Lighthouse Medical Mission set off from Los Angeles in March 2014 on a medical mission trip to Guinea Bissua and Gambia.  This was their 23rd trip to Africa, and Dr. Bob Hamilton and his team thought they knew what to expect. Two days into their service duty in Guinea Bissua, Dr. Hamilton received notice of an Ebola virus breakout – two cases were diagnosed close to their clinic!  Dr. Hamilton met with the Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy, Richard Yoneoka who told him the potential for Ebola infection was considered “low” for the general population, but the risk was “high” for medical professionals.  Dr. Hamilton had to make the difficult decision to close the medical clinic.  All the Lighthouse doctors and volunteers had to follow instructions to remain in their housing compound until their return flight home to Los Angeles. Fortunately in the two days the clinic was open, the Lighthouse team cared for over 450 patients.
Dr. Hamilton remarked, “It was a very hard decision to leave the people we had come so far and waited so long to serve.”
Two of the Lighthouse nurses, Dal Basile and Alison Hagoski, were able to visit the Lar Bethel Fonte Da Vida Orphanage in Bissua where they gave all the children Croc shoes.  The little girls also received our handmade Dollies, and each boy received a soccer ball from the Riordon Foundation.