This week I’ll be participating in the M3 Global Health Conference in Houston, Texas. TCI will have a booth, and I’ll be sharing in one of the breakout sessions how to train rehabilitation promoters. As part of that breakout session, I’ll explain why we train local rehabilitation promoters instead of doing the work ourselves. Here is a little bit of what I’ll be sharing.

1.    I could serve as a physical therapist in another country, but the number of people I could serve would be limited. If I trained others to do the work, the efforts are multiplied.  

2.    I could spend years struggling to learn a language, to understand a culture, and to develop relationships within another country. Or, I could partner with those already working in the area to train local people who already speak the language (including local languages), understand the culture and how things work, and have established relationships with people within their community. 

3.    By training local rehabilitation promoters, we take away some of the barriers created when foreigners provide care. 

4.    Training rehabilitation promoters within their own community empowers and equips them to meet the needs within their community.

5.    Training rehabilitation promoters changes their perceptions of people with disabilities. Such changed perceptions eventually impact the community at large.

If you can, come see what God is doing in medical missions and how you can be a part of it. For more information visit www.m3missions.com. If you’re there, please come by the TCI booth or my breakout session and say hello. I’d love to see you.