He Taught Them
Not only was Joe a medical missionary, he was also a teacher. His teaching was not theoretical, but practical. He taught by precept and example. The young people enjoyed his teaching because he made it fun. He would often tell the boys or whoever he was teaching, “I’ll show you once, then it’s your turn to do it.” And he kept his word. The next time a patient came to the clinic, he would call the students to come and take care of the injury, but he was right there to give them the confidence and the assurance that they could do it.
Joe’s death was very hard for the young people — Rene, Jorge, Roger, Waleska, Gaby, and all the M.I.C.E. Joe had been like a father, a friend, and a teacher to them. They remembered the special things he did for them, the advice he would give them. They said, “What we are and know today we owe to God and the Doctor. He taught us, he showed us love, and gave us confidence in what we could do with God’s help.”
“True education is missionary training. Every son and daughter of God is called to be a missionary; we are called to the service of God and our fellow men; and to fit us for this service should be the object of our education.”
MH.395
The legacy of service continues in the village of La Zona and the surrounding areas because of the influence and example of Joe upon these young men and all those he taught. The marching orders were “Remember, we are here to serve!”
