Back from Training

 

Above: Our Disaster Response Training class and instructors before a big hike.

For the past ten days, I have been in the US training with MTW’s Disaster Response Ministry. We spent the week in Western Pennsylvania attending classroom seminars and field demonstrations.

Disaster Response is a ministry that trains volunteers to respond to disasters around the world. Although we are not trained as first responders, we are prepared to land in a devastated area and minister soon after a disaster has struck. The ministry usually send in medical professionals, crisis counselors, and engineers, as they are most suited to fit the needs of the people.

Now if you know me at all, you know I am none of those things, and yet the teams that hit the field weeks after a disaster need untrained folks to help serve and provide in a variety of areas. Throughout the week we were trained in basics of camping, food prep, water purification, mapping/GPS, stretchers, river crossing, mine detection, and much more.

After 4 full days of training, our team hosted a mock medical clinic (with local church members as the disaster refugees). In two hours we saw a UN health inspector, a reporter from the BBC, local war lords, an angry mayor, a swine flu outbreak, a beligerant drunk, orphaned children and much more. It was a crazy morning, but a good learning experience.

Overall, the training was a great experience. I originally attended solely to be prepared for the annual hurricanes here in Central America. But after seeing the ministry and their impact all over the world after disasters, I may have to reconsider my involvement in the future.