Chiromission’s vision is “to promote Chiropractic and adjust all those who are subluxated throughout the world especially in Third World countries where resources are so limited.”
The first day of our Mission trip was the “Waterfall Challenge”. The challenge involves building comradery, open-mindedness and ,above all, courage. For being a person who is terrified of heights, climbing a rather large waterfall only to toss yourself back off is not too high on my list of things to do. When you are with a group of highly motivated, supportive “Chiromissioners”, anything is possible. We get to the top, knees shaking, heart trembling, waiting for your turn to jump you can’t help but think that rarely ,if ever, will you get this chance again. How often can you say you jumped off a waterfall in a forest in the Dominican Republic? Take the step and make the best of each and every experience you’re given for it may be the last. And that is what I did. I stepped off that ledge.
On this particular mission trip were 20-25 Doctors of Chiropractic, 20 or so students going to school to become Chiropractors, and around 15 volunteers who were there to help in any way they could. Each day consisted of everyone meeting up at “La Casa”, which was a centralized location within the villages, where we would be grouped up as a 1 Doctor/1 Student/1 Volunteer grouping. From there we all piled into cars, and were driven to different parts of the town and dropped off to treat the residents. The Dominican resembled The Villages in that instead of golf carts being everywhere, there were motorcycles and scooters. It felt a little like home.
From the small and large, to the young and old, people started coming out of the wood works. Word spread fast and before you knew it, there was a line of people waiting to get adjusted. At one point a little girl (maybe 8 years old) sat down to get adjusted. She seemed a little scared at first but she had just witnessed another child get help so she figured she would try it out. The Doctor adjusted her spine and her eyes glowed with happiness. Grinning from ear to ear she took off only to return with ten of her best friends.
Hundreds upon hundreds of Dominicans were taken care of over the Chiromission trip and not one unhappy soul was brought upon us. Regardless of their past, every one of them had an appreciation like no other. At one point a young gentleman came up to us to get treated, he sat down unsure of what was to happen to him. While the doctor started treatment I noticed he was wearing a pair of pink sandals which looked two sizes too small for him. It was to the point where they were there to basically have something under his feet. Without hesitation I ran up to my bag and grabbed my tennis shoes. It wasn’t even the fact that I was giving my tennis shoes away to someone less fortunate that made me feel good; It was the fact that he was so appreciative for it. I will forever have his grateful face engraved in my memory.
To Be Continued!
The 2015 Chiromission trip was a blessing for me and it has opened my eyes to how life should be treated. You only get one attempt at it, be courageous and take that step. You’ll be a much happier person knowing you did.
Special thanks to all who supported and donated to our cause, and to those who participated in our 2nd Annual Chiromission Classic.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
Bryan
