What is T.I.M.E?

T.I.M.E (Training In Medical Evangelism) is an internternship in rural Paraguay.  Our desire is to provide an opportunity for 6 students each year to be a part of a 6 week internship.  

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for college-aged, medically-minded students who are passionate about reaching the lost for Christ.

Who are we?

  We are a family of 9 who moved from South Texas to Paraguay in 2005 (when we were a family of just 6).   After studying Spanish and then Guarani-Jopara for 18 months in the capital city of Asuncion, we moved out to a rural town called Colonia San Francisco in the Departamento de Caazapa (about 180 miles to the southeast of Asuncion).  After 4 years of living there and a one year furlough back in the U.S, we moved in September of 2012, 10 kilometers "down the dirt road" to a town called Jataity.  We are involved in church planting/ evangelism ministries with Serving in Mission.

Our Background

My name is Jeff McKissick and I am a board certified Family Physician. I call Texas home, but having a dad in the US Army meant that we moved every three years! I graduated from ACU (Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX) in 1997 and received my MD from Texas Tech Medical School in Lubbock, TX. After graduation I completed a three year residency in Family Practice at the Valley Baptist Family Practice Residency Program in Harlingen, TX (near Brownsville/ Mexico). This program is one of two Christian Family Practice training programs in the US. After working for nearly a year as an ER doc, we moved to Paraguay in 2005 as full time missionaries with SIM (Serving in Mission, an international, interdenominational evangelical mission- see more at www.sim.org). 

My wife, Amy, also went to ACU and later completed her R.N. training in Lubbock, Texas at Covenant Hospital. She grew up in Hawaii and her father was on the legal staff of YWAM (Youth With A Mission). Her specialty is childbirth education and lactation consulting. 

We met back in 1995 on a one month, cross-cultural Medical Evangelism Training program in Guatemala. This trip changed our lives by showing us how we could mix our faith in the Lord Jesus and healthcare in practical and powerful ways. It is for this reason that we want to offer a similar cross-cultural experience for Christian pre-health professional students.

Why we do what we do

We LOVE what we do and we LOVE sharing with medical minded, college-aged students the way God has allowed us to incorporate medicine and evangelism in everything we do. Really, as a Training in Medical Evangelism (T.I.M.E) intern, we just want to take you along with us in our daily activities and answer questions along the way. If you want to catch a glimpse of our daily life before committing to the trip, check out our family blog, Immeasurably More.

Each year we are blessed to host a T.I.M.E group.

If it doesn't work out for you to come as part of a group, you can always set up a seperate internship (check out that blog). 

Please read the information below and if you have any questions or feel God leading you this way shoot us an e-mail (jeff.mckissick@sim.org

On this trip, expection to:

-Live with a Paraguayan family

-Take an intense 6 hour course in beginner level Guarani-Jopara so that you can communicate with your host family and patients

-Have a three day orientation at the beginning of your trip

-Shadow Jeff in the clinic

-Learn to take blood pressure/ temperature and to do a basic physical exam and patient history (as language permits), blood sugars and urine analysis. 

-Have a class on suturing techniques and knot tying

-Read daily from your TIME manual to prepare yourself for classes on topics such as language and culture, missions, medical missions, medical topics of interest including vaccine preventable illnesses

-Have weekly TIME group devotionals and (almost) daily debriefing

-Attend Bible studies, prayer meetings and church gatherings with local believers

-Visit local believers and non-believers with Amy

-Have limited contact with the outside world

- Meet and hear testimonies from our missionary team

-Have fun, learn new things, and form a lasting bond with your team, the Paraguayans and Paraguay.

-Be mentored by our family as well as by other missionaries and hear their stories of God’s faithfulness in our lives and ministries

-Trip to Iguazu Falls in Argentina at end of trip

-Trip to Jesuit Ruin mid way through the trip

TRAVEL DOCUMENT INFORMATION

VISA REQUIREMENTS/DOCUMENTATION

The most current version of this information can be found at the following link: http://www.embaparusa.gov.py/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1290&Itemid=618

 

VISAS ON ARRIVAL: 

 

The NON-RESIDENT Visas on Arrival are provided at the "Silvio Pettirossi" International Airport in Asunción, Paraguay. Those visas will only be valid for the maximum period of ninety (90) days.

 

The requirements to obtain the Visa on Arrival are:

1. Valid passport.

2. Payment IN CASH for the established amount.

 

Costs for the Visas on Arrival are as follows:

• Citizens of AUSTRALIA U$S 135.00
• Citizens of CANADA U$S 150.00
• Citizens of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA U$S 160.00
• Citizens of NEW ZELAND U$S 140.00
• Citizens of REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) U$S 100.00
• Citizens of RUSSIA U$S 160.00

ONLY citizens of the countries listed above can obtained the Visa on Arrival. Citizens of other countries must apply in the following manner:

To obtain a non resident visa the applicant must

1. Provide a current passport with an expiration date at least six months away.
2. Have completed and signed the application.
3. Provide a passport size photo.
4. Flight itinerary.
5. Provide official or company letter stating purpose of the trip, in case of an official or business trip.
6. In the case of minors, the application has to be signed by both parents and presented along with the birth certificate of the minor. If the minor is traveling alone, with just one parent or a third party, an authorization signed before a notary public is requested, along with a copy of the ID cards of both parents.
7. Pay the multiple entry visa fee of US$ 160.00, in cash or money order payable to the Embassy of Paraguay. No personal checks.
8. It is mandatory that the applicant MUST appear in person when applying for VISAS to enter the Republic of Paraguay. For those applicants whom cannot appear in person, they might apply for VISAS ON ARRIVAL when they arrive at the “Silvio Pettirossi” International Airport in Asuncion-Paraguay, by paying the appropriate fee (160.00 US$). Visas requested by mail will NOT be granted.

 

Citizens of Great Britain and some Latin American countries do not need tourist visas.  CHECK WITH THE NEAREST CONSULATE AND WITH SIM PARAGUAY IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED.

  Depending on what state you live in, here is the contact information for the nearest Paraguayan consulate:

Citizen Information

Embassy and Consulates of Paraguay

Embassy of Paraguay - Washington, DC

2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone : (202) 483 6960
Fax : (202) 234 4508
Email : secretaria@embaparusa.gov.py
Website: http://www.embaparusa.gov.py/
Jurisdiction: District of Columbia (DC), Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.

Consulate General of Paraguay - Los Angeles

6033 Century Boulevard West
Suite 985
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone : (310) 417 9500
Fax : (310) 417 9520
Email : consulpar@sbcglobal.net
Website: http://www.paraguayconsulatela.com/
Jurisdiction: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Alaska and Hawaii.

Consulate General of Paraguay - Miami

25 SE 2nd Avenue
Suite 705
Miami, FL 33131
Phone : (305) 374 9090
Fax : (305) 374 5522
Email : paraguay@bellsouth.net
Jurisdiction: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and Caiman Islands.

Consulate General of Paraguay - New York

211 East 43rd Street
Suite 201
New York, NY 10017
Phone : (212) 682 9441
Fax : (212) 682 9443
Email : consulparny@aol.com
Jurisdiction: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Your local address for your visa application/ contact information while here in Paraguay will be:

Sociedad Internacional Misionera

Cervantes 1001 esq./ Victor Hugo

Asuncion, Paraguay

Telefax: 595-21-292-240

Emergency Contact Numbers:

SIM office, Tom Stout-Director of SIM Paraguay – 595-21-292-240

Dr. Jeff McKissick- 595-984-700-542

Email: jeff.mckissick@sim.org

You will also need to sign a release of liability form from our mission, SIM, which we will email to you.

VACCINES REQUIRED

See the latest CDC recommendations.We are NOT in a malaria endemic zone, except for the 2 days we travel to Brazil/ Argentina.Just use OFF and protective clothing.We do not recommend malaria prophylaxis for short or long term missionaries.We are in a Yellow Fever endemic area, so please do get this (at a travel medicine clinic or Dept of Public Health/ County hospital setting).Typhoid vaccine is also recommended in addition to the routine immunizations.Start these ASAP as some take months to complete the series! Do not worry about the rabies vaccine either.

FINANCES

DO NOT bring traveler’s cheques or personal checks.You must bring cash in US dollars.We will change them to Guaranies/ Reals/ Pesos as needed at local change houses. For those coming in May-June, you will need to raise no less than $1000 to cover all of your expenses while in Paraguay (includes transportation, housing, food, airport exit tax, toll booths, National Parks entries, tips and all!). We will take this money off your hands on the first day of the trip so that you will only be left carrying your spending money.We will keep your travel documents and personal money in a safe place if you so choose.

Please bring your own personal spending money for any souvenirs or extra food/ drinks outside of meal times together.

You will need to raise the cost of the airline ticket, vaccines expenses, passport and visa and priority mailing expenses, medical evacuation insurance coverage.

Things to consider while packing:

- Limit what you bring to one bag and leave space to bring souvenirs back home

- In May-June, it can get very cold (in the 30's inside your home!) with frequent rain (you will need long underwear, gloves, scarves, heavy sweatshirts and/or jacket,heavy socks) or may be very hot and humid (in the 90's with 80+% humidity)- pack for both extremes...think layers

-Some students were glad to have hand-warmers (yes,it can get that cold here)

- Even though you will see many girls here wearing clothing that is too tight, too short and too low, please remember that you are representing Christ in how you dress.  Be extra conscientious of the length of shorts you chose to wear and the style of shirts you out on.  You will be able to wear shorts of decent length on free time...remember even sports shorts need to be at least mid-thigh.

- Dressy clothes aren't needed. During times of ministry or church girls can wear pants, capris, or skirts.

- Clothes tend to get very dirty and red-stained so you may want to bring inexpensive clothing items. Your host family will be hand-washing your laundry daily (provided there’s no rain).  All your clothes will be hung up on a line to dry (and for all to see...chose under garments wisely).

- Shoes that you can get muddy and are good for walking in the mud like rubber boots (which can easily be bought here if you wish)

- Pocket Spanish/English dictionary

-Bring Spanish notes from past classes (brush up on Spanish ahead of time?)

- Bathing suit

- Mosquito repellent (no aerosol can), anti-itch cream (because you will be bit!) 

- Sunscreen

-Alarm clock (so you can be on time for clinic!)

- If you are a light sleeper, you may need to bring ear plugs (for the all-night roaster crowing) and face mask (your family may sleep with the lights on)

- Rain coat/poncho

- Travel umbrella

- 5 week supply of your medicines (anti-diarrheal and antibiotics can be found easily and cheaply here)

- Small notebook for language learning

- Bible, maybe even a Spanish/English Bible

- Towel and wash cloth

- Water bottle/canteen

- Flashlight

- Our electricity runs on 220. People here are very conscious of their electrical bills. Anything that you bring that will plug in may be spending money that they don’t have especially if it is a heating (hair dryer) device.

- You will be around small kids in clinic, your families, neighborhood and church - you may want to bring colors and coloring books, stickers, bubbles, balloons, a craft, etc

- Youth in our church and community will be drawn to you so you may consider bringing games or ice breakers to do for youth group

- Our water comes from a deep community well. We drink it and offer it to our American visitors. However, you are welcome to bring a water filter or iodine tablets if you so desire.

- Stethoscope and blood pressure cuff if you have one already.

- A watch with a second hand will be handy when doing vital signs

- Do not bring a computer or other expensive electronics

-Past students have enjoyed having work gloves for their time in Paraguay as well as to leave with their host family when the left

- You will not need malaria prophylaxis medicine in this region of Paraguay (www.cdc.gov)

- Make and bring a copy of your passport tucked in your suitcase. That way, if your passport gets misplaced you will have an easier time replacing it.

- The past TIME students spent an average of $250 on souvenirs and gifts for supporters

- Enough memory/storage device for all your picture taking

- Bring games - they are a fun way to interact with Paraguayans and your host families

-Bring a positive attitude, go with the flow, don’t grumble or complain, be humble, be willing to learn, be prepared to not be able to communicate as well as you would like, get ready for some real fun and be praying for God to open your eyes to some new perspectives.

- Bring a small gift for your host family like dish towels, pot holders, pictures frames, table cloths, something special from your home state, candy, etc. You may also enjoy bringing special foods to share with your family like fixin's for s'mores, Mac and Cheese, pancake mix, trail mix, candies, gum, etc

-Past students have enjoyed cooking an American meal for their host families.Consider bringing spices or other ingredients that you may not be able to find here.

- Your host family will love to see pictures of your family and of your home state. It will be a great way to practice language

SCHOOL CREDIT

Several students in the past have received college credit hours or internship time for their experience in Paraguay. Please talk about this possibility NOW with your advisor and bring all necessary paperwork that I will need to fill out as your supervisor (or better yet- email it to me).

ABOUT PARAGUAY

What to earn more about Paraguay?  Check out our country profile.