As a team we will begin our time together by visiting the major historical sites of Armenia. The Northern Team this year will then travel to the Lori Valley where we will be seeing patients in Gyumri, Vanadtzor and in villagers from neighboring cities like Stepanavan will be bused in to our locations. Our north clinics are held at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Vanatzor and in the social service center in Gyumri Armenia Evangelical Church. A Southern Team will travel Sissian and bus in patients from neighboring villages. Patients hear of our arrival weeks earlier with radio advertisements and come from many different walks of life.
The clinic is an ambulatory clinic that sees both adults and children and our formulary is extensive enough to accommodate treatment for most illnesses. During each day of the clinic, patients are encouraged to return for church services where members of the team share their testimonies and the gospel is preached. The week culminates with a celebration banquet, where we fellowship and recap the events of the week.
The teams in the past have included physicians, dentists, physician assistants, pharmacists, chiropractors, optometrists, psychologists, occupational therapists and nurses. We have had medical and nursing students also. One doesn't need to be in the healthcare field to be involved in our mission. In fact, the majority of the team members are not medically trained and they are essential to our success. Team members that are not formally trained healthcare providers are utilized throughout the clinic, in the laboratory, and as assistants to the doctors and nurses. In the past some team members put on vacation Bible school for the children waiting for to be seen. Also, members can man the eyeglass distribution station or dental hygiene education. We only ask that you come with servant's heart ready to touch and serve the sick and needy.
Al and Sue Phillips
Below is the itinerary for the 2025 mission so you can get a sense of how the mission is set up.