Top 5 International Medical Volunteer Opportunities

Sometimes, God calls a person or group to stand in a gap. That's been a recurring theme in the history of World Medical Mission. A ministry of Samaritan's Purse, World Medical Mission has been sending medical professionals on mission trips around the globe for more than four decades—and the group has no intention of slowing down.   How Samaritan's Purse Started World Medical Mission In 1977, two brothers, who happened to be surgeons, were looking for an avenue to use their skills and talents on a short-term mission project. In an effort to find a good fit, they approached Franklin Graham, the founder of Samaritan's Purse. At the time, Samaritan's Purse did not sponsor medical missions trips, so Graham started looking for other groups that would meet the brothers' needs. However, the more he searched, Graham recognized a gap in the world of missions. So, he accepted the challenge of creating a place where doctors and other medical professionals could come for short-term missions placement. As a result, World Medical Mission was born. In time, the group became a partner organization with Global Health Missions Conference.   How World Medical Mission Serves  The ministry and mission of World Medical Mission are rooted in twin truths drawn from Luke 10:9 “Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.'"   Through short-term missions and other evangelistic endeavors, World Medical Mission seeks to promote the physical healing of those who are sick and suffering around the world, especially in underserved regions. However, medical healing is only part of the Luke 10 equation. They also seek intentional opportunities to share the gospel with individuals who need to hear it. They strive to let people know about the Great Physician and the kingdom of God that He has established. Through medical treatment and evangelism, World Medical Mission is able to treat the whole person. To fulfill this mission, World Medical Missions works through hospitals and clinics in several regions. These areas include Central and South America, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Europe, and the Middle East. In addition to matching medical professionals with short-term mission opportunities, the organization also provides a post-residency for individuals who are called to vocational medical missions. World Medical Missions also sponsors what are called "surgical subspecialty teams." Recognizing that many places in the world do not have access to quality surgical options, the subspeciality teams offer individuals the chance to have basic operations that can improve their quality of life and, in many cases, extend their lives. Surgeons also provide training to local medical professionals and may even provide mission hospitals with the equipment needed to strengthen their surgical services. Finally, World Medical Missions maintains a website called the International Health Forum. This site serves as an information clearinghouse for professionals and students who are interested in any number of medical missions endeavors. The webinars cover a variety of topics, which are categorized for easy access.   Why Mission Organizations Like This Matter The Ministry of World Medical Mission focuses on three primary tasks:   Sharing the Gospel. As noted, the medical services provided are a gateway to meeting the biggest need in people's lives. The gospel stands at the center of everything World Medical Mission does.   Support overworked staff. In mission hospitals and clinics around the world, demand usually exceeds supply. Short staffs mean long hours under difficult working conditions. The presence of short-term medical missionaries can provide relief to these overworked individuals.   Train future leaders. As with any mission endeavor, raising indigenous leaders is a key to effective ministry. Medical missions is no different. Along with providing extra sets of hands and feet, the volunteers who work with World Medical Mission also serve local medical professionals, helping them grow in their skills and become better practitioners for their patients.     Discover Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.

By definition, being a missionary involves going. It might be near or far, but God sends missionaries to the places that fit His plans and purposes. Of course, that raises an important question: How do we identify the best countries to do mission work?  After all, the world is a big place, and the needs are everywhere. So, finding the best countries to do mission work can be a challenge. It’s hard to know where to start.   Starting Your Mission Work His Way Of course, the best place to start is on your knees. Prayer is a non-negotiable part of every aspect of every mission endeavor. And that includes figuring out the best nation for your mission work. Spend time in prayer and enlist a network of trusted friends and family members to pray with you. From there, you can consider a few other things. For example, think about what kind of missions you want to pursue. Medical Missions might be your calling, but you also might be interested in teaching, church planting, or disaster relief. They are all viable options, and they will help you determine your best country for doing mission work. Language is another thing to keep in mind. In some nations, English is a common second language, so little or no extra training would be needed. Others will require you to learn a whole new language before you leave. Again, you need to be careful to discern God’s will and trust Him to give you His directions. Finally, finances are an important matter. If you’re thinking about short-term missions, you need to be sure you can afford the trip. If you’re thinking about long-term or career missions, you have to be able to live on the support you raise. Different locations require different financial investments, and God will certainly provide for your needs. But He also may use finances to guide you as you seek to find your best countries to do mission work.   Choosing Your Best Country to Do Mission Work As mentioned, the needs are great no matter where you might go. So, determining the best nations for mission work provides a ton of possibilities. To help you out, we’ve identified ten nations that could be good fits for your mission work. The list represents a mix of needs, opportunities, locations, and languages.  While you need to follow God’s lead, these ideas might prime the pump and help you discover your best countries for mission work. To learn more about organizations that sponsor mission work in these nations, click the links provided. You can also browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right medical mission for you.   Haiti For centuries, Haiti has been one of the poorest nations on the planet. In addition to the rampant poverty, natural disasters, like hurricanes and earthquakes, have devastated communities. Yet, the people are warm and receptive, which has traditionally made it one of the best countries for doing mission work.   Kenya Kenya represents one of the more advanced nations in eastern Africa, but the people still have many needs. Like Haiti, poverty has a stranglehold on many people’s lives in Kenya, so it’s still a nation in great need of mission work. While Christianity is welcomed, churches are scattered across large areas of the country. Proper medical care and clean water are also primary needs in Kenya.   Tanzania Kenya’s next-door neighbor in East Africa, Tanzania, shares some of its same problems in terms of being a country that needs mission work. While Kenya has some industrial and economic stability, many Tanzanians are dirt farmers struggling to raise enough to sustain their families. That means it doesn’t take much for something like a drought or economic instability to lead to hunger and even starvation. Such issues make Tanzania one of the best countries to do mission work.   Thailand Behind the natural beauty of this Asian gem, human trafficking has become a big business in Thailand. Again, poverty plays a role in this tragedy. While many women are lured into the sex industry with promises of wealth or security, others are sold or traded into it by families trying to survive. Along with our moral imperative as believers to protect the weak, mission work that improves farming and reduces poverty can bring light to this darkness.    The Central African Republic A lack of literacy and a lack of electricity has many residents in the Central African Republic living in almost primitive conditions. This also makes the CAR an underserved medical region, so medical missionaries have a lot to offer in this impoverished nation. It is a needy country physically and spiritually, making it a great option for doing mission work.   India One of the most densely populated nations in the world, India is a stronghold for Hinduism, which makes it a fertile area for evangelism. But, like Thailand, it’s also a hotbed for human trafficking. Because girls are considered much less valuable than boys, even those who aren’t sold into sex slavery could be sent to orphanages by families who don’t want to spend money raising them. In addition, large economic gaps exist between the upper class and the lower classes.   Honduras Located in the middle of the Central American isthmus, Honduras has a large population of professing Christians. However, residents still have great spiritual and physical needs, and it’s considered one of the best countries for doing mission work. In addition to missional work, construction and home building are major needs in the country. Honduras’s northwestern neighbor, Guatemala, is also a popular destination for mission organizations.   The Philippines This collection of more than 7,000 islands in the Far East has a strong Catholic heritage, but the spiritual condition of many today is nominal at best. In fact, more people in the Philippines identify as Muslim (11 percent) than identify as Protestant (8 percent). In addition, many remote regions in the nation have little or no access to quality health care, making medical missions vital.   Australia While Australia might be a bucket list item for many tourists, it’s also a nation in great spiritual need. Only one percent of the population professes to be evangelical. Yet, the government is open to missionary efforts at almost every level of society. In addition, a large segment of Australia’s population is made up of immigrants, providing a melting pot feel to missionary work.   The United States Missionary work is crucial to serving those with medical needs, offering hope to those without food and water, and fulfilling The Great Commission. And the USA is no different. Whether it’s offering medical care to underserved populations, serving in disaster relief, or building homes for those in poverty, the U.S. has plenty of options for mission experiences.   Why Mission Work Matters Again, you need to prayerfully listen to God’s voice as you determine the best country for you to do missional work in. He will lead you in the right direction and help you find the place where your skills and talents best fit the needs of hurting people around the world. Remember,      Learn More About Medical Missions God has given you a heart for healthcare. He’s also given you a heart for missions. Those two passions don’t have to be an “either/or.” They can combine to be a beautiful “both/and” through medical mission trips. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.