Waterdown Physiotherapy’s Amber Kosubovich and her daughter Natalya are headed to Ecuador on a mission trip
The pair leaves July 8 and will be gone for 10 days, as part of a mission with Medical Ministry International (MMI).
“That’s the nice thing bout MMI, you don’t have to be gone for months,” said Amber. “You can go for one-week or two-week projects.
“So it makes it nice for people who are working to fit it into their schedule.”
Amber traveled to Peru with MMI in 2014, and said the Ecuador trip will be different.
“It’s a smaller team,” she noted. “MMI has been going Peru for several years, so they have a well-established centre there.”
As a result, there were a number local Peruvians who joined the large team – about 50 in total.
The Greensville resident said she only knows of about five medical professionals who will be traveling to Ecuador.
“It’s going to be significantly smaller,” she said, noting the group will be made up of doctors, nurses, dentists and hygienists, as well as herself.
“I’ll be the only physical therapist,” she said, noting her daughter will be a general helper. “They’re very important in terms of keeping things organized and giving out information.”
Amber noted she’ll figure out specific duties when she gets on the ground.
Patients could be dealing with back pain or arthritis, or anything in between.
“I just do an assessment and give them advice on exercises or things that they should avoid doing,” she said, adding teaching proper posture and lifting techniques will be part of her work.
On her last mission, Amber distributed a lot of equipment, such as canes or wheelchairs. In some cases, she said, patients had been waiting years to receive the items.
“They were really thankful to receive them,” she said. “We’ll measure them up and show them how to use the equipment.”
Several local businesses, such as Waterdown Village Pharmasave and the Firehall Dentist, have donated supplies for the mission, as have the Kosuboviches’ friends and family.
Natalya, who just graduated from Grade 12 at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, said she wanted to take part after hearing about her mother’s experience in Peru.
“She had a really good experience and it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do as well,” said the 17 year old. “I wanted to go help her out with it, experience the culture and make a difference.”
Natalya is looking forward to experiencing a new culture and helping people in need.
“I’m really excited to interact with the people there and know that I’m making a difference in their lives,” she said.
Amber said the trip offers Natalya a great opportunity to learn about another culture and provide some volunteer service.
“She’s interested in healthcare as a career, so she’ll get to observe the different team members and what they’re doing.”
The pair looked at the projects available for when they were planning to go, and decided on Ecuador.
“It was kind of a waiting game to see if they’d have enough people to run the project,” said Amber. “Peru is always a go – they always have enough people, but we applied for Ecuador quite a while ago and we only heard just over a week ago…that we were accepted and the project was a go.”
Part of the reason for the delay was the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that struck the country in mid April.
“It was hard to get in touch with some of the local people there and make sure things were still going to be a go,” Amber noted, adding that the mission trip is a wonderful experience.
“Honestly, if I could go every year, I would,” she said. “But financially and just having the time away – I thought every other year, if I can make that work, I’ll try and do so.
“Being able to give back and being able to help other people who are in need is something that’s very important to me.”
She added that it’s a very emotionally fulfilling experience, as even now looking at photos from her mission to Peru brings tears to her eyes.
“Remembering the people that we met and the people that we helped, it’s really hard to explain,” she said. “It puts things in perspective – problems that seem like a problem here are not a problem because you see what other people go through.
“I’m happy to be part of the MMI team, because they’re doing a lot of good around the world.”
Amber added its very exciting to be able to go on the mission with her daughter, noting her husband David and son Alex, 15, are supportive.
“When I went last time I went on my own and just met people there,” she said. “So this is going to be great, to see how Natalya learns from it and her experiences.
“We’re excited to travel together.”
Waterdown Physiotherapy’s Amber Kosubovich and her daughter Natalya are headed to Ecuador on a mission trip
The pair leaves July 8 and will be gone for 10 days, as part of a mission with Medical Ministry International (MMI).
“That’s the nice thing bout MMI, you don’t have to be gone for months,” said Amber. “You can go for one-week or two-week projects.
“So it makes it nice for people who are working to fit it into their schedule.”
Amber traveled to Peru with MMI in 2014, and said the Ecuador trip will be different.
“It’s a smaller team,” she noted. “MMI has been going Peru for several years, so they have a well-established centre there.”
As a result, there were a number local Peruvians who joined the large team – about 50 in total.
The Greensville resident said she only knows of about five medical professionals who will be traveling to Ecuador.
“It’s going to be significantly smaller,” she said, noting the group will be made up of doctors, nurses, dentists and hygienists, as well as herself.
“I’ll be the only physical therapist,” she said, noting her daughter will be a general helper. “They’re very important in terms of keeping things organized and giving out information.”
Amber noted she’ll figure out specific duties when she gets on the ground.
Patients could be dealing with back pain or arthritis, or anything in between.
“I just do an assessment and give them advice on exercises or things that they should avoid doing,” she said, adding teaching proper posture and lifting techniques will be part of her work.
On her last mission, Amber distributed a lot of equipment, such as canes or wheelchairs. In some cases, she said, patients had been waiting years to receive the items.
“They were really thankful to receive them,” she said. “We’ll measure them up and show them how to use the equipment.”
Several local businesses, such as Waterdown Village Pharmasave and the Firehall Dentist, have donated supplies for the mission, as have the Kosuboviches’ friends and family.
Natalya, who just graduated from Grade 12 at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, said she wanted to take part after hearing about her mother’s experience in Peru.
“She had a really good experience and it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do as well,” said the 17 year old. “I wanted to go help her out with it, experience the culture and make a difference.”
Natalya is looking forward to experiencing a new culture and helping people in need.
“I’m really excited to interact with the people there and know that I’m making a difference in their lives,” she said.
Amber said the trip offers Natalya a great opportunity to learn about another culture and provide some volunteer service.
“She’s interested in healthcare as a career, so she’ll get to observe the different team members and what they’re doing.”
The pair looked at the projects available for when they were planning to go, and decided on Ecuador.
“It was kind of a waiting game to see if they’d have enough people to run the project,” said Amber. “Peru is always a go – they always have enough people, but we applied for Ecuador quite a while ago and we only heard just over a week ago…that we were accepted and the project was a go.”
Part of the reason for the delay was the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that struck the country in mid April.
“It was hard to get in touch with some of the local people there and make sure things were still going to be a go,” Amber noted, adding that the mission trip is a wonderful experience.
“Honestly, if I could go every year, I would,” she said. “But financially and just having the time away – I thought every other year, if I can make that work, I’ll try and do so.
“Being able to give back and being able to help other people who are in need is something that’s very important to me.”
She added that it’s a very emotionally fulfilling experience, as even now looking at photos from her mission to Peru brings tears to her eyes.
“Remembering the people that we met and the people that we helped, it’s really hard to explain,” she said. “It puts things in perspective – problems that seem like a problem here are not a problem because you see what other people go through.
“I’m happy to be part of the MMI team, because they’re doing a lot of good around the world.”
Amber added its very exciting to be able to go on the mission with her daughter, noting her husband David and son Alex, 15, are supportive.
“When I went last time I went on my own and just met people there,” she said. “So this is going to be great, to see how Natalya learns from it and her experiences.
“We’re excited to travel together.”
Waterdown Physiotherapy’s Amber Kosubovich and her daughter Natalya are headed to Ecuador on a mission trip
The pair leaves July 8 and will be gone for 10 days, as part of a mission with Medical Ministry International (MMI).
“That’s the nice thing bout MMI, you don’t have to be gone for months,” said Amber. “You can go for one-week or two-week projects.
“So it makes it nice for people who are working to fit it into their schedule.”
Amber traveled to Peru with MMI in 2014, and said the Ecuador trip will be different.
“It’s a smaller team,” she noted. “MMI has been going Peru for several years, so they have a well-established centre there.”
As a result, there were a number local Peruvians who joined the large team – about 50 in total.
The Greensville resident said she only knows of about five medical professionals who will be traveling to Ecuador.
“It’s going to be significantly smaller,” she said, noting the group will be made up of doctors, nurses, dentists and hygienists, as well as herself.
“I’ll be the only physical therapist,” she said, noting her daughter will be a general helper. “They’re very important in terms of keeping things organized and giving out information.”
Amber noted she’ll figure out specific duties when she gets on the ground.
Patients could be dealing with back pain or arthritis, or anything in between.
“I just do an assessment and give them advice on exercises or things that they should avoid doing,” she said, adding teaching proper posture and lifting techniques will be part of her work.
On her last mission, Amber distributed a lot of equipment, such as canes or wheelchairs. In some cases, she said, patients had been waiting years to receive the items.
“They were really thankful to receive them,” she said. “We’ll measure them up and show them how to use the equipment.”
Several local businesses, such as Waterdown Village Pharmasave and the Firehall Dentist, have donated supplies for the mission, as have the Kosuboviches’ friends and family.
Natalya, who just graduated from Grade 12 at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, said she wanted to take part after hearing about her mother’s experience in Peru.
“She had a really good experience and it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do as well,” said the 17 year old. “I wanted to go help her out with it, experience the culture and make a difference.”
Natalya is looking forward to experiencing a new culture and helping people in need.
“I’m really excited to interact with the people there and know that I’m making a difference in their lives,” she said.
Amber said the trip offers Natalya a great opportunity to learn about another culture and provide some volunteer service.
“She’s interested in healthcare as a career, so she’ll get to observe the different team members and what they’re doing.”
The pair looked at the projects available for when they were planning to go, and decided on Ecuador.
“It was kind of a waiting game to see if they’d have enough people to run the project,” said Amber. “Peru is always a go – they always have enough people, but we applied for Ecuador quite a while ago and we only heard just over a week ago…that we were accepted and the project was a go.”
Part of the reason for the delay was the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that struck the country in mid April.
“It was hard to get in touch with some of the local people there and make sure things were still going to be a go,” Amber noted, adding that the mission trip is a wonderful experience.
“Honestly, if I could go every year, I would,” she said. “But financially and just having the time away – I thought every other year, if I can make that work, I’ll try and do so.
“Being able to give back and being able to help other people who are in need is something that’s very important to me.”
She added that it’s a very emotionally fulfilling experience, as even now looking at photos from her mission to Peru brings tears to her eyes.
“Remembering the people that we met and the people that we helped, it’s really hard to explain,” she said. “It puts things in perspective – problems that seem like a problem here are not a problem because you see what other people go through.
“I’m happy to be part of the MMI team, because they’re doing a lot of good around the world.”
Amber added its very exciting to be able to go on the mission with her daughter, noting her husband David and son Alex, 15, are supportive.
“When I went last time I went on my own and just met people there,” she said. “So this is going to be great, to see how Natalya learns from it and her experiences.
“We’re excited to travel together.”