There are some conflicting views here regarding the usefulness of short term medical brigades. I have heard that some teams come for a “medical vacation” and really don’t help out all that much. They would rather hang out at the beach rather than tackle difficult cases that we need help with. Some surgeons come and operate and then leave without good instructions of what the follow up care should be. Some visiting teams need so much hand-holding that the rest of the clinic and surgeries are paralyzed because the team needs so much looking after. These are the complaints I have heard about some teams that have come in the past.
However, this week we witnessed one of the hardest working surgical teams ever! A group of
ENT surgeons came here for a week and hit the ground running. They saw many clinic patients, did multiple surgeries and some of them very complicated. Three nights they operated until after dark! One was a ten hour case. They consulted on Bob and helped with his tracheostomy care, one of the nurses helped us organize a better recording system for the techs taking care of Bob. They left a detailed list of patients and follow up care that was needed. They were enthusiastic, hard working and incredibly encouraging to all of us! I was fortunate enough to be able to hang out with them a lot 
since they were staying here in Staff Housing and they were not only talented medically, but also had servant’s hearts and were very fun people! My friend Kaalan (from medical school) was the team leader and it was great to spend time with him again and see how he has grown into a talented surgeon, a patient teacher, and a man after God’s own heart. I drove the team into the city today and it was hard to say goodbye. I will miss them. So many patients were blessed by the surgeries and expertise that they provided and the whole community was blessed by their presence here. They are a team we would definitely love to have here again! I thank God for sending such a wonderful group to us. 
However, this week we witnessed one of the hardest working surgical teams ever! A group of
ENT surgeons came here for a week and hit the ground running. They saw many clinic patients, did multiple surgeries and some of them very complicated. Three nights they operated until after dark! One was a ten hour case. They consulted on Bob and helped with his tracheostomy care, one of the nurses helped us organize a better recording system for the techs taking care of Bob. They left a detailed list of patients and follow up care that was needed. They were enthusiastic, hard working and incredibly encouraging to all of us! I was fortunate enough to be able to hang out with them a lot 
since they were staying here in Staff Housing and they were not only talented medically, but also had servant’s hearts and were very fun people! My friend Kaalan (from medical school) was the team leader and it was great to spend time with him again and see how he has grown into a talented surgeon, a patient teacher, and a man after God’s own heart. I drove the team into the city today and it was hard to say goodbye. I will miss them. So many patients were blessed by the surgeries and expertise that they provided and the whole community was blessed by their presence here. They are a team we would definitely love to have here again! I thank God for sending such a wonderful group to us. 
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