|
PCM in the News - Past missions and current needs
- KHNL News (2/9/2009) Video
- KGMB News (8/5/2008) Video
- Star Bulletin 2/22/2009 Article
December 13, 2009
2010 Cruise Mission to the Pacific Islands
Saving lives in the Pacific with Medical Surplus
Goal: to help provide health care supplies and educational needs of the Pacific Islands
Presently, donated supplies are being sorted, boxed and ready to be shipped for an upcoming January 4 2010 Cruise Mission to help the Islands of Fanning, Christmas, Rarotonga, Bora Bora, Papeete Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa and Nuku Hiva.
Holland America Cruise Lines has scheduled three sailings to the Pacific Islands for this upcoming 2010 New Year. I have made a commitment to travel as a passenger on the first HALsailing to Fanning Island. Our hope is to deliver many of our donated supplies that have been collected this year, with the approval and help from the ship.
The sailing will depart San Diego California, for a full itinerary of visiting various far away Pacific Islands, and return back to San Diego 33 days later. The ship will first sail to the Hawaiian Islands, and visit the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai and Oahu. During these various stops, the donated supplies that have been collected (and possibly will be purchased during the cruise) will be loaded onto the ship for delivery to Fanning Island, where most of the clinical and school supplies are needed.
The supplies will include many new ladies slippers that were donated last year from the two NCL ships that have discontinued sailing here in Hawaii and to Fanning Island.
There will also be many “Crock” rubber shoes, which have recently been donated by a couple of Kona business people, and were sorted and boxed by the Kona Living Stones Church youth group
The people who receive the footwear, and wear them, would then benefit from the safety the footwear can provide while walking in brush, on rough terrain and contaminated parasitic and infectious soil conditions the islands have.
Another important need for going on this voyage will be to assess the new, and soon to be completed, clinic on Fanning Island.
The final stages of the finish work are taking place, and many needed materials for the completion to take place are being requested by the island council, to a fellow developer here in Kona. Information that will be collected will help the developer to determine the next package of supplies needed to be sent by a cargo sailing vessel that deliver supplies to Fanning Island about every four months.
It is everyone’s hope that we will be able to transport a very large amount of supplies during this cruise. If you would like to help with the financial needs to make this possible please feel free to contact us. A tax receipt is available for any donated supplies and financial donations towards purchases necessary to fulfill the needs of this mission.
Thanks you so much for your partnership and compassion to especially meet the needs of the people in the Pacific Islands thru our ministry.
Please do view the various media clips provided on this website to obtain more information.
RICH SMITH
May/June 2009
NEW CLINIC BEING BUILT ON FANNING ISLAND
A new clinic is presently being constructed with the help of visiting mission teams and supporters from Hawaii.
More information will be added soon.
January 21, 2009
Aloha and Mauri to you,
I wanted to let you know that our team and I have finally returned safely and well from our recent medical/supply mission to help the people of the Line Islands. It was a grand adventure and many lives were impacted by the things that were done through us and with the help of you and many other people. I hope to be writing an update about this mission, and hope you would like to know more about what happened, and the future of helping those people so in need at Christmas, Fanning and Washington Islands.
We had an awesome adventure flying into Christmas Island on a small passenger twin engine prop plane and then sailing on a chartered sailboat with about 2 tons of supplies. We first sailed towards Washington Island (2 ½ days sailing) and during the night we had a problem with the sail. This caused us to detour to Fanning Island and do about 4 days of missions-work there before sailing up to Washington Island to do another supply drop off, assessment of their needs and dental mission. Looking back we feel it was meant for us to arrive at Fanning first, when we did, to tend to our friend Brunno who was seriously infected with a leg wound. I believe we saved his life by being there those first days to tend to his wound and see the nurse be taught how to keep dressing and bandaging the wound. Along with helping Brunno, many people were treated by our team member Bill, a 70 yr. old retired dentist, who pulled over 600 teeth (about 200 + patients) while sitting on a 5gallon plastic bucket, most of the day, for about 4 missions! Many other special events happened and I hope to get the info out to all.
Thanks for the prayers for protection and divine appointments as they were answered. Especially for protection, as I was bitten on my left toes by a dog at Washington Island while riding a motorcycle. Thankfully, I was wearing a new pair of Crocks (with a rather thick toe material) I bought in Kona, before going on the mission, and just happen to decide to wear them that morning because I noticed my slippers were about to give out. I thought I would take the Crocks as backups. If I had been bitten without the Crock on, it could have been a very serious thing with four days of sailing to get back to the main hospital at Christmas Island. I just know it was something covered by prayers as the dog really should have gone for the leg/ankle and not the toes on my left foot. What a close call! How many other close calls we had, we will never know.
At this time, I wanted to share with you that the local TV station KHNL news 8 has aired a short video interview about this recent mission. Please view it at the following address http://www.khnl.com/global/story.asp?s=9816264 to understand more about what happened.
All in all, what a powerful mission/adventure and team effort. Thanks much for your friendship and partnership.
RICH
*** Three opportunities to help Fanning with NCL
December 17, 2007
I just returned from Fanning on a very successful medical surplus supply mission.
The need is so great at this time to help Fanning Island as the NCL ship Pride of Aloha has only three more sailings to Fanning Island. They are Jan 12, Feb 23 and April 5. I am scheduled to go on the Feb and April sailings and need to gather many supplies to help the 3 local clinics there. Please contact me at weltycustoms@hotmail.com or rich@pacificcaremissions.org to find out ways you can be a part of helping the needs of the Fanning people.
RICH
|
