The Good Samaritan Medical and Dental Ministry
Opening of the Family Medical Clinic in Cao Bang, Vietnam by Todd Erlandson
September 2024
“Last month, Marisol Chinchilla, Leigh, and I traveled to Cao Bang, Vietnam, to inaugurate the Family Medical Clinic, made possible by the Good Samaritan Medical and Dental Ministry and your generous donations. The event was a wonderful success, celebrated with an elaborate ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by government dignitaries. We offered formal speeches, conducted building tours, and jointly staffed the clinic with American and Vietnamese doctors and nurses who treated over forty patients on opening day.
The positive reception from the local government highlights the clinic’s significance in the region. We are especially grateful to the United Methodist Women in Faith and individual donors from our congregation for supporting our travel and participation in this impactful project. While in Cao Bang, we also connected with a newly formed Christian church congregation that plans to construct a satellite medical clinic, training center, and living quarters for staff and visitors. We shared our preliminary designs with them and visited the proposed building site—stay tuned for more updates on this exciting initiative!
Following the opening, our team took the opportunity to explore the natural wonders of Vietnam. We visited stunning sites like the Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Caves, Halong Bay, and the vibrant city of Hanoi. The landscapes were extraordinarily beautiful, and we found the people to be exceptionally friendly. The healthy, delicious food and clean, comfortable accommodations made our stay even more enjoyable. We highly recommend Vietnam for anyone seeking an adventurous visit!
GSMDM’s mission is “Sharing Love with the People of Vietnam” and “Making a Difference in the World by Changing Lives, One at a Time.” Your support plays a crucial role in these efforts. If you would like to contribute to our ongoing work, please visit our website at www.gsmdm.org. Thank you for your continued support!”
First UMC members Todd and Leigh Erlandson have been long-time supporters of the Good Samaritan Medical and Dental Ministry, located in the Cao Bang Province in North Vietnam. Todd and Leigh’s architecture office, March Studio, has worked in various capacities with the GSMDM organization to get medical projects started in Vietnam over the past 15 years. In 2019 they traveled to Vietnam with Dr. Vien Doan, founder of the Ministry, to plan the construction of a state of the art Family Health Center.