Three All Saints Church Members Went to the Dominican Republic For Medical Missionary Work

 Dale Finn, a Registered Nurse of Sun City, Ginny Trolley, a retired Registered Nurse of Port Royal Plantation, and Judy Cote, a Registered Nurse of Boston, Mass. recently represented All Saints Episcopal Church of Hilton Head Island as part of a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic that was spearheaded by the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.

During the eight-day trip, the three women joined twelve team-mates from the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. The team members included medical providers, nurses, interpreters, and non-medical people. The group treated countless patients of all ages. For many of these Dominicans, this annual visit by a medical mission team is the only contact medical care that they receive for an entire year.  In fact, the team treated an 63-year old man, who had never seen a physician in his entire life.

The team members stayed in Santiago and traveled each day to Cristo Salvador in one of the Dominican Republic’s poor barrios.

Health education is an integral part of the process of examining and treating each patient. Many of the patients suffer from stomach and intestinal problems related to their nutrition. Many are also treated for parasites that are a result of consuming contaminated water.  Skin disorders are plentiful due to fungal infections and insect bites. Patients may also be examined by a dentist who discusses preventative dental care and, if necessary, extracts infected or decayed teeth. Ginny Trolley explained how the dentist continued with doing tooth extractions with illumination provided by a hand-held flash light when the electrical service was interrupted, which happens frequently in the Dominican Republic.

Medications are given to the patients as prescribed by the medical provider. Medications and medical supplies are obtained from numerous donation throughout the South Carolina diocese.  Earlier in the year, All Saints parishioners donated 717 tooth brushes, 432 wash cloths, and 245 small toys that were given to patients who visited the clinic.

The team comes and goes within an eight-day period, during which they travel to the site of the clinic, set up and tear down the clinic, attend church services, and walk through the barrio, visiting the Dominicans who live there under very challenging living conditions.  Ginny Trolley has explained, “We walked the barrio to let the folks know we were there and to see firsthand their home surroundings.”   

Dale Finn has pointed out, “Even though this is my fourth year on this medical mission trip, the experience still lingers with me daily.” She has added, “I have had many mixed emotions – mostly gratitude that I have had this great opportunity to be part of these beautiful people’s world, even though it is for such a short time.” She has stated that she struggles with the fact that she did so little for them. However, she has pointed out, “I do feel God asks of me to do something. He doesn’t ask that I fix the situation, just that I show love and concern. I hope I was able to accomplish this.”

Dale has stated that the team experience is very important to her. The fifteen team members had come to the Dominican Republic from South Carolina, California, and Massachusetts. She has concluded that although we came from different backgrounds, “we all supported and respected each other and formed a very caring team. She has stated, “I gain so much strength from my fellow team members.”

Dale Finn, of All Saints Episcopal Church, holds a Dominican girl during a church service in the Dominican Republic. Dale has said that a warm smile easily brings a child into a lap to be held. (Photo by Ginny Trolley)

Ginny Trolley and Dale Finn, of All Saint s Episcopal Church, compile end-of-day statistics during the medical mission trip they recently supported in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Judy Cote)

Ginny Trolley treats a young Dominican youth who was a patient receiving treatment a medical mission clinic held in the Dominican Republic. The trip was organized by members of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. (Photo by Dale Finn)

Dale Finn tests the blood of a Dominican woman during the recent medical mission team clinic she supported in the Dominican Republic. (Photo by Ginny Trolley)