The Strength to Serve
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
- Joshua 1:9
2024 Student Selection
We are wrapping up one of our favorite times of the year—student selection season!
This is when the newest cohort of Physician Associates and Engineering Techs is selected to enter our higher education programs. In the midst of a war-torn country that doesn’t support education, these students are hopeful. They dream of helping their people have a better future. Our programs offer the opportunity to do just that.
In February and March, the Education Team interviewed 35 candidates and selected 18 students for this year’s new class—our biggest class yet! Classes started on April 1. Now, these 13 Physician Associate and 5 Engineering Tech students are joyfully absorbing knowledge foundational to their chosen professions.
Becoming an EM Student
Students were selected through a three-step vetting process:
First, community leaders throughout Karen State’s districts identified and nominated exemplary young adults who want to serve their communities.
Second, we invited these leaders and their nominated candidates to our jungle clinic for interviews and exams. Due to the conflict, some candidates and leaders had to delay their travels. But eventually, every candidate safely arrived.
Over several days, they took placement exams in English, writing, and mathematics. They had health screenings for clearance to live and serve in the demanding jungle environment. We interviewed them alongside of their community leaders to help them identify: if a 5-year medical training program or 3-year engineering training program is right for them; if they have the right expectations, attitude, and fortitude to make it through; and if they are truly committed to serve as a medical or technical professional in resource-limited areas as their calling and career.
The interview process can be intimidating for these young people—but they were bursting with excitement and potential. As one candidate waited to be interviewed, a staff member asked if she was nervous. She answered, “No, but I am so excited!”
The final phase—which we affectionately call “boot camp”—helps these young men and women seriously consider: “Do I really want to do this?” For 4 weeks, they underwent team-based strength and endurance trainings. Along the way, we looked for traits required to effectively serve in the mountainous jungles: mental resilience, physical strength, teamwork skills, work ethic, positivity, patience, and compassion. These are the students of quality we choose to invest in—because these are the leaders of character who will transform Karen State.
Here's what students had to say about their bootcamp experience:
“We don't have ambulances, internet, or easy access to healthcare resources in remote Karen areas. All we have is our physical strength and strong hearts to serve. If we're not strong enough, it's easy to give up on our work. During boot camp, we learned to survive in the jungle and went on night missions, finding our own food. Our main goal is to help people in remote areas to provide better healthcare, but without strong hearts and dedication, we can't do that effectively.”
“Boot camp trains us to be physically and mentally strong. Boot camp also trains us to stay alert, composed, and resilient in dangerous zones. One of my favorite parts was doing sit-ups and push-ups, which helped me develop six-pack abs. Being fit is important for me because it helps me be ready for anything as a young man.”
“The training was tough, but it taught us the importance of staying dedicated and persistent. I know that studying and working in remote areas will come with challenges. To overcome them, I need to be mentally and physically strong. One of the hardest parts of the boot camp training was carrying a log for an hour during our walks. It got heavier and heavier, and I am the tallest guy among my friends. I wanted to give up, but I didn't. I learned that patience pays off. By staying patient and determined, I completed the boot camp training and reached a big milestone on my journey to becoming an engineering student at Earth Mission.”
We’re excited to share more about these new students as they learn and serve during the coming years. Thank you for supporting them with your prayers and giving as they begin their journey to help their people!
Field Updates
With the start of a new school year and wrapping up engineering projects before rainy season begins, much has been going on! Here's a quick update on what your prayers and support have made possible:
PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE PROGRAM
This school year, 48 students are enrolled in the PA program: 13 Year 1, 12 Year 2, 12 Year 3, and 11 Year 4!
Year 1 PA students are studying basic Math, team building, Chemistry, English reading, and computers.
Year 2 PA students are studying Intro to Lab, Intro to Pharmacology, Hypertension, Headache, and Skill & Procedure. In April, they also spent 5 weeks at MSR for couch lectures and a History & Physical Examination course.
Year 3 PA students are studying Advanced Lab, along with maternity care topics: post-partum hemorrhage, hypertension in pregnancy, obstructed labor and malpresentation, pre-term labor and premature rupture of membrane, miscarriage, placenta, abruption, placenta previa, and shoulder dystocia.
Year 4 PA students are serving in OPD, IPD, and surgery rotations, as well as participating in SOAP notes case discussions. SOAP is a method of patient documentation: Subjective findings, Objective findings, reporting Assessments, and making a Plan to manage the patient’s care.
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
The E-Tech Program now has 9 students: 5 Year 1 and 4 Year 2! Please pray for the program's continued growth, as these skills are vital to maintaining and expanding high-quality healthcare infrastructure in rural areas.
Year 1 E-Tech students are taking Math and English classes with the Year 1 PA students. On their first day of classes, they got to visit the mechanic shop for an introduction to English words for truck parts and tools.
Year 2 E-Tech students recently participated in the construction of the new Engineering Shop, participated in Pre & Post-Trip Checklist mechanic training to ensure trucks are in good condition before and after each journey, and helped engineering staff install a new large generator. They are assisting staff engineers and working “on call” engineer shifts on the hospital campus.
FRONTLINE MOBILE CLINIC
Our current team serving on the frontline consists of 3 doctors, 3 PA surgical graduates, 1 PA graduate, 1 nurse, 1 cook, 1 engineer, and 1 driver. In March and April our frontline surgical unit took care of 412 patients, including 75 trauma cases and 39 surgical cases.
Pray for encouragement and protection from the surrounding conflict. Pray for the patients receiving care to feel God’s love surrounding them.
HOSPITAL CAMPUS
In early March, we moved all our T-RAD staff, along with some of their family members, to the RTC campus due to security concerns. We now have 60 staff combined at RTC campus. This has been a big adjustment for the T-RAD staff, but they are now safe and have meaningful work. Pray for unity and for the continued integration of our T-RAD staff in with our RTC staff.
Twenty babies were born at our RTC campus in March and April. Several of these moms traveled a long way under difficult circumstances, and several of the babies were born prematurely. However, under the care of our staff, these babies have been steadily growing stronger. We are thankful for being able to care for these little ones! Pray for the babies to be healthy and strong. Pray for the moms and dads in this new stage of their lives.
In April, our combined staff at RTC saw 650 patients and performed 50 surgeries, 2 of which were led by graduate PA surgical students! Pray for the patients who come for care and for our staff and students who provide such incredible care.
The engineering team is finishing up a major expansion of the solar farm in RTC campus. This expansion will double to triple the amount of solar power generated, increase battery power storage, and significantly decrease the need for and cost of diesel generator power. God is good and He continues to provide a way to get the things done we need to despite our deficiencies.
The engineering team provided maintenance for 11 trucks, including 5 Stronghold ambulances. This task was made easier by the tools Stronghold purchased for us. Now our engineers can accomplish this work in-house instead of shipping the trucks to MSR for repairs.
Pray for our engineering staff who work hard behind the scenes to manage and keep up the critical infrastructure needed for a successful hospital in the jungle.
CHIANG MAI ASIA OFFICE
We are thankful that our MSR branch is now approved by the Thai government to come under our main Earth Mission Asia Foundation in Chiang Mai. We have been able to hold many student and staff trainings in MSR, which has been an answer to prayer.
Finally, please keep praying for the conflict in Myanmar to end.
A staff member prayed recently, “Dear Lord, please do a miracle and cause the Burma Army to hear bands of heavenly angels and run away in defeat.”