Medical mission serves more than 100 in St Bess community

The determination of two blind residents from rural St Elizabeth to travel a long distance over difficult roads in search of medical care underscored a challenge facing many underserved communities: access to healthcare.

Their journey to a temporary clinic in Good Hope, where doctors, dentists and an eye specialist had gathered to provide free treatment, was among the moments that stayed with Shawn Anthony Wray long after the two-day mission ended.

“Two blind individuals made the difficult journey from a great distance to come to the mission medical event,” Wray said.

Their story was a powerful reminder of the lengths to which people in underserved communities will go to access basic healthcare, and why bringing those services directly to them is so important.

From July 2 to 3, 2026, Good Hope became the meeting point for two organisations united by a shared commitment to service. Think on These Things Ministries International (3TMI), based in Calhoun, Georgia, joined forces for the first time with Jamaica’s Vett-Lee Outreach Ministries Limited to provide free medical, dental and vision services to residents.

By the end of the mission, 105 people had received care.

Wray, executive director of the Georgia-based team, said the initiative was driven by a simple but urgent reality: the community had significant healthcare needs.

“We were inspired and motivated by the enormous health needs in this rural area,” he said.

The partnership that brought the mission to life began through a meeting that Wray believes was no coincidence. A local couple, the Henrys, introduced Wray to the Grahams, who live in the Good Hope area. The connection brought together people who shared a common desire to serve the community.

“It was a divine appointment. The Lord set it up beautifully for the Henrys, the Grahams, and me to meet. We all have a one-minded approach, and that is to serve this community,” Wray said.

That shared commitment was translated into action. The 15-member team comprised eight people from Georgia and seven from Jamaica, including two family doctors, two dentists, an optician, nurse practitioners and volunteers.

Some of the Jamaican healthcare professionals travelled significant distances to participate. One dentist and her assistant made the two-hour trip from Dover, St Catherine, while a family doctor drove three hours from Falmouth, Trelawny, to provide care.

The distance travelled by the healthcare professionals was matched by the determination of the residents who came seeking help.

The team provided general medical and dental services, along with vision care. Among the health concerns encountered were diabetes and high blood pressure, conditions that require regular monitoring and treatment but can become more difficult to manage when access to healthcare is limited.

Wray said the experience highlighted the strain placed on existing healthcare facilities and the important role community-based organisations can play in reaching people who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

“This experience revealed to us that the local clinics and hospitals are overwhelmed, and grassroots organisations like Vett-Lee Outreach Ministry and Think on These Things Ministries International (3TMI) are vital as we seek to bridge the gap between the local clinics and the citizens in need of these health services,” he said.

The mission’s success was rooted in careful preparation. Planning began a year in advance, allowing both organisations to coordinate their responsibilities and minimise logistical challenges.

But, one challenge proved impossible to plan away: the roads leading to the facility.

“The only challenge the group faced was the actual roads to the facility. The roads were terrible,” Wray said.

However, the condition of the roads did not deter residents. Many waited patiently for their turn to see a doctor or dentist, demonstrating a level of determination that left a lasting impression on the visiting team.

“We learned from the people how to be resilient despite the circumstances. We saw how determined the people of Good Hope were, despite the bad roads and long wait to be seen by a doctor and/or the dentist,” he said.

The mission also showed what can happen when organisations combine their strengths.

Vett-Lee Outreach Ministries Limited provided the local facility, dentists and volunteer support, while 3TMI brought medication, family doctors and an eye doctor. Each team contributed something essential.

The collaboration was not simply about dividing responsibilities. Wray said the teams operated with a shared sense of purpose that made it possible for people from different locations to work seamlessly together.

“We were of one mind and spirit. This made it very easy for everyone to work together as one band. It was one band, one sound,” he said.

But beyond the medical services, the mission carried another message – one about the responsibility people have to serve others regardless of their economic circumstances.

“We hope the message of being a servant to mankind no matter your economic status would have gone over to all we served,” Wray said.

The successful July mission was the first joint effort between 3TMI and Vett-Lee Outreach Ministries Limited, but it is unlikely to be the last. The organisations plan to continue working in Good Hope for years to come and hope to broaden the range of services offered.

Future missions could include free haircuts for boys and men, as well as mental health counselling for residents who wish to access those services.

In Good Hope, the needs may be great, but so too is the determination of the people who live there.

“There is a scripture that comes to mind; it’s Ecclesiastes 11:4. We would strongly encourage them to just start. Don’t wait to have everything together; by experience, they will get it together. The needs are great,” he said.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com