Stories

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” – Luke 6:38 I volunteered with Blue-Med four years ago, but my experience in Ghana is one that still resonates with me today. I went with my close friend Molly Claybrook who learned about Blue-Med while searching for volunteer programs with a focus in medical care and outreach. I was interested in pursuing a career in medicine at the time so I decided that volunteering with Blue-Med sounded like a chance to learn more about working in the medical field. However, my experience with Blue-Med turned out to be far more than a glimpse into a potential career path. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience, in which I discovered more about my interests and about myself, but more importantly I learned about other cultures and the world around me. When we drove from Accra to Ho, I was not sure what to expect, but I remember being ready for just about anything. Ho, where Blue-Med’s office is located and where we would be staying, was different from any place that I had lived before. Yet, I soon felt very comfortable living at our homestay and traveling to the Blue-Med office or to Ho Municipal Hospital where we spent our mornings. Richard and everyone working with Blue-Med were extremely welcoming and friendly, which helped me to feel comfortable and at home even though I was in an unfamiliar place. Many people volunteer with Blue-Med in the summer, but Molly and I went at the end of December so we were the only volunteers at that time. Because of this, I feel like we experienced most of the volunteer opportunities that Blue-Med offers. For example, most mornings we observed doctors/nurses or volunteered in the maternity ward at the hospital. In addition, we visited the orphanage a few times and had the chance to interact and play with the children there, which was a lively break after being at the hospital all morning. We also participated in medical outreach trips to the cured leper’s village and also to a remote village, which lack access to basic healthcare. Seeing and participating in the numerous services and programs that Blue-Med provides was a fulfilling yet humbling experience that I still clearly remember and think about often. Along with what I experienced while volunteering, just living far away from home and interacting with people in a completely different place was also rewarding and eye-opening itself. Today I am no longer pursuing a career in medicine, but what I learned and experienced is still just as relevant in my life. Yes, I learned a lot specifically about the medical field, but I feel that the most significant things that I took away from my stay were about the importance of being compassionate, and about being open to meeting new people and traveling new places. For example, I recognized that the places you call home could include places other than where you were born or raised. I realized that I am very blessed and have too much to be thankful for, but I now also understand that those who have less than me are also blessed and sometimes find more to be thankful for than I do. Overall I have learned many things from my experience volunteering with Blue-Med, but most important might be the lesson that showing compassion and helping others is not one sided. When you give your time, help others, and have an open heart, you receive in return. I am extremely thankful for the entire Blue-Med team for not only showing me the importance of exploring new places and helping others, but for relying on volunteers and giving them the same opportunity to experience what I am so grateful to have discovered.