A Sydney grandmother is using her nursing skills to help reach the needy in the former USSR.
Joan has just returned from a six-month mission to a central Asian republic where she has been training local nurses.
Both her surname and the country's name have been withheld for security reasons due to the need for foreign Christians to keep a low profile in the Muslim-dominated country.
Joan, a member of Christ Church, Peakhurst/Mortdale says the country's government is still asking for skilled foreigners to help meet their country's needs.
"The health system is in such a mess" it's 50 years behind in some cases. That's why this is such an obvious place for mission focus," she says.
According to Joan, the Russians left little in the way of up-to-date equipment or skilled labour.
"My job has been retraining nurses and doctors in nursing programs and family practice medicine," she says.
"Many doctors and nurses have no clue about good nutrition. They don't know why you need to wash your hands or how to prevent HIV and AIDS. They lack the community health projects that our society takes for granted."
Since 2001, Joan has made four short-term mission trips to this central Asian republic with Interserve. She has had three previous assignments of one year each and six month stay for this last trip.
Motivated to serve after loss of husband
It was the passing of her husband Richard in 1998 that led to Joan looking for an opportunity to serve overseas.
"I asked, "What do you want me to do now, Lord?'" Joan says.
"I had always wanted to work overseas, but with four kids, I just never got to it."
After supporting herself for her first mission trip, Joan was invited back again and has been well supported by others in her three subsequent trips.
"My church and friends and family said if I was going again they would send me and they have every time."
Joan was in the central Asian republic when a revolution took place following an election in early 2005. There was anarchy and looting and no strong military presence to deal with the situation.
Although the law permits freedom of religion, approximately 80 per cent of population are Muslim.
However, Joan says that as she teaches nurses and doctors, people do come to the Lord.
"I have seen many people come to the lord and the church has grown rapidly."
"We have an international church that is attended by foreigners from all nations who are working here," she says.
"Many locals, particularly from the universities, have been coming in encouraging numbers. There are many national churches in the capital and two Bible seminaries for training local pastors."
Joan always enjoys returning home to see her four children and families which includes five grandchildren " and there's a sixth on the way " but says returning to the affluence of Australia is a challenge.
"It's a challenge to not be irritated by the wealth of our country. I have to avoid a judgmental attitude to wealth. Inequality becomes so heart rending after exposure to poverty."
Joan says there is a desperate need for skilled Australians to do community development and training work in places like central Asia. She recommends that young people in particular try a short term overseas mission to learn important values.
"People think of mission as a sacrifice, but when you go overseas you see that people matter more than money or time," she says.
"It might not add to your CV, but God blesses people with a world vision of what the church is on about."
While Joan appreciates the support of her family and church, the 65-year-old is unsure if she will return to the country for a fifth time.
"My church has been so supportive in every way both financially and prayerfully. They keep in touch with me while I am over there and look after me when I return home," she says.
"I would like to go back but I have no definite plans at this stage."
