Short-term Missions Opportunities During a Pandemic

Many of the supporters of Health Talents International are part of our visiting Medical/Dental/Surgical teams, sometimes coming every year. Since March of 2020 we've been unable to host any teams, and do not plan to have any scheduled until after the midyear of 2021. As you can imagine, there's a lot of restless passports out there!

So what are some ways to get involved for now? Here are some ideas to keep you busy and active with your favorite mission organization until travel opens up more.

Prayer

This is an obvious but sometimes forgotten tool in mission work. Everything we do is done with the goal sharing the Good News of Jesus' transforming love for us and of growing the Kingdom of God.

• Pray for our Leadership, our Staff that minister directly to patients and our partner Churches, that we would keep these goals in mind as we work and follow the leading of the Spirit.
• Pray for our organization as we work to comply with local governmental regulations and changes to our labor environment.
• Pray for us to be able to host teams again this year, especially much-needed surgical teams.
• Pray for our patients waiting for surgery!
• Pray for Guatemala's fight against Covid-19.

 

   

Tell a Friend or Colleague

• If you have been on a trip with us and enjoyed the work, tell someone else about it (Click here for brochures). Or send them our link to sign up for a trip in the future. 

Organize a Fundraising Event

• For our extroverted, fun-loving friends we challenge you to organize a fundraising event. Maybe a FUN RUN or BAKE SALE or CAR WASH or DINNER. The sky is the limit and your personal experience with Health Talents is what piques people's interest.  Contact us!

Donate  

• If you had planned on coming down this year, consider giving those funds directly to be used toward one of the following areas:
• ABC Sponsorship-- If you already support a child, thank you! Tell others about it too. We can provide you with brochures to distribute at church or to friends. 
• Scholarship programs--This is a great way to give a one-time gift or find out more about regular giving toward the academic needs of our area children. 
• Evangelism Activities like transportation costs for home visits, Bibles and study material, seminars. 
• Operational Expenses--this is a big part of our need. Salaries for full-time staff salaries, medications, surgical supplies, medical and surgical equipment, clinic/facility maintenance, transportation costs.
• Fundraising Campaigns--Health Talents has periodic campaigns to raise funds for the work. When you see our promotions on social media please prayerfully consider giving.
• Gather medical supplies--this is a fun way to get your community involved in the mission work. 

Donate Blood

Okay, so you can't donate for our patients right now, but since it's been a year since you were out of the country, you might as well go donate blood or plasma again, right, Debra?

Pandemic Academics

They were happy and didn't know it!

Just as in the United States and probably most countries, schools in Guatemala have taken a hit and have struggled to get back up and running full steam.  Public schools were closed and did not have the ability to reach most of their students by internet. So, lessons were given in work book form to do at home and turn in each week, Of course it wasn't ideal, but we made it through the year and most kids passed, as long as they turned in their lessons. 

This year there are plans to bring students back to class at least partially, so be praying for that.

Homeschooling! A new challenge for students and their parents!

Our high school kids did mostly online classes (at home or internet café), so several of them were able to graduate. Same for college and professional students. The down side for our health professional students like medical/dental/nursing is they were unable to do their clinicals, so they are stuck in that phase until the Ministry of Health allows them to start up again. 

For all of you who sponsor ABC kids or contribute to the scholarships, we are grateful for your faithful giving. Economic times are difficult here for most families, and with the added cost of internet and uncertainty of whether students will have a successful year, many families are tempted to pull their kids out of school. So the food supplements and school expense help is vital. Everything we can do to keep kids in school and not wanting to migrate to the States is a win. Thank you! 

Felicidades to one of our high school graduates Claudia!