Preaload Image

Letter August 2004

[dt_sc_blockquote align=”center” cite=”Daniel L. Smith, MD & Mark W. Sheehan, MD”]
Dear Friends and Supporters,

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. A baby has been born!! Following our last medical trip to Cambodia in January, 2004, we sent you a very enthusiastic letter regarding the events of that trip and our plans for the future. Although we remain very enthusiastic and hopeful regarding the future, things take much longer than a cardiothoracic surgeon and cardiologist ( Type A people ) would like. God is teaching us patience as this will be accomplished in “His way” and in “His time”.

 

Here is an update on our progress:

We have filed for incorporation in the state of Colorado as a nonprofit corporation and also filed with the IRS for nonprofit 501© 3 status. The name of the corporation is: “Christian Medical Ministry to Cambodia/Jeremiah’s Hope”.
A very enthusiastic and qualified board of directors are meeting to direct the project. The board members are:

  • Daniel L Smith, M.D. – chairman
  • David P. Sorenson, Ph.D. – secretary
  • Mark W. Sheehan, M.D.
  • Nam Han Cho, M.D., Ph.D., CCD
  • Arthur J. Dykstra
  • William Bolthouse, M.D.
  • James W. Boyle
  • Rev. Setan Lee

     

    Our legal council is:
    Michael W. Reagor of Peterson, Dymond, Reagor, LLP.

     

    Our office is located at 950 E. Harvard Ave., suite 400, Denver, CO., 80210. We are utilizing Dr. Sheehan’s office to minimize overhead.

     

    We are working on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cambodian government so that we are a recognized NGO in that country.

     

    Engineering Ministries International (eMi) is an organization out of Colorado Springs which specializes in site planning and architectural plans for mission projects. We are beginning the process of enlisting their help in the project.

     

    Although Christian Medical Ministry to Cambodia/Jeremiah’s Hope (CMMC/JH) is no longer directly affiliated with Global Connection International (GCI), we are very appreciative of the mentoring, support, and direction of Jim Groen and the GCI organization over the last 4 years. GCI is about raising up leaders, empowering them, and then releasing them to follow God’s plan/dream for their lives, which we are doing. We will continue to work with GCI as God leads both organizations.

     

    The CMMC/JH goal is clearly stated in our mission statement: “ Christian Medical Ministry to Cambodia/Jeremiah’s Hope is a nondenominational, international, Christian mission dedicated to providing excellent medical care to the poor and quality medical education to the healthcare community of Cambodia”. We plan to accomplish this by:

     

    Building a hospital/clinic in Kampong Chhnang Province. As we told you in January, the governor of the province has given us an old “bombed out” hotel and 500 acres of land. However title to the land also requires the central Cambodian government to sign off on it. The central government has been in disarray for a year following last July’s election as attempts to put a coalition together have been delayed. A coalition occurred on June 26, 2004 and we are prayerfully hopeful that we can now move forward in the process. On the 500 acre property we will also need to build housing for the staff. Eventually we hope to have an entire Christian community consisting of: a teaching medical center, a seminary/Bible college, a conference center, a Christian day school, and housing for fulltime staff as well as guest housing for short term mission teams

     

    Mobilizing several fulltime medical missionaries and some Cambodian medical personnel to work and teach in the clinic/hospital.

     

    Increasing the level of medical knowledge of local professionals. Since the level of medical knowledge of the local graduates is so poor, we want to bring several recent graduates to the center for 2-3 years of training before releasing them to be primary care physicians in the outlying provinces of Cambodia. During this period we will nurture them in the Christian faith. We also will attempt to continue to bring special students to the US for 3 – 6 months of training and exposure to good medical care in a first world setting.

  • Continuing to interact with the medical school in Phnom Penh and teach as we are able.
  • Continuing to work with the physician contacts we have made in the public hospitals in Phnom Penh to upgrade their level of care through teaching and bringing supplies.
  • Bringing teams of specialists for short term missions projects as we have done over the last 4 years. They will teach and give care both in the new facility and the Phnom Penh hospitals.
  • Continuing the “Salt of the Earth” project started by Dr. Keith McDonald

     

    Our immediate plans include sending a small team to Cambodia in late October to:

  • Meet with the governor of KCP to review our agreement and do some preliminary site planning.
  • Meet with the central Cambodian government to establish title to the land and a Memorandum of Understanding re’ the project.
  • Meet with the Cambodian Christian pastors and medical personnel to be sure there is understanding and participation in the project.
  • Attempt to identify a local director for the project.
  • We plan to bring another medical team to Cambodia in January, 2005.

     

    As this project grows, so do our financial needs. We will need to raise $100,000 in the first year and $500,000 – $700,000 in the second year. As mentioned above, we have filed with the IRS for nonprofit 501©3 status. We have opened a bank account for tax deductible donations. We need people to get involved and be prayer partners with us. We feel small and inadequate, but believe God is calling us to this mission and He will provide. Please earnestly pray for us and if you feel led, send your donations to:

     

    Christian Medical Ministry to Cambodia/Jeremiah’s Hope

    950 E. Harvard Ave., suite 400

    Denver, Colorado 80210[/dt_sc_blockquote]

  • admin