Even though we have been sendning teams to the Andes regions in Peru since 2004. this is our first trip to the upper Amazon region. Our ministry will be to the villages in and around the city of Iquitos. Iquitos is the largest city in the world that is inaccessible by land. It is an island created by the joining of 3 rivers which create the Amazon River. It is completely surrounded by those rivers none of which has a bridge crossing. Iquitos is a city of about 400,000 inhabitants but thousands more live in small villages along the banks of the rivers. It is those villages that our medical clinics will serve. Most of the villages are very remote and often do not have electricity or running water. The team will be staying in a hotel in the city of Iquitos and be transported each day via boats to the villages where we will conduct the medical clinics. Our local host is Pastor Consuela Lopez Torrez. She has been a pastor in Iquitos for many years and while she does pastor a small church in Iquitos, her principle ministry is planting churches in the villages along the rivers and ministering to the poorest of the people of the region. You can be a part of this ministry. Join us this year. Here is what you will be doing. Using local translators who speak the local dialect, part of the team will register patients and record simple patient histories on patient routing slips for later diagnosis by a team medical staff member.  Other members of the team may work with local translators in triage where blood pressure, pulse, glucose test results and other vital signs will be recorded along with further patient history. Some will be in the exam rooms with local translators where the MDs will make their diagnosis and record the recommended medical prophylaxis for the patient. At least one person will be testing vision for reading glasses Several people will work in the pharmacy where the prescribed medicines will be prepared and packaged along with instructions to the patients for when and how to take their prescriptions. Giving people the gift of free medical care is secondary to introducing them to Christ. Everyone will have the opportunity to witness the love of Jesus Christ and share their testimony.  Care Providers Needed: MDs, PAs, NPs, RNs, DCs, Pharmacists, and other health care related personnel. In addition medical students and non-medical personnel with a heart for the people of the upper Amazon are needed as support members of the team.  Donations Needed for Medical & Vision Supplies:  To contribute toward the $3,000 needed for medical and vision supplies for this project, please contact the office (805) 434-3653 or donate online today. Logistics: For this ministry a California company has donated the use of their corporate jet to transport some of our team members as well as all of the medicine and supplies the team will need in Iquitos. It is their desire that His Healing Hands use their donation to help raise funds to purchase the supplies and medicines needed each year for our ministry team.  Even those who travel on the donated jet will be asked to pay the regular commercial airfare like other team members. We select those who will fly on the private jet based on how many team members we have in a given geographical area. The most effective use of the jet is to try to embark all its passengers at the same airport.  All participants are encouraged to solicit support from friends, family members, and congregations. This is an ideal way for those who have a heart for your ministry to participate along with prayer. All fees paid directly though HHH for the project are tax deductible. We can provide information that will facilitate your raising funds.  Project Deadlines: 1. Application and airfare is due by June 14, 2012. 2. Final Payment is due by August 14, 2012.   Click here to notify us of your interest. Click here to apply.