Volunteer Reflection: Dan Olsen and the Next Right Thing
Dan Olsen, DO, is a retired General and Hand surgeon. Having grown up in Kenya as the child of American missionaries, he was thrilled to volunteer with Mission to Heal on our Kenya III mission in April 2023. Here is Dan’s reflection on the 2 weeks he spent in Marsabit County with our team.
For me personally this was a heartwarming return to “magical “ Kenya with M2H, land of my formative childhood, now joining the team as a surgeon to care for the most underserved and “furthest people” amongst the Samburu and Rendille tribes in the Northern Frontier desert region. I had followed Dr. Geelhoed, Sam Jangala, and M2H online for sometime, drawn by many common connection factors with both, believing in their mission purpose, and intrigued by their Mobile Surgical Units (MSU’s). I was unable to connect and launch before the pandemic, but here I finally was!
It was exciting to realize I could still converse in Swahili, and it felt right to be even a small part of caring for and teaching Kenyan peoples following the impact on my childhood by dedicated missionary surgeon role models. Dr. Geelhoed’s exceptional experience and knowledge of Africa, tropical medicine/surgical problems etc. contributed to a “mini fellowship” learning experience for the local providers and our team.
Volunteer Dan Olsen teaching a Kenyan trainee in the M2H Mobile Surgical Units.
Even though I have been a part of multiple mission trips, including India and Haiti, my “transformational learning “ during this M2H Kenya III experience helped me realize the importance and value of not just “doing the cases,” but mentoring the local providers to leave them an on-going enhancement of their own skills and methods. This included not just basic “cut & sew” surgical skills but tooth extraction techniques also.
Dr. Geelhoed’s mission statement seems to be “…teach a man to fish and he…” This important distinction of approach, as opposed to just doing a flurry of cases, has on-going value by placing an emphasis on the local providers. This will be incorporated in my future mission trips, and hopefully as I join M2H on future missions.
Dan Olsen (left) with local trainee (center) and fellow volunteer, Christian Falgian (right)
M2H Africa trips require a lot of patience with their logistical challenges and constant adjustment to changing circumstances. Director of Operations, Sam Jangala, has this skill set and makes it happen. Our team was safe, well fed, and cared for at every turn. His India missionary kid experiences and many Africa trips experience with Dr. Geelhoed make them an effective duo. I had a great time and enjoyed them both!
Finally, what a great and rewarding experience this was being a part of M2H, offering care and mentoring providers among the furthest people north in Kenya’s poorest, most underserved region. We took the operating theater (and the “dental chair”) to remote patients unable to access care otherwise and left behind new provider skills. It was also humbling, being confronted again with extreme poverty and lack of health care, but rewarding to be doing the “the next right thing” with M2H as I try to serve in my “retirement”….What’s next?
Volunteer with Mission to Heal! We’re going to Uganda in August 2023 and have a few spots available. Apply here today.
