Beth

Dr. Beth Nelson is a surgical oncologist specializing in gynecological cancers.

"As to reasons for participating in this mission, I'll try to be succint. (But may not succeed.) I think like most Americans, I have been overwhelmed by all the natural disasters in 2005. Somehow, along with the daily deaths we hear of in Iraq, it just seems like we're in an age in which more and more humans are suffering. It makes one feel like there is no way to help except to write another check and hope it reaches an area where it can alleviate some of the world's woes. I have wanted to participate in a medical mission for some time, but somehow whenever I had the opportunity, some work or personal reason prevented me from participating. When Pastor Mel and Cassandra Garcia came back from Biloxi with their stories, I felt compelled to go myself. UMCOR and VIM missions seem to be well organized and I feel like the setting will allow us to directl impact people who are hurting."

"I have always believed that reap what you sow, and that the good deeds we do will be passed on to others in need. I have been helped over the years in many fashions, often by people who did not expect any repayment. Now when I am thanked for a kindness, or asked 'how can I ever thank you?', I tend to say 'pass it on'.

"Many, many people are in no position to help. Here we sit in the midst of plenty, truly blessed in myriad ways. How can we not share our good fortune, be it money, hard work or a willing spirit? Anyway, you asked!"

One task that some of may be assigned to is that of "listener." From Cassandra, we have learned that one minister says that he could take a whole team of people for days and fill all their time with just listening to people unload. When we learned of this, we all thought of Beth as a natural for this.

Beth also will bless us with singing alto; she joins us from the Simsbury United Methodist Church.