, “ she said. “We are ‘the body of Christ.’ We are not separated by countries and not limited to our country. The Bible says to ‘go into all the world.’”
Visit the Web at www.scrubsmedicalmission.org for information or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Call 903-881-8353 for information