What an unusual question! We normally plan our lives in terms of one year, or at most four or five years. With so many futures uncertainties, envisioning a 20-year plan seems unwieldy or event arrogant.
Or is it? Most worthy endeavors require years of development. Most honorable undertakings are worthy of continuing for decades more. To expect rapid results and enduring activity without steady, long-term investment seems shortsighted or even foolish.
May 29-30, INMED is hosting the 20th annual Humanitarian Health Conference. At this event you can enjoy personal interaction with visionaries like these who for more than 20 years have continued their inspired service to humankind:
Gary Morsch. “Would serving people in serious need help to fulfill my life?” is a question frequently posed to Dr. Morsch. He replies, “People really do want to help one another, but they often don’t know how to do it.” In 1993 he organized the first Physicians with Heart airlift of goodwill medical supplies to the new Russian Federation. Heart to Heart International grew out of that initiative and today continues to be one of today’s leading global humanitarian organizations, providing disaster assistance, healthcare supplies, and primary medical care around the globe. Dr. Morsch, on Friday May 30, is presenting Go Serve the Forgotten.
Cathy Hoelzer. A Physician Assistant and public health specialist, Cathy began international medical work in 1991 when she volunteered to help in the Kurdish refugee camps. She joined SIM as career staff and has since worked in Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Chad, South Sudan, North Sudan, Tanzania and Philippines. Most remarkably, Cathy and her husband served in the Republic of South Sudan bringing health care and the hope of the Good News amid the largest refugee camp in that emerging nation. Cathy, on Thursday May 29, is speaking on Top 7 Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Abigail Rattin, A family physician with public health training at University of Massachusetts, since 2010 Dr. Rattin has served as Medical Coordinator of Action International Ministries, living in the nation of Uganda, eastern Africa. From her experience as mother of a special needs child, she provides direct patient care, consulting and advocacy for vulnerable children and those children with special needs. In this context Dr Rattin consistently brings to light not only the gravity of such disabilities in Africa, but also effective and culturally appropriate means of preventing and optimizing life and functionality for these individuals. Dr. Rattin, on Thursday May 29, is presenting Assessment of the Disabled Child.
What can YOU do in 20 years? A thoughtful way to approach this question is to intentionally seek out role models, those like whom you’ll meet at the Humanitarian Health Conference, people who are already living out the kind of life-long service to humanity you yourself may wish to embrace.