1st Phase – Grow In God: 20 Weeks

Beginning in Tauranga, New Zealand, you will do a Medical Compassion DTS alongside others from around the world. The first 12 weeks are transformational; getting to KNOW GOD more as you learn about a different topic each week. Topics include nature and character of God, hearing God’s voice, identity and calling, relationships, Father heart of God, PLUS much more!

Your DTS will have a Medical & Compassion focus, learning basic primary healthcare skills in medical missions. After the regular DTS classroom time in the morning, a special “stream” is run once a week in the afternoon, teaching a special course giving you “Basic Skills for Medical Missions”. The goals of this stream are to enable students to have a broad awareness of current medical needs in developing countries, and to equip them with general medical skills, so they can participate in various clinics PLUS demonstrate compassion with medical knowledge and practice.

The next 8 weeks are Outreach Phase; you will have the opportunity to reach out to the needy in a developing nation of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. There may be opportunities to assist people medically through DENTAL, OPTICAL, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE and TRAUMA CARE, but most often our teams find themselves reaching out in ways that mean just as much, like cleaning up after a NATURAL DISASTER, or helping out with FEEDING THE POOR and sharing the LOVE of Jesus with the destitute.

2nd Phase – Staff Assistance: 5 Weeks

The 5 weeks between the completion of your DTS and the beginning of the SPHC is your opportunity to join the ministry of YWAM Marine Reach by serving alongside our staff in an area of ministry around the Base. You will participate in base worship and intercession times and other aspects of community life, while engaging in meaningful work, gaining valuable experience and skills, PLUS strengthening relationships already established.

3rd Phase – Equipping for Medical Missions:
22 Weeks

The final phase is the SPHC (School of Primary Health Care), consisting of 2 parts. The initial 12 weeks is the Lecture Phase where you will be trained in various primary healthcare skills. Subjects include: biblical basis for health care, anatomy and physiology, food & nutrition and much more. Instructors are from a variety of different healthcare backgrounds including doctors, physician assistants, nurses and long-term missionaries.

After the Lecture Phase, you will head to Vanuatu for 9 weeks of outreach where you will put your new skills into practice. Marine Reach has pioneered long term community health care facilities in Vanuatu and you will have the opportunity to participate in the significant work being done there, plus potentially run mobile primary health care clinics in surrounding villages, and outer Islands of Vanuatu.

After 9 weeks of outreach you will return back to Tauranga for debrief and graduation. This will be the completion of your Medical Compassion DTS PLUS program, however you may wish to explore staffing with Marine Reach either in Tauranga or Vanuatu, putting all you have learned into practice.

SPHC Curriculum

Below is an overview of some of the modules that will be covered in our 12-week Lecture Phase: