Judy and Joe, are “on-the-road” again this month to do a short-term mission. River Road Church’s Adult Missions Leaders for the Board of Missions, Judy and Joe have led teams with many different skills to help those in need on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in the Dakotas, in Brazil, and in Panama. There is always a medical component in the mission they lead since both Judy and Joe have had careers in health care. In 2010, they were invited by Virginia Baptist Mission Board (VBMB) to assist in forming medical teams to go to Panama to give health care to the underserved people of Panama.
The Panama Baptist Convention and Virginia Baptist Mission Board in 2010 formed a five-year missions partnership under VBMB Glocal leaders Jerry Jones and Craig Waddell. Judy and Joe have been involved in recruiting and organizing volunteers for the medical missions trips since then. They are returning in January 2013, leading a team of eight from churches in Richmond and Fredericksburg. Also part of the team is Sue Smith, Minister/Social Worker of Latino Missions in Fredericksburg under the VBMB and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) and former missionary to Costa Rico.
The Virginia team will join the workers of the Christian Medical Social Foundation led by Matilde Cooper, RN and Cleveland Cooper, DDS and Pastor. The non-profit foundation led by the Coopers (FCMS) is committed to serving needy people by presenting the Gospel as well as free medical and dental care, medicine, food, eyeglasses and other needs. All who serve with them are volunteers.
The Virginia team for the January mission will include doctors, dentists, nurses, and a pharmacist. While the annual Panamanian Baptist Convention is meeting, the team will work with the Coopers. They will share the gospel with those in the rural province of Cocle who are waiting for medical/dental care.
In March 2013, another medical missions team will go from Virginia to Quebrada Guabo, Panama to serve during the Annual Reunion of the Ngnobe Indigenous Indians. Typically five to six hundred are in attendance. Most have never heard the gospel and have many medical needs. Ngnobes walk for 24 hours to get to the Reunion! Volunteers including doctors, dentists, nurses, dental assistants, and pharmacists are needed for this mission.
Judy Collins and Joe Teefey say they “feel led to reach out to the underserved peoples to build relationships, provide health care services to meet their needs and share God’s love with hands on care.” They say, “We have built a strong relationship with the Coopers and feel honored to be part of the greater and ongoing mission of their Foundation.” Perhaps others of our church may feel led to volunteer for the March mission with Joe and Judy.
More information about this ongoing mission can be received by contacting Judy Collins.