Most people spend their vacations sightseeing, resting or enjoying time with family and friends. But some, like Pilar, spend this time volunteering in developing countries.
PILAR GARCÍA
Family doctor and volunteer
It all started when I began to study medicine. I think it was in the first year of my career, we had a congress and we were given a talk by some military doctors who were telling us about the health missions they were doing in third world countries.
Some of her work involves dealing with victims of sexual abuse in Bolivia, helping elderly affected by World War II in Krakow and most recently, serving children in the Philippines.
PILAR GARCÍA
Family doctor and volunteer
When we arrived there, the opportunity arose for all of us in the health sector—doctors, nurses, dentists—to help in a medical center. But when we arrived, there was nothing.
The reality Pilar and her team imagined in the Philippines was not the one that they found. This led them to expand their volunteering beyond the medical field.
PILAR GARCÍA
Family doctor and volunteer
There were many children who lived on the street, who have no family. We wanted to be with them, keep them company and make them feel loved and cherished.
They were accompanied by a priest during this time and evangelized by organizing adorations and Eucharistic celebrations.
PILAR GARCÍA
Family doctor and volunteer
At the beginning I had my doubts. I didn't know if people were going to come or if they would stay here for an hour to pray with us. But it was incredible because the church was full.
Maybe 60% were children, ages 5 or 6 years old. I had never seen anything like it because normally in a church, in Spain, when the children go, they stay there for five minutes and after five minutes they are running around the church, nothing happens. But not here, here the children were with their two hands praying with us.
Pilar says her experience in the Philippines has been a challenge due to the minimal resources.
But in a few weeks, she and her team will embark on yet another challenge to serve those in need around the world: this time in Kenya.
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