Testimonies

” As I served among this Muslim population, I noted several physical needs including that we needed additional oral steroids to treat respiratory and joint issues; the need for these families to have additional finances to provide food and winter clothing, and the fact that not all the people we served were welcoming, especially when we shared copies of the New Testament.  Our team was able to do several ENT surgeries, provide resources other than medical to families in need, pass out over 30 copies of the New Testament, and provide medical care in an orphanage for boys.  This experience was life changing in that I learned to understand that a person’s background and social situation must be taken into consideration when treating patients.  Many times, we saw anxiety present in the form of chest pain, abdominal pain, etc.  This experience for me was life changing.  I would definitely want to do this trip again and am open to the possibility of long term missions in this area.  To those at BMDF who helped provide some of the funding of the trip,  I want to say a special Thank You.  My life was changed by this experience and it would not have been possible without the financial assistance I received”.

“This trip was a needed break from texts, emails, and work. It is amazing how much stress can come from constantly being connected. I felt like I could focus on what is important – God and people. As I am transitioning back to life in the US, I am trying to be much more intentional with how I spend my time and which things I say “yes” to and which things to say “no”. … I learned that communication and counseling/education are some of the most important elements of patient care. More than providing medication, empowering patients to take control of their health can speak volumes… This experience taught me that God is in control and worthy of my surrender. I saw the Lord answer so many prayers and provide in ways I would not have even imagined. After this trip I have an even stronger desire to pray with my patients and offer them the hope of the Gospel”.  To those at BMDF, who helped in providing funds and prayer for this trip,  ” Thank you for your contribution! This trip was pivotal for me and came at the exact right time. God worked mightily in the work we did, but more importantly worked in my heart. There is still a lot I am processing through from the trip, but I am not the same person as I was when I went on the trip. I am now considering if serving overseas is part of how God is calling me to use my medical skills to reach the “least of these.”

“At the beginning of this journey, I felt as thought  I might not have been far enough along with schooling to fully understand what medical problems we would be encountering.  As we were able to address medical and physical needs, we also able to deal with spiritual needs such as growing in faith or even finding Christ. I also gained a new understanding of how people live and how even in difficult times you can still have a smile on your face. I also learned how to be open to others praying with you or for you. I am so thankful to have gone on this trip and with it being my first mission trip out of the country it had quite the impression on me.  It was not only life changing but helped me to grow with God and I can thank you (BMDF) enough for giving me this opportunity.”  AH

” During our time in Latin America, we saw over 500 patients during clinic days at two church plants and also had some home visits.  I feel very humbled to have been on this trip and supported by BMDF.  This was an unforgettable experience, although very touch at times.  I believe we made an impact spiritually and medically on the people and communities we served.  We were a listening ear for our patients and showed them that we care about them even from across the globe. Again, thank you so much for supporting me on this trip.  As a grad student, the expense of this trip may have prevented me from going as I am not able to work as much with my current schedule.  Because of your generosity, I was able to go and serve God’s people in this Latin American country.  AGJ

” Thank you so much for helping to fund this trip and make it possible for not just me but many of us to participate and allow other funds to go towards medications and resources.  One of the biggest blessings of this trip for me was getting to learn from the amazing physicians who have walked with the Lord and have practiced integrating their faith into medicine and medicine into their faith for many years.  I soaked up their counsel on medical topics, praying for patients, navigating relationships and family, sharing the Gospel, and so much more.  Again, thank you for providing this opportunity:  SL

”  Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity.  My heart will never be the same after my week here.  As a healthcare professional, I learned to incorporate the Gospel into my career as a future nurse.  I also learned ways to interact with patients who speak different languages and come from differen cultures.  I was completely changed by my time here.  I was humbled by meeting people with less resources than me, bu who had such beautiful outlooks on life.  I also learned that you can always find time to share the Gospel to someone in need, no matter the situation.  Again,  thank you so much for your provision in helping.”  CS

“Thank you so much for allowing me to go on this challenging but rewarding trip.  One of the spiritual lessons I learned on this trip was how impactful it was for our patients when we prayerd for them.  Often patients seemed more relieved to have been prayed for than to receive medications for the condition the came for.  Again, thank you for providing for this opportunity.”  JO

“After hearing His voice so clearly in Mexico, I have been more acutely aware of it since I’ve been home during my interactions with patients.  I find myself praying over them more often since I’ve been home.  … Thank you! Thank you?! Thank you!  Residency doesn’t offer many opportunities outside of daily work/training to serve others and this was a huge soul reset for myself.  I’m so thankful the donors made it possible for me to go on this trip and renew my mind and spirit.  I was able to encounter God more intimately because of the intentional focus on Him and that has already translated back to my life at home …  For many of my teammates on this trip, it was their first mission trip.  It was such a joy to watch them encounter the love of God so intimately on this trip.  I believe that our purpose on earth is to Love God and Love Others.  Doing this so purely, without complications, on a mission trip allows people to experience God like never before.  I believe our week in Mexico changed eternity for some of the people who were on my team, and that is the ultimate miracle!  I am so thankful to have been there and experienced everything I was able to this year.  I’ve already requested the time off from residency to join the trip next year. Thank You.  AA

” I have always had a passion for serving those in Latin America.  I can’t wait to bring my wife and daughter with me next time to serve together .. The trip reinforced to me the importance of staying in the Word daily and using that to guide my life. … Thank you for such an incredible opportunity.  My wife and I couldn’t have afforded this trip without your support.  I had an amazing experience as a clinician and a believer” (A.G.)

From an email June 8, 2023

” The student trip was truly amazing!  I could not have found a better group of students.  The Spirit was moving in mighty ways.  All of the people on the trip were believers minus one of my faculty members and her son.  The Spirit was moving in them and they saw the Gospel to the fullest.  Story after story and the testimonies of the students, team members, and the people we served lit a fire under all of us.

This trip changed lives — Thank you”  DC

Excerpt from an email June 5, 2023.

“As this was my first major mission trip, it was very impactful on my life.  While this is probably a common sentiment after going on one of these trips, I would very much like to serve at this location or one similar in the coming years.  I realized what kind of care can be done in these remote locations without all of the more “luxury” services we can routinely provide in the U.S.  I am so incredibly thankful for everyone involved in BMDF that allowed me to go on this trip without increasing my debt even more than it already has been with my education costs.  This organization is one that I did not even know about before I committed to going on the mission trip, but it made the process so much better for me and my peers. I look forward to staying tuned into what BMDF is doing in the future and plan on becoming a member as a young dentist” (PP)

Excerpt from an email February 24, 2023.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank you and BMDF for providing the opportunity to attend the CMDE conference that has just concluded.  For many years I had heard about this conference and the large number of CEUs it could provide. What I had not realized was the opportunities to network with healthcare workers from all over the world! The opportunity to ask questions and talk collegially with such experienced professionals was refreshing and encouraging. I believe what impressed me most was the number of servant-hearted medical professionals, currently serving in places of influence in relatively hostile to Christianity environments in the secular world, who were willing to give of their time to come and update those of us working in obscure places. It is deeply encouraging to know that God has placed these precious believers strategically and given them voices of influence—not all knees have bowed to Baal😊! I am looking forward to just how God will use all the cross-pollination I experience for His purposes here in South Asia! Please relay my deep appreciation to BMDF for their generosity and investment in Kingdom work around the world. (JS)

Posted by Exec. Director, February 9, 2023

MW and her husband are both physicians. Recently, they wrote,  “We have recently returned from our first overseas CMDE conference. It was our first time to attend. We really enjoyed the exceptional lectures from medical professionals and specialists from around the world. We also were blessed by reuniting with old colleagues from our Residency program (many whom now work oversea also) and meeting other medical professionals who work abroad. It was a full and encouraging almost two weeks. Thank you so much for the work BMDF put in to allow us to go and also for the funding to make it possible. We are so thankful for you.” (M and M W)

Excerpts from an email received in January from a student who was a BMDF scholarship recipient in 2022.

When asked what they learned, the student replied, “I learned that there are many needs for physicians and all areas of medical care in the country I visited … I learned a lot about myself as well including that this type of medicine is something I could see myself doing in the future.”  When asked how they see this experience changing their personal or professional life the student replied, “This experience gave me a new perspective on all the luxuries I experience here in the U.S. and things I take for granted. Professionally, this has helped me to know that I have a passion for pediatrics and serving the underserved population…I’m not sure what my future looks like, but this has allowed me to begin to think more and for God to lead my heart towards people he would like me to serve” (MG)

Excerpts from an email received in December, 2022

“My name is AA. I became peripherally involved with BMDF back in 2011 as a medical student. I now serve as a full-time missionary in Africa.  Please keep me current in BMDF events. I appreciate what you’re doing at BMDF and how BMDF helped me get my start in missions work years ago.” (AA)

Excerpts from an email received on Christmas Day, 2022.

“I was blessed to attend the CME conference last Spring. As I continue to focus mostly on language acquisition in my first term, the conference was a breath of fresh air and served a very great and real need for both helping me to achieve my needed CE hours and giving me an opportunity to refresh myself medically/academically after a significant time out of practice. I also came back feeling encouraged by other attendees who were walking through similar challenges in other locations and united with them in the work of using healthcare strategies to serve the King.”

Excerpts received in an email dated December 2022.

“Bob, thank you so much for writing … My wife and I are family medicine physicians. We met while in Medical School. BMDF played a HUGE role in our lives while in medical school by helping us to go on short term trips to central America that the Lord used to call us into full time work. We are enormously thankful for BMDF helping us to be able to attend the CME conference that will be taking place this Spring … We are so thankful for BMDF and the impact it has had on our call to overseas medical work and also helping us persevere on the field.”  (JL)