January 30, 2008

Firefighters provide assistance abroad

       Two White River Township Fire Department firefighters took a seven day mission trip with their local churches to El Salvador to provide medical needs and assist with building children’s ministries.  Staff Battalion Chief Joel Thacker and Battalion Chief Jim Engmark both went to El Salvador, Central America, January 12^th through the 19^th to provide these different types of needs.  “This is my third mission trip to El Salvador and really enjoyed my time there” said Engmark.  Engmark stated that this was a medical mission trip where the group from Sanctuary Church passed out over 2,500 medications to some very sick people.  “The people that we help do not get the chance to go to the doctor when they are not feeling well nor can most of them afford it” he added.  The group was able to assist several others with dental care and optical care Engmark said.  Joel Thacker and his group from the Community Church of Greenwood, also assisted with children’s ministries, which included playing several games with the children.  Thacker stated that he has been on mission trips before, however this was one that will forever stand out in his memory.  Although they traveled separately, the two groups were actually on the same flights going to and coming back from El Salvador.  “We got stuck in Atlanta for about four hours due to some ice and snow.”,  Engmark said.  “When we got back to Indianapolis, there was a 100 degree difference in temperature”, he added.  Engmark and Thacker both stated that they plan on returning to El Salvador again in the future.
 

           

           
(Click on a thumbnail to enlarge photo)
 

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