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October 2006 Medical Specialties Father Thomas Brindley(our chaplain)
He was one of the best in all these years, along with my pastor.
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Each year in October, the AHF sponsors a conference
for Albania’s physicians, surgeons, and dentists who, prior to
1992, never met for mutual professional exchange or fellowship. Professional
and personal relationships have been built between visiting North American
physicians and their Albanian counterparts, with great opportunities
emerging each year for spiritual interaction and sharing Christian values
while exchanging professional knowledge.
Teams arrive in Tirana, the capital of Albania and the home of the only medical school in the country, and quickly convene, usually staying in the same hotel, to form a united group who work throughout the week to touch many lives. In days surrounding the actual conference, physicians, dentists, nurses, electricians and often spouses spread out throughout the university campus and hospital to meet with hospital administrators, physicians of like-specialty, medical students, residents, and fellows, and other medical personnel to encourage, teach and build relationships. The AHF volunteers are welcomed in to see patients with the Albanians and are often asked to give advice on unusual cases. Dental and surgical procedures are performed with the Albanians’ blessing. Problematic medical devices are addressed and often repaired with the help of AHF electricians. There is ample opportunity for scheduled or impromptu “lectures” especially to medical students and residents who crave the attention in the busy hospital. The Albanian Christian physicians and medical students help the team with details of travel and meals and it is a great privilege to encourage these young believers with times of Bible study, prayer and testimony. The team also encourages the local churches by attending and reaching out to the Albanian brothers and sisters. Each trip is unique and ministries have included spouse trips to help out in orphanages, ladies Bible studies with local women, and even radio interviews on the Tirana Christian radio station. The conference itself is aimed at giving professional updates to the Albanian physicians as well as basic medical and surgical lectures. The conference is opened by the country’s Minister of Health and other dignitaries and is well attended. There are medical and surgical lectures given with Power-Point presentations, slides, and overhead capabilities in a modern hotel setting. In recent years the Albanians themselves have contributed with increasing numbers of lectures, research reports, and help with the details of registration. Also in recent years, the lectures have been interspersed with spiritual “pre-evangelistic” discussions pertinent to medicine and Albanian culture given by a plenary speaker that travels with the team. A gospel presentation is given and Christian literature in Albanian is made available at the end of the conference. The final day of the conference is dedicated to medical students who thoroughly enjoy a time of more casual lectures (e.g. suture tying, pediatric P.E. demonstration). Team members meet for devotions and prayer each morning and evening of the trip and most often spend evenings at a meal together discussing the progress of each day. As relationships form with Albanians over the years, team members may be invited to the homes of their Albanian colleagues and this fellowship is encouraged. The last night of the conference AHF sponsors a banquet to which all team members invite the physicians they have met. This beautiful evening gives one more opportunity to show Christ’s love and enjoy relationships. Finally, before departing, the Christian medical students and the team have an evening together and much love is shared.
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