Strong Hearts to Serve
“... And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
- Hebrews 12:1-3
It’s our favorite time of year! After a 2-month selection process, Earth Mission welcomed its 2023 student cohort. These 16 new students are joining forces with 43 current students and 25 graduates to develop high-quality, accessible healthcare in the remote Karen areas they call home.
Selecting the next cohort of students is always an extremely rewarding experience for us. When we see their young faces full of determination to help their people, our hearts can’t help but be refilled with perseverance too. Our new students infuse a renewing dose of hope, dreams, and strength to the mission.
In fact, they are the mission. These young adults could have joined the ranks of Myanmar’s ethnic armies to fight in the 75-year-long civil war. Instead, they have chosen a different path—to devote their lives to saving lives. It is our highest honor to come alongside these future leaders and equip them to create a better future for the Karen people.
PA Program Overview
Earth Mission is working to see all people in remote Karen areas have access to high-quality healthcare. To do so, we train young Karen people in our Physician Associate (PA) program for five years and Engineering Technology (E-Tech) program for three years. Graduates are then deployed into the Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW) system to serve remote, resource-limited areas of Karen State.
Physician Associates (PAs) are versatile medical professionals with rigorous training in the most-needed medical and surgical specialties, providing a broad range of services that would otherwise only be available via physicians (American Academy of Physician Associates). We have chosen to train students as PAs in order to develop adaptable leaders with the extensive range of skills critical in serving resource-limited populations displaced by the ongoing war. In these jungle communities, rampant malnutrition and lack of access to care and knowledge cause treatable, common illnesses and diseases to become deadly.
By deploying PAs to remote regions, along with engineers trained to maintain and repair life-saving medical technology, Earth Mission is helping the Karen people establish a high-quality healthcare system—one that, when the war finally ends, will be the bedrock upon which they can build a better life for generations to come.
The Selection Process
A three-step process was used to select the best candidates to shape into healthcare leaders:
Recommendations from District Leaders
Since Earth Mission graduates are sent to serve in remote clinics operated by the Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW), we asked KDHW leaders from across the 7 districts of Karen State to submit candidate applications. KDHW leaders identified 39 young Karen students whom they would like to have work in their districts. Students accepted into Earth Mission’s program will be accountable to provide at least 5 years of healthcare to their community after graduation.
Exams and Interviews
In early February, 34 candidates and their district leaders were invited to our jungle clinic for a series of exams. Candidates took placement tests for English vocabulary and grammar, writing, and math. Our staff and current PA students did health screenings for each candidate. Finally, with innocence and hopefulness written across their faces, we interviewed these young Karen students alongside their leaders. Our heart for these conversations was to help them identify: if a 5-year medical training program is right for them; if they have the right expectations, attitude, and fortitude to make it through; and if they are truly interested in serving as a medical professional in the resource-limited areas of Burma as their calling and career.
Through these exams and interactions, we carefully considered each student’s current base of knowledge, health, character, and commitment. We selected those who possessed the strongest foundations on which we could build over the next 3 to 5 years.
Boot Camp
In late February, 20 candidates advanced to the final phase—one we affectionately call “boot camp.” This phase helps these young men and women seriously consider: “Do I really want to do this?”
For 4 weeks, they rose early on cool misty mornings for long jogs around the field. They army crawled beneath obstacle courses. They did more sit-ups and pull-ups than they could count. They carried heavy backpacks on long hikes through the jungle. They swam across the river. Teams of 4 lifted a log as they did synchronized squats and push-ups. They completed tasks required of students and staff at our jungle clinic, such as carrying patients, cutting and carrying firewood, building bamboo shelters, fishing, and cooking meals.
By the end of each day, shirts and shorts were covered in mud. Grass stuck to sweaty legs and arms. But even through gritted teeth and sweat pouring from brows, smiles and laughter were constant.
“My favorite part of boot camp was when we would all lay on the ground together, looking up to the sky and singing from our hearts after a long, heavy physical workout,” said Saw Ler Pwea Moo (now a Year 1 student!). “I never appreciated rest for my body and soul until I worked hard.”
Naw Aye Pwint Oo, another candidate who was accepted into the program, was inspired by the love and patience she experienced through her teammates: “We were running a long distance through the jungle in different teams that day. I couldn't keep up with my teammates.” Exhausted, she couldn’t run another step and gave up, sure that she would be abandoned in the jungle. But then: “Someone lifted my arm up, and another person took the other arm.” Surrounding Naw Aye Pwint Oo with smiles and encouragement, her teammates picked her up and ran at her pace.
“This experience taught me that love and patience are strong enough to motivate someone to move,” she reflected as she thought about her future of service. “I wanted to be there for someone when they are at their lowest and weakest, because I know they can feel encouraged and hopeful, too.”
It’s these kinds of beautiful perspectives that embody the Karen people.
Through all of this, we looked for traits required to effectively serve in the mountainous jungles. We looked for those who were mentally and physically strong. We observed their teamwork skills and attitude. We took note of their work ethic and positivity. We looked for those who showed compassion and patience to one another. These are the students we choose to invest in—because these are the leaders who will change Karen State.
What’s Next?
Ultimately, 16 students passed boot camp and were officially accepted into the Earth Mission program. The 2023 cohort of 12 Physician Associate and 4 Engineering students started classes on April 10th. Saw Eh Ker, a new Year 1 PA student, reflected on what he learned through the selection process:
“I believe that PA students in remote Karen areas are different from PA students in developed areas. In remote areas, we often do not have ambulances, internet, or easy access to other healthcare resources. All we have is our physical strength and strong hearts to serve, whether in the mountains or on the hills. If PA students in remote areas don’t have enough strength, they will easily give up on what they do. Our six weeks of bootcamp showed us how to survive in the jungle with strong hearts.”
Saw Eh Ker, Naw Aye Pwint Oo, Saw Ler Pwea Moo, and their new classmates are passionate about bringing health, hope, and knowledge to their people—and have the strong hearts to make it happen! We are excited to invest in these resilient young adults.
Through the Earth Mission PA program, the next 5 years will see them grow in:
Year 1 Pre-Med Courses: Students are instructed across medical sciences, basic and medical mathematics, English, medical terminology, critical thinking, computers, study skills, and leadership.
Year 2 Basic Diagnostics and Patient Care: Students study problem based curriculum for major diagnostic categories and learn basic procedures. Clinical experience consists of history taking & physical exam, outpatient diagnostics & treatment, observation and assisting in medical procedures.
Year 3 Advanced Diagnostics and Patient Care: Students have classes on lab, X-ray, ultrasound, EKG, advanced management (GI bleed, dengue, etc). Their clinicals include inpatient management, medical procedures, and scrub nurse training.
Year 4 Independent and Team-Based Patient Care: Under senior staff supervision, students focus on start-to-finish in-patient, out-patient, ambulance teams, surgery teams, and obstetrics patient care.
Year 5 Internships, Leadership, and Specialization: Students learn advanced public health, imaging and surgery; intern at 1-3 KDHW clinics; oversee pharmacy, supply, the out-patient department and can choose to specialize in lab, obstetrics, surgery, primary care and management.
Upon graduation, Saw Eh Ker will be awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in partnership with the KDHW. He will have at least 1,000 hours of classroom instruction in diagnosis and treatment of the most critical health problems, and 3,000 hours of clinical experience under expert medical supervision. He will be ready to go back to his remote community and bring with him access to life-saving healthcare. With critical thinking and confidence, he will be able to diagnose and treat the common diseases and conditions he finds in the jungle. He will know how to really care for his patients with compassion, respect, and joy—this is the Karen way.
Support Our Students
There are many ways you can come alongside these future leaders!
First and foremost, please pray for them. Pray for wisdom and hope for their young hearts and minds as they grow up in a war zone. Pray for overflowing strength and joy as they pour themselves out to comfort those suffering around them. Pray for perseverance to learn and serve in difficult conditions in the coming years. Pray that their desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus will only grow stronger every day.
Second, please consider offering tangible support to our students. We are looking for additional scholarship funds to cover their living and education expenses. Earth Mission PA and E-Tech programs are free to students, so we are depending on our FAMILY OF SUPPORTERS to ensure every student receives quality education and care as they pour themselves out for others.
Thank YOU for creating strong and courageous leaders who are providing HEALTH for the HIDDEN!