Mission Chiropractic

         By Peter H. Morgan, D.C.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

   A mission, from the Latin missum (English: sent), is a specific task, often religious, which a person or group has been charged with or adopts as their main purpose. It can also mean a school or other institution founded for religious education and/or evangelization. See also missionary, a related word in a religious context. The mission of an organization is often stated explicitly in a mission statement. Mission (Christian), a Christian missionary movement or post  Mission (station), a base of missionary practice  List of Spanish missions, various missions established by the Spanish in the New World (modern Latin America, mostly) both to spread Christianity and to oversee colonization.  Bolivarian Missions, a series of social programs created during Hugo Chávez's rule of Venezuela. Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area, often based on geographic regions, of proselytizing or service assignments by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  Missionary (LDS Church)  Mission president, a priesthood leadership position LDS Church  Diplomatic mission, a diplomatic outpost in a foreign territory  Space mission, the launch of craft into outer space. List of human spaceflights, a list of manned space missions. Combat mission, a military action. Mission statement, a brief statement of the purpose of an organization Mission (slang), a slang term often used to describe a task or objective of which is considered difficult by the user

Mission Chiropractic. My mission is chiropractic. I hope that it is yours as well. Whether you agree or disagree with my philosophy of chiropractic, if chiropractic is your mission then this book will be interesting to you. If our quest is truly chiropractic then we need to review our beginning. A new beginning for most of us. Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art. DD Palmer stated that "The philosophy of chiropractic consists of the reasons given for the principles which compose the science and the movements which have to do with the art."  Art relates to something to be done.  Chiropractic art consists in the aptitude of adjusting displaced vertebrae, of which art I am the originator." DD created the art of chiropractic. His mission. You guessed it "Chiropractic." DD Palmer stated that "Science is accepted, accumulated knowledge, systematized and formulated with reference to the existence of general facts -- the operation of general laws concerning one subject.  Chiropractic is the name of a classified, indexed, knowledge of successive sense impressions of biology -- the science of life which science I created out of principles which have existed as long as the vertebrata.  Science is the knowledge of knowing." DD Palmer created the science of chiropractic. Palmer’s mission. You guessed it "Chiropractic"

Chiropractic also has a spiritual component. This usually is discussed when discussing the philosophy of chiropractic. My impression is that the spiritual aspects of chiropractic have been missing from most of the curriculums in our chiropractic schools. There are a few schools that delve into the theology of chiropractic; however I am asking you to consider spirituality as an integral tool in your mission of chiropractic. I am asking for this to be studied in all of our chiropractic schools. Let’s look at what DD Palmer said about education.     “The object of a chiropractic education is the attainment of information concerning the origin, development, structure, and functions of our physical organism, the phenomena of physical earth-life and that of spiritual existence.  These are acquired by observation and demonstration.  Chiropractors declare that God is the All-pervading Intelligence, that each individual, segmented portion of spirit is a part of that intelligent creative principle; that only matter changes its form; that spirit modifies its environment, and the dissolution is but a process of reproduction.  The philosophy of chiropractic teaches the Universality of Intelligence and that its aim is always onward and upward toward perfection.   Our belief, faith and knowledge depend upon our education.  Our education depends upon our environments.

  If our mission is chiropractic then we must study and comprehend chiropractic science. DD Palmer stated" that Chiropractors must know not only the basic principle upon which chiropractic is founded and the constitutional parts which form its scientific structure, but, also, the philosophy of the science and art of vertebral adjusting. Chiropractic deals with biology.  It is the only comprehensive system which answers the time-worn question “what is life.”     Scientific chiropractors are versed in the principles of chiropractic.  They live according to its rules.  They philosophize on the art of relieving abnormal conditions by adjusting displaced bones.  As Educated Intelligences, they relieve undue pressure on nerves in order that Innate may transmit and receive impulses to and from the various parts of the body in a normal manner.  They desire to understand the nature of our physical existence and assign natural causes for both normal and abnormal functions.

    As a science chiropractic explains local and general death to be but the result of law, a step on the road of eternal progression; that any deviation from tone, the basis of chiropractic, is disease.

    As a philosophy it is the science of all sciences.  It deals with subjective, ethical religion -- the science which treats of the existence, character and attributes of God, the all pervading Universal Intelligence.  Its possibilities will become unlimited, when His laws and our duties as a segmented, personified, portion thereof, are scientifically understood.  

        Chiropractic science includes biology -- the science of life -- in this world, and the recognition of a spiritual existence in the next.  The principles which compose it are substantive in their independence and incentive to human and spiritual progress.  They originate in Divinity, the Universal Intelligence, and constitute the essential qualities of life which, having begun in this world, are never ending.

    It is an educational, scientific, religious system.  It associates its practice, belief and knowledge with that of religion.  It imparts instruction relating both to this world and the one to come.  Supreme spiritual existence can only be obtained through earthly experience.  Chiropractic sheds enlightenment upon physical life and spiritual existence, the latter being only a continuation of the former.

    Man is a dual entity, composed of intelligence and matter, spirit and material, the immortal and mortal, the everlasting and the transient.  The manifestation of such an existence is intelligent action.    Chiropractors, especially, are aiding in this great advancement by adjusting the osseous structure, the position of which has to do with determining normal and abnormal tension, for in whatever part function is abnormally performed tonicity is either lacking or excessive -- Creative Intelligence is prevented from expressing itself normally.  Many a child has been injured at birth by a vertebral displacement which caused an impingement upon one or more of the spinal nerves, as they emanate from the spinal canal, the fibers of which are distributed to certain organs.  The result of this excessive tension is physical or mental debility, often both, which, from a lack of pathological knowledge, may be life long; the mental defect extending even into the next world.  For we retain only that which has been acquired during this earthly, preparatory existence.  By properly adjusting the neuroskeleton, these unfortunates may be enabled to acquire sufficient knowledge, rightfully due them, to become useful members of society and enjoy life in this world and the one to come.  

    I hold it to be self-evident that all men and women, who have acquired sufficient knowledge and skill to remove the nerve tension which prevents physical, mental and spiritual development, are engaged in a work of a higher order.

    Chiropractic science, its art and philosophy, deal with human and spiritual phenomena.  The conscientious reverent acknowledgement of the phenomena, in sentiment and act, connects the spiritual with the physical, and constitutes in its fullest and highest sense a religion. . 

    Morally, chiropractors are duty bound to help humanity physically.  Religiously, they are required to render spiritual service toward God, the Universal Intelligence, by relieving mankind of their fetters, adjusting the tension-frame of the nervous system, the physical lines of communication to and from the spirit.  By so doing they greatly aid intellectual attainment and progress toward perfection through the untrammeled, mental reception of intelligent expressions of individual spirits.  By correcting the skeletal frame the spirit is permitted to assume normal control, and produce normal expression. .” The science of chiropractic is based on tone.  Tone is the standard from which we note the variations of structure, temperature, tonicity, elasticity, renitency and tension; it is the standard of health; any deviation there from is disease.  Tone is the BASIC PRINCIPLE, the one from which all other principles, which compose the science, have sprung.

    I created a science out of the principles revealed to me and named it chiropractic.  I correlated the art of adjusting displaced vertebrae together with the philosophy of the science and art.  DD Palmer created the art, philosophy and science of chiropractic. Palmer’s mission. You guessed it "Chiropractic"

    Physicians deal with the physical only; chiropractors with both the physical and the spiritual.    The spirit holds the same relation to the body as God; the All Wise Intelligence does to the Universe.  If you can locate the one, you can designate the location and define the limits of the other.  God is indwelling in the universe, everywhere present; He occupies every part thereof; likewise, the spirit permeates every portion of the body in which it dwells.  God does not depend upon the universe for His existence, neither does the spirit rely upon the body for its continued manifestations. The spiritual intelligence controls unintelligent matter through the nervous system.  Each and every portion of the body is permeated by the spirit and its means of communication.   The founder of chiropractic has located the spirit in man, found its abiding place to be throughout the entire body, a position from which each and every nerve ganglia may be used for receiving and forwarding impulses. DD Palmer. Palmer’s mission. You guessed it "Chiropractic"

Chapter 1 Finding joy and serenity through service.

To be a servant requires making a shift in your thought process. It is the sublime adjustment to a lofty and grand expression. Your intention to serve with love in your heart will create something magnificent. We can begin by attenuating humankind, helping the poor, helping the sick and helping the lost. You can also serve the animal and plant kingdom or nature. Serving those in third world countries is a wonderful endeavor; however you can start with your own community. We serve with love and compassion. It is act of giving of ourselves without wanting anything in return. Serving for the sake of serving.  This is the genesis of an outstanding spiritual intellectual. An external journey is important and a lot of fun; however an internal journey will reveal your self, your mission and your purpose. Servants focus on others; they forget about themselves and think only of others. Loose your self in service and a wonderful transformation will result. Through service you will encounter: a remarkable and wondrous journey, you will encounter a flourishing career, a wonderful family, abundant material goods, financial security, a respected role in the community, a spiritual leader. What are the requirements to serve you ask? A mission and purpose to serve is the foundation.  Love, compassion, empathy and sincerity are essential. Bestow that love and compassion upon human kind, especially the poor, the sick and disabled. We serve to relieve the suffering, the distressed and the destitute; we also serve the people in our communities to relieve their stresses. We do this by serving with love. Love is the gift that was passed on to mankind through God.  Service is the noble virtue that passes on love from man to man. It is a natural law. It is this virtue that unifies men and inspires their lives. The great artists, architects and poets were blessed with this divine virtue. The people of third world countries certainly need this service. Your community needs this service. Genuine love and compassion are demanding requirements.  They require the transformation of self. Servants think more about others than themselves.

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. Maya Angelou

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich. Henry Ward Beecher

Not what I have but what I do is my kingdom. Thomas Carlyle

Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another. George Eliot

If you want to change the world, be that change. Mohandas Gandhi

I am a Traditional Chiropractor. Chiropractic is a holistic "hands on" natural healing profession. Taking care of injured people was always a dream of mine. I was practicing chiropractic for many years. I built a huge chiropractic office and I was helping many injured people. I bought a nice home in an affluent area 35 minutes from midtown Manhattan. As my chiropractic practice grew so did my stress. I was busy taking care of injured people and I became inundated with insurance paperwork. It got to a point that I was just doing administrative services. I felt that every one wanted something from me. Lawyers needed reports, insurance companies needed notes. I lost the sense of service. I loved taking care of people but I did not feel an inner sense of joy and serenity. I felt dissatisfied and that I was just trying to meet my expenses. I was too concerned with the collections. I realized that something was missing. What is my purpose? Helping injured people. A good purpose but something was missing. What was my true purpose in life?  What was my mission in life?  What was my purpose in the universe?  The sense of joy and serenity were missing.  I kept feeling that I have not done enough for my fellow man. Although I loved the church, I did not like going to mass. I felt guilty and wondered how God was looking at me. I went to Italy many times and visited many churches. In the late seventies, I even lived in a monastery for 6 months. Then I had a lucid dream a few years ago after listening to a speaker named Pasqual Cerasoli, DC. I dreamt that I was with DD Palmer. It was very spiritual.  In this dream, DD instructed me on the ways of chiropractic. A revelation, Chiropractic could reunite the physical with the spiritual. As the dream was concluding, I made a solemn oath to DD Palmer and to the great Universe (god) that I would bring forth this spiritual message of chiropractic. I would lead and teach Chiropractors, students and the public about chiropractic. I would help to lead this great profession to glory. Before this dream, I was a chiropractor. Since this dream, I have been a chiropractic leader and chiropractic missionary. I began studying philosophy, theology and spiritualism.  I read the works of Mother Theresa.  Mother Theresa wrote “When our physical world ends God will separate all people into two groups, just as the Sheppard separates the sheep from the goats. In addition, god will say to those on his right, "You shall enter the Kingdom of Glory because when I was hungry you fed me: when I was naked, you clothed me, when I was thirsty, you gave me drink, when I was sick, and you tended to me. And those on the right will say, But, Lord, when did I see you naked or hungry or thirsty?" god said," Whatever you do for the least of our brother and sisters, you did it to me". Mother Theresa stated, "That god will judge us on how we loved and how much compassion we had for our brother and sisters. God comes to us in the distressing disguise of the poor and asks us for our help" I understood this to mean that the universe wants us to fill our spirit with love; with compassion, as we serve our fellow man with kindness, with joy, with the love and compassion of angels. In order to have spiritual growth we need to serve love and compassion. Serve it to all humanity. One of my missions is to alleviate the suffering of others especially the poor, sick and disabled.  When I do this I feel alive. This incredible gift of giving is rewarded with the experience of feeling the extraordinary in the ordinary. The treasure of life is that we become more aware of our mission and purpose in life. We break through by awakening. We then can experience all of life’s events and journeys with excitement. We become fully alive with drive and passion. We live life to its fullest. The treasure is life itself.

Now I love going to church. I love giving thanks to God every chance I get. I love doing God’s work. God has blessed me with the ability to place my hands on the spines of others, in order to reconnect the physical with the spiritual. How great is it, that I get to lay my hands on people to help nature, the universe and god heal .I am an instrument of the universe, an instrument of God. God has blessed me with the ability to preach and teach this wonderful work. This is my service. You certainly do not have to be a chiropractor, pastor, minister, priest, monk nor rabbi to do this work. In this book I will help you to discover your mission, your purpose and service.

That best portion of a good man's life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.  William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)

Chapter 2:     Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth through compassion and love service gives you the tools to make your everyday life work and bring increasingly higher levels of order, harmony, clarity, and love into every area of your life. You will begin to see the true purpose and mission of your life. As you link your innate intelligence with the universe, you will gain more awareness of the path of human evolution and your part in it. You will attract the tools to carry out your mission in life. Your life's mission will affect the whole world. You will be the leader of this movement you will help create more harmony in our world.

You will affect the animal and plant kingdom as well. You will be able to do what you always wanted to do. You will love what you do and you will want to do it all the time. As you let the spiritual growth of universal intelligence into your life, you will ascend to higher dimensions of your life. You will see the world differently. As you become more aware and grow spiritually, you will begin to communicate differently. You will attract loving relationships and you will connect with people in higher ways. You will begin to share more and ascend to higher levels of intimacy. You will have an incredible connection with your family.  You will be able to connect with people in a meaningful and loving way. 

One of the first things that you can do to grow spiritually is to let go of any preconceived notions that you have about spiritual growth. Spiritual growth occurs when you attempt to help humanity. It occurs when raise the consciousness of service to humanity. This is the service of compassion and love.  We can provide this to humanity....

Spiritual growth also occurs as you connect with your higher self also called "innate intelligence". Your innate intelligence is coalesced with the universal intelligence. As you connect with your innate intelligence, the universe will send you messages. They will come in the form of intuition and feelings such as hunches. Go with these feelings. You will notice odd things will be happening. You will attract loving things into your life; you will attract money into your life. This money will help you with your mission of serving humanity. People, newspapers, radio, and television will bring you messages from the universe. Your spiritual growth will grow tremendously as you become aware of your innate intelligence. If you are having trouble connecting with your innate intelligence then try this. Pretend that you have a wise teacher or advisor living with you all the time. Visualize this wise old teacher speaking with you daily, coaching and advising you on matters of importance. Advising you on how you can bring more love and compassion to the world. Advising you on how you can help people in third world countries. Listen to your wise old teacher on matters of finance and love. Listen to him on matters of spirituality and personal relationships. After you have practiced these visualizations and communications for one month then you can stop pretending, because your innate intelligence is there. It is advising me at this moment on which words I should put on this paper. As you get more in tune with your innate intelligence, allow it to become the director of every part of your life. Once you connect with your innate intelligence on a daily basis-you will seek to learn, to experience, to create, to compose, to write, to paint, to illuminate, to speak, to run, to climb, to jump, to help, to serve, and explore the greater being that you are. You will uncover the mysteries of the universe and you will never be the same. You may want to rest for a while, but I suggest beginning drinking espresso because after you begin the joy of providing the service of compassion and love to human kind you will never slow down again and you will never want to stop. I feel like hugging the whole world. I cannot get enough hugs.

From time to time, your wise old teacher will give you tasks. You see we all have a purpose for being on this earth. Finding your mission and purpose will be unveiled to you as you serve. The universe planned something very special for you and you there is a request for you to make a difference. You are to minister and facilitate the change of the world. One person can change the course of humanity. It can be any one of us. One individual can affect millions of people.

If you are reading my passages here, then you are one of the chosen few to perform this work. Your calling is to save lives. You are now an instrument of the universe. You do not have to be a doctor to save a life. You are requested to enlighten others. You were chosen to give something back. You have already received. You can read! You can see! You have wealth beyond your wildest dreams. Now it is time to give back. It is time to serve. We are created for a life of good deeds. As we perform these assignments, we are fulfilling our life's purpose. We have been entrusted with a special mission. A sacred oath. Listen carefully to your wise old teacher (innate intelligence) for your unique and special task. When you fulfill this endeavor, the rewards will be the greatest treasures of them all. “Love, serenity and joy”.

Material wealth will probably accompany as well, however this is not why we are serving. Material wealth cannot be the focus. We are serving because we have been chosen by the universe. The universe will reward      us. We may not know when or how but it will happen.

   There is an abundance of everything in the universe. There is a lack of nothing. It is better to give and not think of receiving. Bob Proctor said, “Learning to truly give without thought of receiving is the best way to learn to trust abundance. Each time you give think, there's plenty to go around." That is why service is such an important element of our purpose. Focus on service and abundance will come.  When we serve for the sake of service we open up our heart to receive, this is the natural law of give and receive.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. – Mother Teresa, 1910-1997, Albanian-born Humanitarian and Missionary

Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832, German Poet/Dramatist/Novelist

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. - Helen Keller, 1880-1968, American Blind/Deaf Author and Lecturer

Never forget that the most powerful force on earth is love. – Nelson Rockefeller, 1908-1979, American Politician/Philanthropist/Businessman

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. – Helen Keller, 1880-1968, American Blind/Deaf Author and Lecturer
 
The time is always right to do what is right. – Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968, American Civil Rights Leader

the greatest healing therapy is friendship and love. – Hubert H. Humphrey, 1911-1978, American Politician and Vice President

Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. – Mother Teresa, 1910-

Chapter 3 Saved

I have been saved many times. You have been rescued as well. You are blessed because you have a special purpose, a special function and a special mission. This gives your life a very special dimension, a spiritual dimension. This is the ability for your innate intelligence to connect with your soul. As you are communicating with your innate intelligence and letting it work without hindrance you are connecting with your soul. Your innate intelligence runs your physical body. As long as the innate intelligence is allowed to connect to every cell in the body, the body will be healthy. Your soul is your spiritual connection to the universal intelligence. The Universal intelligence runs all the dimensions, all the galaxies, all of the unexplained phenomenon. The connection between the innate intelligence and the universal intelligence is profound. I would like to take a few moments to share with you the knowledge that man is not divisible. We are physical and spiritual. For physical growth we run, jump, lift weights etc. For spiritual growth we need to strive to help humanity. After the explanation I will return to our study of our special service to humanity. In 500 BC many philosophers, healers, religious men and theologians saw fit to divide man. The soul, spirit-was one half. This half was for the religious men, theologists and philosophers. The physical body was the other half. This was given to physicians because they worked, studied, manipulated, taught, prescribed medicines, prescribed herbs and practiced with and upon the physical. Since this time, people have been studying man as being divided into two. The mechanists have been trying to make their one-half the whole of the man. The vitalists/spiritualists have been trying to make their half the whole of man. Neither has succeeded.  Let us look at it in this way: What if electricians said electricity was all that was needed to produce light, we did not need bulbs, wires, circuits, motors, etc. Or, as though the mechanists said matter and

chemistry was all that was needed to produce life; there is no necessity for innate mental impulse flow because they couldn't prove it as a materiality in laboratories. As though one said, they could and did have a light without a bulb. The other said they could and did have light without electricity. Therefore, since the year 500 BC we have been trying to make work with this divided man. Health care has been failing all these years.  We have studied the divided man and in each area, we have come up with good theories and practices. However, in studying man in two different parts we have reached many erroneous conclusions. When they attempt to explain how one-half makes, the whole work we ultimately fail.  It is good to study physical mechanics, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology. It is also good to study theology and spiritualism. However, do not let it interfere with the natural working of the natural law of living human beings. When we divide the study of human beings into two separate parts, and each part is studied as the whole, the education can have very serious side affects. Religious men, spiritualists and theologians speak only of the soul and the salvation of the soul.  Some religious people have abuses, afflicted, impaled, mutilated, mistreated, maimed and mangled the body for eternal salvation. To the religious men sickness is a decadence of the mind. Physicians on the other hand feel that every sickness is a chemical or material problem, every injury is a mechanical problem and the treatment must be something that is put into the body or something that is removed from the body. To the physician’s health care is materia-medicine, with a material cause and material cure. Let us look at a scenario involving a clergyman and a physician. The clergyman goes to school to study the soul and the spirit. He studies about prayer and salvation. The physician goes to medical school to study the physical body. He studies anatomy, biochemistry, physiology and all the material of the body. The clergyman becomes ill. Does he go to another clergyman?  No, he goes to physician. The physician does blood test, takes his temperature and thoroughly examines his body.  The physician diagnosis is a lung problem. The lung is matter.  The physician prescribes a chemical (another form of matter) for his material lung. The physician hopes to so change the material lung so that it returns to its normal materialistic lung condition. In the second situation, a physician commits a "sin".  He keeps thinking about the sin repeatedly. He has a “guilty conscience". Does he take his guilty conscience, his sin, to another physician? No goes to a clergyman. Someone who can help is soul. Someone who can help him repent his sins.  So here, we see the example of the divided human. The clergymen eat, digest, breathe, respirate, walks and runs in his physical body. The physician thinks, he has mental impulses that move his body, the mental thought process attracts things into his life, and the mental impulses create his daily activities. The physician uses his mind to exist.  We see that both the physical and the thought (soul) exist. Each is necessary for the functioning of the human being, (holistic) yet when something goes wrong the human is treated separately. Many times the results are not as good as we would like. The Human body is not divided. There is a unity of the innate intelligence, the spirit, and the body.

The Universe is calling you. You might have thought that priests, nuns, pastors, rabbi’s etc only encountered a calling. Every person is called upon. Only some answer. Those that answer encounter the greatest riches in the universe. I am attempting to provide you with the road map to your calling, the course .to your purpose and your mission. Your service is very important and needed by many. Each of us has a service to provide and every service is important. There is no such thing as a small service, every service is desperately needed and every service matters to the universe. The service that you give will come from your talents, your excitement, and your gifts. As you serve, more talents will become available to you. You will learn to draw, paint, and write through your passion to serve. Energy will flow into your life. It will flow to and through you. You will feel a wave motion going through your body. One of the things that I teach is how to connect with the wave motion that can occur within your body. The wave motion clears your body out of stress and readjusts your spine. Have you ever watched a cat stretch its spine?

Well the wave will take you through these series of stretches. The wave will come as you serve humanity. This increase in energy comes as you go through your spiritual growth. Every humanity service thought you have, every emotion creates an initiation of energy, which travel along waves across the universe. These waves similar to radio waves reach others with same thought patterns and attract them to your purpose. You will encounter people ready to help you in your service. You will bring into alignment people with similar visions and you will immediately help the world into a better place.

 It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters. – Mother Teresa, 1910-1997,

I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.  Tennessee Williams (1911 – 1983)

Chapter 4 Mission Chiropractic

A few months after my lucid dream, I encountered my long time friend Todd Herold. We talked and talked about reuniting the spirit with the physical. We decided that we want to help as many people in third world countries as possible. As we discussed our dream, JC Doornick came into our presence. He too had the vision of bringing natural health care to third world countries. We decided to create a chiropractic mission to the Dominican Republic. Along the way, I had a spiritual journey. I discovered my mission and purpose in life. I would like to share with you this journey, a spiritual therapy. Let me warn you though, a spiritual transformation is not easy.  It does require a commitment and the ability to lose some close friends and even family members. Your associates will become perplexed. They will think that you are nutty, crazy, confused and bewildered. However once undertaken this journey will bring you love and compassion. The journey will enable you to go from anger, anxiety and frustration to serenity and joy. Most important is that you will discover your mission in life and you will discover the Universe’s purpose for your life.  First, let me tell you about our trip.

On September 28, 2006, 6 chiropractors plus I arrived in Puerta Plata Dominican Republic. We were on a mission. A religious mission?  No. The mission was not sponsored by any church and the doctors attending were of many different faiths. A chiropractic mission yes. A spiritual mission yes.  Our purpose is to promote chiropractic and adjust all those who are subluxated throughout the world, especially in third world countries where resources are so terribly limited. We also intend to cultivate students of chiropractic from those deprived areas so they may return to their beloved countries and work as chiropractors. On Thursday night September 28, 2006 Todd Herold, DC and myself were interviewed for 1 hour on a major Dominican Republic TV station. At 7 am Friday morning JC Doornick, DC and Todd Herold, DC were interviewed on "Good Morning Dominican Republic. During our interviews, it was announced that chiropractic would be available in five locations during the following two days After the Friday morning interview; we were brought to a local church .where hundreds of people were waiting to be adjusted. People were waiting since 5 am for the seven chiropractors from the United States. People showed up with their children and great grandparents. They all wanted to receive "Gods greatest gift to man" chiropractic. More than two thousand people came to the church that day. We adjusted every nun from about 10 parishes. After adjusting several hundred people Dr's JC Doornick, Todd Herold and David Hecht were brought to two separate orphanages. The children at these orphanages were severely disabled and had been abandoned in the streets of the DR. They all were adjusted that day. When I met up with these chiropractors during dinner, they all looked tired and sad. Dr. Herold vomited for three hours and did not appear for dinner. Apparently, he had to purge his sadness. The next morning Dr. Herold and the rest of our group were up at 5 am and ready to go. The date was Saturday September 30, 2006. A date I will never forget. We were spilt up and sent to three different locations. JC and I teamed up with a medical director from a remote hospital, two nuns and an assistant. We drove in a small vehicle for four. One of the overweight nuns took turns sitting on JC's and my lap. We drove for two hours through the Jungle Mountains without air conditioning. It was at least 100 degrees. We arrived at a small city about 8 am. People were arriving via mules to see us. We adjusted about two hundred people by 10:30 am when I witnessed my first miracle. All of a sudden, people started yelling and screaming. They ran up to me, started pointing, and urged me to run towards the street. A man had collapsed and was apparently dying. JC ran by me (he is 15 years younger) and reached this fellow before me. This man had no pulse. JC adjusted his atlas and immediately the man opened his eyes motioned with his arms as if a wave of energy was going through him. I gave the fellow some water and he gradually came to his feet. Twenty-five people witnessed this and our Dominican assistant captured it on video. We went back to our post and adjusted every priest in the parish. We were then invited to lunch at one of the priest’s home. We had a very tasty lunch although I was not familiar with any of the food groups. After lunch, we drove about another hour. We arrived at a hospital in a small mountainous city. Hundreds of people were waiting outside the hospital to be adjusted. JC and I were first given a tour of the hospital. We adjusted every MD, every nurse and every patient in the hospital. They then opened the doors for the people waiting outside. I adjusted 86 people in the first hour. How do I know it was 86 people? Well for some reason the hospital made every patient have a number. The numbers were given to our chiropractic assistants. The jobs of our assistants (we had two) were to tell the chiropractic story to 20 people at a time and take the numbers. During the next several hours, I slowed down considerably, and although JC does not think so, he slowed down as well. We adjusted people from newborn to well over a hundred. Even though I adjusted 86 people in one hour, I am confident that each patient received the perfect adjustment. It is if time had slowed. I have now used this approach in my tennis game. I am now able to slow the ball down in my minds eye. Most adjustments were upper cervical and I felt I was an instrument of the universe.  Our Chiropractic story was simple "Chiropractic reunites the physical with the spiritual. The chiropractor releases the wisdom of the doctor within". Night was approaching; we had to take the long winding drive back to our base. All I could remember was how happy and appreciative the people were to receive chiropractic. It was strange but it felt that I received the greatest chiropractic gift that day. When I met up with Todd Herold that night, he also shared a chiropractic miracle with me. One of the young patients at the orphanage was listless and could not move or talk the day before. Dr. Herold told me that the boy was three and a half years old and not able to walk. He was placed on a table and examined for subluxations during the adjustment the boy started crying very loudly and was very frightened. When Todd Herold and Dave Hecht arrived at the orphanage on Saturday, the boy was running around and urged Dr. Herold and Dr. Hecht to adjust everyone in the orphanage. This is just some of the stories we brought back with us after a wonderful time of sharing and caring for people who would not have the benefits and healing of chiropractic any other way. During our four days, we adjusted people in schools, churches, and orphanages. I was a truly rewarding experience. The people are waiting for our return – thousands of them. We are going back on March 29, 2007. We will adjust cases that you would never think of seeing. There is no better way to learn about chiropractic than by adjusting people. Dr. Doreen Sundin who was on this trip with us told me " Did I tell you that adjusting people at a pace I didn't think was humanly possible and have them come back the next day looking for you with a big smile on their face to tell you they felt "mucho Mejor" ( much better) was awesome? It was beyond awesome. All of those things and much more made this a memorable experience, but what made this an experience that will always be etched in my mind's eye was the overwhelming sense of inner strength I personally walked away with, knowing that I had made a difference".

Chapter 5    On This Trip

Dr. Marti Hecht who was on this trip with us told me "I must say that I was not sure what to expect when I first found out my role...but I have to say WOW!!!! The people of the DR were so warm and welcoming. I am not convinced that the people knew what to expect from us either. I do know the many patients we saw were there because they knew we could make a difference in their lives...they wanted to be there. Many came from miles away with the hope to feel better and they left knowing we helped them. All day long, we received thanks and smiles from each patient- even if we could not communicate by words. One moment of many that stand out occurred while Dave and I were at a small, church about 45 min from town. We were in a small room- no bigger than 8 x 12 with two windows. We had six chairs to see people. At one time I looked outside and there at least 12-15 children all ages peering in the window with such curiosity. Then at the next instant, (so it seemed) our whole room was filled with children- all those that were looking in...Then more and more children- some left to bring back their siblings- all left with huge smiles. It was great to be appreciated...it was a tremendous feeling to be able to give, just to give. It definitely makes you hope our own patients would be so grateful. Thank you for including me on the experience...I cannot wait to see the video...."
Dr. Dave Hecht who was on this trip with us told me "that this was absolutely amazing, my patient's have been asking me this and my response is that I am walking on a cloud. To be able to affect so many people on such a short amount of time was incredible. I look forward to serving even more next trip (yes, next trip). To be able to deliver the goods with minimal verbal communication and know they got it was just so awesome. From the handicapped children in the two orphanages to the massive amount of people from infants to super seniors was rewarding beyond words".
Dr. Craig Fishel who was on this trip with us told me "A few months back I became aware of something called Chiropractic Mission. It was described to me as a trip to Puerta Plata in the Dominican Republic. Several doctors would be going and adjusting thousands of people. On paper, it sounded good: an all-inclusive resort at a very good price, an excursion to a jungle, with the added bonus of high volume adjusting. I have been to many seminars seen many gurus and have had the “Monday morning will be awesome experiences”. Nothing I have done can compare to this experience. Yes, the resort was great, and yes, the jungle excursion was off the charts. What separated this from everything else? We did not know about “the unknown”. The agenda was clear; we would show up to this location at such and such time and adjust until there was no one left to adjust. Then we will eat lunch, go swimming, have dinner, wake up tomorrow and do it again. Did you catch the “until there was no one left to adjust” part? The unknown was: how many people are coming, what if the river guides are too weak and cannot speak English, what about and lunch if we have to keep going, is the driver going to be there or come at all. The mantra of Chiropractic Mission has become we will work it out when we get there and we did. Because when something is pure, right, completely and driven by principle nothing can block it. So of course, it all works out! I believe in living life for its experiences and never missing one. I want to be present at all moments. I went on this trip for one personal reason. Why did I go? I was looking for my heart. The idea was to give and receive. Yes whenever we regale, we receive. In chiropractic, we give of ourselves. There is nothing that transcends the physical and spiritual so wonderfully as the chiropractic adjustment. Practicing in New York City I sometimes need to reconnect and weekend seminar may help to repair the symptom sometimes but the core that needed repair for me was my heart. I want to help people so much that when they do not want the help it breaks my heart.    

The health paradigm that exists in the US is drug it, cut it or tell them they are crazy. The US is taking its paradigm to the entire world. The Dominican Republic does not yet have a health paradigm. They do have a culture; and cultures supersede paradigms. Simply stated: most people there were unaware of Chiropractic. So all we had to do was tell them that god created you and a nervous system that is protected by the spine and when we remove the interferences, the body heals, and most of these interferences are in the neck. These were very well received to a culture that is 100% Catholic and we were the first Chiropractors that ever spoke to them. To be able to deliver an adjustment that was received as an instrument to connect them to their maker and bring them closer to their natural state without by bias and untrue knowledge was beautiful.

I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. Oprah Winfrey

Sow good services; sweet remembrances will grow them. Madame de Stael (1766 – 1817)

Be silent as to services you have rendered, but speak of favours you have received. Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.  Thomas Paine (1737 - 1809)

Chapter 6

Chiropractic Mission trip March 30, 2007

Our mission is to serve the people of the Dominican Republic with love and compassion. Our purpose is to promote chiropractic and adjust all those who are subluxated throughout the Dominican Republic where resources are so terribly limited. We intend to create a free chiropractic clinic for the poor. We intend to cultivate students of chiropractic from the Dominican Republic so they may return to their beloved countries and provide vertebral subluxation service.

We returned to the Dominican Republic on March 30, 2007 with 18 chiropractors and 20 chiropractic students. The students were from Life Chiropractic College. During our first day in the DR before our chiropractic mission started, we wanted to liberate our fears. We created a fear challenge. The challenge begins with a hike across a wide and rough river. We walk five at a time connected to one another by our folded arms. If one of us breaks loose, it could be trouble. Luckily, we have guides behind us to save any of the fallen. As we cross the rio we encounter a strong current that makes us drift down stream. We finally arrive to the other side. Was that a snake? Then could it be? A wild bore. No, it was just one of the guides playing some kind of joke on us. Our group of 20 proceeds through the jungle hugging to the side of another strong but narrower river.  We cross over this river 9 or 10 times during the next hour. We arrive at a huge waterfall. Are we crazy? As we are attempting to climb the falls, many of us fall back 5 or 6 feet into the whirlpool of water. The guides place our feet on treacherous and slippery rocks. They literally push, pull and lift us up the falls. The water is rushing over us with a current so strong it can rip a 250-pond man away from the guides. Let me tell you about our guides. They are short, small and light. They can lift 250-pound men as if they are feathers. They can swim like sharks and they can climb like monkeys.

This was fortunate for two of our women with us. Doreen was saved as she slipped off the falls. One of the guides dove off a cliff and pulled her out of the thunderous and extreme rapids. As we approached the fourth level (there are 27) Morgan was bumped by a guide and fell into the rapids. She grabbed onto a guide and they both went flying down the rapids. Fortunately, JC was able to stop them and pull them out. The guides forbade us to move on. You see it had been raining for two weeks and the water was at its highest level ever. The last time we did the challenge we made it to the 20th level and it was easier then the first three levels today. We had to turn back. The only way down was to jump cliffs into small pools of water. The first cliff was an easy 10 feet. This was a piece of cake. At least it was for me. I did see many people struggling. The next cliff was a little more challenging, only 12 feet. It took some people more than twenty minutes to jump. To get down to the first level you could jump a 10-foot cliff or you could rid all your fears and take the 66-foot cliff. Since this was my third face your fears challenge and I enjoy high jumping I always wanted to take the 66 foot skydive. The guides would never let me. On this trip, I made them an offer they could not refuse. I would double their tip.  Since I have experience jumping and diving cliffs I knew that you just have to do it. The longer you stand on the cliff the harder it becomes. Therefore, when the guides gave me the go ahead I went for it. It was a long 66; because you had to land in a very small area. What a rush!! I looked back and boy was I surprised. I saw fifteen of our Chiropractic Missionaries lined up for the 66-foot plunge. It took some along time to purge their fears but they all did. As I was driving back to our hotel I realized I had no fear of passing cars even though cars were heading straight towards us in the other lane. I now have to take a class to get some fear back!

Well onto to our mission. The next day we headed to the casa de oracion. The healing house. We arrive with a crew of 38. Sor Teodora and many other nuns met us. Sor Teodora must be Mother Therese’s sister. The love that emanates from sor is beyond description. In addition, when we presented her with 150,000,000 of pesos in donations tears were flowing as strong as the Rio the previous today. Amore, love and compassion are requirements for this beautiful mission. This is what we received. Our 38 "hands on miracle healers" were sent to16 remote locations. Some were also sent to orphanages. We adjusted nine thousand people in three days. One group, a chiropractor and two chiropractic students were sent to a location that also had a medical mission going on at the same time.  The medical mission was giving out drugs like candy. The Chiropractic Missionaries told the people "the power that made the body heals the body". Hundreds of people switched lines for adjustments. A riot broke out and the National Guard was called in. The Chiropractic Missionaries were put out to the street. On the street, they adjusted hundreds of more people. On the last day of the mission trip, we were enlightened once again. We sat around a bonfire on the beach and each Chiropractic Missionary told of their experience. Each had had one thing in common.   We were all there to serve with adjustments, hugs, love and compassion to help alleviate the suffering of the poorest of the poor.

The Next passage entitled The Avalanche of Children was written by Todd Herold, DC and is extremely inspiring.

THE AVALANCHE OF CHILDREN.

On Friday, 3/30/07 as part of the Chiropractic Mission team of 35 strong, Dr. Yelena Kozlyansky, a chiropractic student named Paul Rodnick and I went to a church in a remote village called Padre Granero on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. We were accompanied by our guide, Christian who did not know the exact location. We must have stopped and asked directions at least eight times as we traversed back and forth along the back streets of the town. Finally, we were directed down an alleyway to what we were guaranteed was the location of the church which we were seeking. We came to some shacks and Yelena, who'd been seeking a restroom for sometime, asked the people out  in front of their” homes" if she could use their facility. While we waited for her, Christian went off into the village to inquire as to the whereabouts of this very elusive church we just couldn't seem to locate. She came back with a woman who proceeded to open a padlocked building right next to where we'd stopped our car. Turns out that it was the church! Yelena came back and I commented to her that this wasn't a very promising sign. We'd been told there'd be hundreds of people to adjust and the place had been padlocked and now stood empty except for our merry party...for about 3 minutes, that is. Then the most amazing thing happened.

Out of seemingly nowhere, the church began to fill up with gorgeous children. They poured in off the street in droves. Within another 3 minutes there were about 45 kids lining up to be adjusted-with one adult who accompanied them. We swam in a sea of beautiful, shining faces with precious, sparkling smiles. For the next hour and a half they just kept coming. Lots of little babies. Dozens of infants. Many seniors well over 80 years of age. We "tuned up" the entire spectrum.

We had to leave at that point to go adjust all the kids in a nearby orphanage, but not before almost 200 children and half as many adults had received the life-enhancing, energy-releasing chiropractic adjustment. We were bathed in their God-centered presence and we are eternally grateful for our magical experience. As we drove off about ten kids ran alongside our car until they couldn't go any further; their heartwarming laughter and mischievous eyes filling our souls.

Todd Herold, D.C

Chiropractic is safe. Have you wondered about the future of chiropractic? Have you ever heard the saying "if you were the last chiropractor on the planet, would chiropractic survive? Well I am here to tell you that chiropractic is in great hands. The chiropractic students that came on our last Chiropractic Mission trip were truly on a mission. Their mission was to serve humanity with compassion and love. I am so honored to serve with these young chiropractors. I learned so many valuable lessons from these wonderful students. I would just like to say thank you to all the life students who served the poor and sick people of the Dominican Republic. You are truly blessed.   The Chiropractic Mission students are truly on purpose. Below is a message they wanted to convey to the Chiropractic community,

Chiropractic is in Good Hands

We are the future of Chiropractic.

We are Determined, Dedicated, Powerful and Passionate.

We are determined to create a world where every man,

woman and child are under Chiropractic care.

A world where each individual is mentally, physically, and chemically

In-tune with the innate that animates life.

We have dedicated our lives to protecting the sacred principles of Chiropractic;

To make sure that the masses are educated, and fully understand

The importance of it.

It is not about us, it is about them.

We know what is going on in the world today,

We know what needs to be done,

And we know that we have the power within ourselves to make it happen.

Our passion for Chiropractic will attract every person that comes into contact with us.

We are the future

WE ARE CHIROPRACTIC!

Chapter 7 Impact

You may ask how is it that a four-day experience can have such an impact. An impact on the patient and on the Chiropractic Missionary. Why don't these kinds of things happen in every day life? I believe it is because of three basic spiritual principles, which occur with short-term missions experiences. The people of the third world countries are waiting for a miracle to happen their life. They immediately comprehend the intent of the Chiropractic Missionary is to help them. Their spirit makes a connection with the spirit of the Chiropractic Missionary. An incredible spiritual connection. The role of the chiropractic adjustment is to restore the body’s ability to heal itself. The Chiropractic Missionary attempts to restore the physical with the spiritual. The patient responds incredibly well because of the spiritual connection, the role of nature and the removal of the vertebral subluxation. The Universe rewards those who do natures work. When we leave all of our conveniences and distractions behind to care for the poor and sick for a period of time, we are giving for the sake of giving and we are nature’s servants.
Secondly, the Universe asks us to care for the less fortunate. If we answer this calling, we will have an abundant life. Some people think this means material wealth, but it really means the incredible joy and serenity you feel in meeting the needs of others who are desperate. Thirdly, our service not only meets human needs, but it reveals to the universe our true mission.

After my first mission trip, I had a unique experience, which I have never had before or since. I had a vision of many chiropractors and chiropractic students going on mission trips. In my vision, I raised objections as to why this could not be. Yet for each objection, I received answers. For example, I said, "The cost is too prohibitive." The answer I received was that money could be saved by getting all inclusive hotels and vans to transport people. Then I thought, "The people who most need to go on these trips are also least likely to spend a whole week." The answer to that was simple; they could get flights that left on Wednesday evening so they need only miss two days of work. Still another objection was, "People won't give up their conveniences." The answer to this objection was short and to the point, "You did." Last, I asked, "How will they know what an impact Chiropractic Missions can have?" The answer was, "You will tell them." Therefore, we have been making a huge impact. I now believe that many of those Chiropractors that I saw in that vision represent the future Chiropractic leaders.

You should be aware of a cultural shift, a changing paradigm that needs to take place for a better world. To alter our world in a beneficial way, attention and value will need to be placed on the individual’s spirituality.

The spiritual individuality will present in a harmonious society of like-minded individuals.  A Spiritual family, a Conscious Awareness between people, the recognition that each of our spirits is directly connected to the Universal intelligence and can become consciously aware of that connection through DD Palmers passages or through meditation. This approach encourages one to personally experience Universal Intelligence rather than merely accept the testimony of someone else.

The common thread in all chiropractic practices is that chiropractors value every human being as being fully connected to, or a manifestation of the Universal Intelligence. Each chiropractor is experiencing that connection in their life-work, and is encouraging others to experience their own connection in their life, thus leading to developing their own life-work goals.

In personal practice, the chiropractor realizes that the connection to the Universal Intelligence is found within each living entity; therefore, each person is capable of becoming conscious of that connection, and living in accordance with that connection. The chiropractor understands that there is an innate intelligence that runs the body. An understanding of the individual spirituality is of utmost importance. The implication is that each person has a Divine purpose (directed by universal intelligence), as well as an individual purpose (directed by innate intelligence). Most times these two purposes seem to be in opposition. I contend that they are meant to work together, to exist together in harmony, to complement each other; and through the readings of DD Palmer or through meditation the dualistic purpose will be known. It will be known and as you become aware and ascend into the higher dimension of your life, it will no longer be dualistic. You will have achieved something very special.

Education is as straight forward as it sounds. The chiropractor has their personal area of expertise. The neuromusculoskeletal system. The spiritualist has the general working knowledge of most `spiritual paths. The spiritual chiropractor has the ability to reconnect the physical with the spiritual and understands the `spiritual path’. Here, the chiropractor acts as a spiritual guide until the client is able to access the `inner guidance' that enables them to take over for themselves.

DD Palmers work is the backbone of the philosophy. The practitioner personally meditates to daily renew, validate and experience their own connection to the Universal Intelligence and teaches clients to do the same through a series of methods for exercising meditation skills.

Chiropractic is the primary healing tool of Chiropractic Missionaries, although homeopathic medicines, vitamins, and minerals are sometimes brought along on mission trips.  A chiropractic adjustment is a tool from the Chiropractic Missionary to the patient for the purpose of reconnecting the physical with the spiritual.

I use the term Chiropractic Missionary to describe the personal commitment of an individual to the opening of the world to the concepts of the drugless healing...not all Chiropractic Missionaries are chiropractors, on the contrary. There are Chiropractic Missionaries in all walks of life, all areas of human endeavor, and they focus the concepts of drugless healing and helping the poor through their own particular perspective.

In the future, movie and television writers,

musicians and artists of all kinds, even the commercial ads, will be working with Chiropractic Mission themes. Science scholars and philosophers, too, have their representatives. Much of the work on `Quantum Physics' is developed through the chiropractic perspectives, as is the growing acceptance of alternative health care methods in the general community...

New understandings in health, life, creativity, art, philosophy, spiritualism, psychology and sociology, all have taken DD palmers concepts and restructured them within the framework of the New Age views. DD Palmer was so ahead of his time. It is important to read his works to get a detailed description of innate and universal intelligence.

I think that I have now helped you to make the shift in your thought process. Your intentions are on service. Serving humankind. Serving with love and compassion. You are embarking on a remarkable and wondrous journey. You will encounter riches beyond your wildest dreams.

It is a man's sympathy with all creatures that truly makes him a man. Until he extends his circle of compassion to all living things, man himself will not find peace. Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965, German Born Medical Missionary, Theologian, Musician, and Philosopher

Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, "This is the real me," and when you have found that attitude, follow it. - William James

Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness -- great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy." Jim Rohn

Charity sees the need, not the cause. - German Proverb

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. -Winston Churchhill

You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.

Albert Schweitzer  (1875 - 1965)

Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.  Margaret Cho

You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it.  Barbara Streisand

Chapter 8 On to Haiti

Chiropractic Mission Foundation prepares to adjust 50,000 people in 4 days. Book of world records will be on hand to record the event.

There has never been a chiropractor in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. Chiropractic Mission is about to embark on a trip that will be life changing! The chiropractors will be going to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The 60 + chiropractors and chiropractic students will need to be prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually for this incredible Chiropractic Mission trip.

Chiropractic Mission is now officially called “The Chiropractic Mission Foundation” which is its not-for-profit name. Dr's JC Doornick, Todd Herold and Peter Morgan, the cofounders of the Chiropractic Mission Foundation, were recently in the Dominican Republic meeting President Fernandez's cabinet and other political leaders. The purpose was to talk about chiropractic’s role in helping the people recover from the hurricane devastation of two months ago. The doctors had the good fortune of meeting the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Julio Cesar Valentine, Senator Dominguez-Vrito and other political leaders. This was organized by the Coordinator of the 168 members of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benedicto Bernandez.

The doctors were welcomed at the New York Dominican Republic Consulate by the chief council and all staff. It was the first ever chiropractic symposium in the inner sanctum of the Grand Consol's office with politicians dignitaries, and media present from here and the DR. More than10 pastors from the Dominican Republic were also present at the historic televised event. Special thanks to Gregorio Malena, Vice Consol for orchestrating this event.

The three chiropractors have just finished a tour of the area destroyed as a result of the recent hurricanes. They saw the result of Mother Nature’s terrible wrath. They were in the home of a 97 year old woman named Carmen Contrera. When the storms hit overnight, she found herself neck high in 6 feet of mud water in her bedroom. Her family had to bring a horse into the casita (home the size of your living room) and drag her out to save her life. When they asked her what she thought of the experience she had no complaints and thanked God for all that she still has. Chiropractic Mission is presently helping to raise money to rebuild homes that were lost during the storm.

The team of Dr’s Morgan, Herold and Doornick also spent time meeting with the directors of the mainstream hospitals. They discussed the possibility of bringing chiropractic to the country on a permanent basis. The Dominican Republic government and medical profession have embraced the concept 100%. In fact, they have been asked us to deliver a presentation on Subluxation based chiropractic philosophy and to administer chiropractic care to all of the patients of a major DR hospital. They want to begin a proactive healthcare strategy so that they can begin to apply our philosophy.  They see the value in teaching their patients to maximize their health potential and avoid disease in the first place. We have taken the necessary steps to get the wheels rolling for the first-ever Chiropractic school in the DR! 

The next mission trip set for April 2008. Dr. Dean DePice from www.TLC4Superteams.com and Fran Capo from www.francapo.com. will be there to help prepare the chiropractors for a transformation that can’t be explained in words. Chiropractic Mission has raised the bar and needs your support and donations more than ever. The chiropractors on this mission will encounter a remarkable and wondrous journey filled with love and compassion. This genuine love will be bestowed upon human kind, especially the poor and needy. The mission is to alleviate the suffering of others, especially the poor and those suffering from the terrible storm. The universe planned something very special for the Chiropractic Missionaries and there is a request for them to make a difference. They will administer chiropractic and help with the change of the world. One person can change the course of humanity. It can be any one of us. One individual can affect

millions of people. Our calling is to save lives. We are instruments of the universe. We have been requested to enlighten others about chiropractic. We were chosen to give something back. We have already received. We can read! We can see! We have wealth beyond our wildest dreams compared to third world countries. Now it is time to give back. It is time to serve. We are created for a life of good deeds. We have been entrusted with a special mission. A sacred oath. The oath of chiropractic. We are serving because we have been chosen by the universe. As we perform these assignments, we are fulfilling our life's purpose. The Universe is also calling you. You might have thought that priests, nuns, pastors, rabbi’s etc only encountered a calling. Every chiropractor is called upon. Only some answer. Those that answer encounter the greatest riches in the universe. I am attempting to provide you with the road map to your calling, the course to your purpose and your mission. Your service is very important and needed by many. Each of us has a service to provide and every service is important. There is no such thing as a small service, every service is desperately needed and every service matters to the universe. On our last mission trip we adjusted over nine thousand people in three days. On this trip it is our intention to provide Chiropractic for more than 25,000 people in three days. We need your help to do this.

We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future. – George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish Dramatist and Literary Critic

The ability to change your life comes from the power of love in your heart. Love connects you to other people's emotions. It's the ultimate source of emotional fuel, so plug into it! – Peggy McColl, Canadian Author and Goal Achievement Expert

Many believe that self-help and self-improvement is about rags to riches, failure to success, and so forth, when indeed it is the beginning of a journey into self-discovery. Inside every human being is an eternal truth and a life purpose. Using our mind power is simply starting the engine on that journey of self-discovery and highest self-actualization. - Eldon Taylor, author of "Choices and Illusions"

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, English Politician/Author/Nobel Prize Winner

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. – Dalai Lama, Spiritual and Temporal Leader of the Tibetan People

The Power Of One - Author Unknown
One SONG can spark a moment One FLOWER can wake the dream
One TREE can start a forest One BIRD can herald spring One SMILE begins a friendship One HANDCLASP lifts a soul One STAR can guide a ship at sea One WORD can frame the goal One VOTE can change a nation
One SUNBEAM lights a room One CANDLE wipes out darkness
One LAUGH will conquer gloom One STEP must start each journey
One WORD must start a prayer One HOPE will raise our spirits
One TOUCH can show you care One VOICE can speak with wisdom
One HEART can know what is true One LIFE can make a difference

Chapter 9 Mission Haiti/DR and President

Mission to Haiti and the Dominican Republic

By Peter Morgan, DC

Chiropractic Mission Foundation chiropractors adjust 25,000 people in 4 days.  Book of world records document the new world record event as PBS videos.

The Chiropractic Mission Foundation” led a team of 32 chiropractors and 31 chiropractic students to the jungles and remote villages of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The 60 + were accompanied by a PBS film team and the world book of records. Chiropractic Mission has brought the healing power of Chiropractic to hundreds upon hundreds of Haitians in the town of Ouanaminthe and thousands upon thousands of people in multiple Dominican Republic cities, villages and hill top towns. The Chiropractors had more than 30 teams. Each team consisted of a chiropractor, a chiropractic student and a mission guide. Dr. Herold and Dr. Doornick led 25 of the teams in Imber, Luperon, Caberette and the Puerta Plata region of the Dominican Republic. Dr. Morgan led 5 teams in Santiago, La Vega, Ranchito and San Francisco de Marqoris.  The rippling effects of this Chiropractic pebble dropping into the pond are just beginning.

Dr's JC Doornick, Todd Herold and Peter Morgan, cofounders of the Chiropractic Mission Foundation also had a meeting with the President of the Dominican Republic Presidente Leonel Fernandez. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the formation of a chiropractic school health center in the Dominican Republic. The Doctors made a special trip last January just to meet the president. Every day for 10 days during January their meeting was canceled. Finally after ten days the three Chiropractic Mission cofounders met with the Presidents cabinet, the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Education but not with the President. On the eleventh day the three chiropractors had to fly back to their practices in New York. The three cofounders returned to the Dominican Republic during the last week of March 2008. This was one week earlier than the rest of the 60 + Chiropractic Mission team. Their purpose was to educate hospitals, schools and pastors about chiropractic. They also had to prepare for the mission and for the arrival of the 65 chiropractors and students.  On Sunday March 30, 2008 out of no where they received a call.  Dr.JC Doornick tells it best.  "Basically, we got "The Call" yesterday while sleeping at our hotel. President Doctor Leonel Fernandez Reyna of the Dominican Republic was to be at a press conference at 6pm to inaugurate a brand new hospital that we are working with to implement chiropractic and proactive/preventative health care. . Dr. Todd Herold who is one of the cofounders of Chiropractic Mission has a brother in-law that works security for the President and facilitated the "meeting." Well, we basically waited 4 hours because he was mobbed with press and his motorcade was slowed down by traffic. Next thing we know, Todd's brother in law shows up and grab us by the arm and insist we follow him. We DID! All of a sudden these doors open up and we begin walking into an enormous Press Conference with thousands of people in attendance. As we marched into the large arena with music blaring, people were chanting "Presidente Leonel, Presidente Leonel. People were reaching, grabbing and trying to touch us as we proceeded up to the Deus. It felt like 110 degrees as the press were taking pictures. This was a nationally televised event and we realized that we were walking into it with the President and his cabinet. Unbelievable! We stood in the front for another two hours with the secret service agents in a private viewing area. PS: Todd and I gave them all adjustments while Pete photographed! After, the President was whisked away, we were maneuvered through side doors by security and we found ourselves in a private area where our meeting and the following picture was taken. It was now midnight as the President mentioned in perfect english how excited and thankful he was of our work here and it was awesome! Pete mentioned to him that we wanted to build a chiropractic school here in the Dominican Republic and he responded by saying "Go for it"

The next day the three cofounders along with mission leader Jason O’Connor, DC lectured to group of over 50 medical residents, recent medical graduates and the heads of several medical departments at Morillo King Hospital in La Vega, Dominican Republic. The lecture was an introduction to chiropractic. The group explained the chiropractor’s role as primary health care providers centered on vertebral subluxation detection and correction. They discussed the possibility of bringing chiropractic to the country on a permanent basis. The Dominican Republic government and medical profession have embraced the concept 100%. The Chiropractic Mission Foundation has been in contact with two major U.S. chiropractic schools in regards to an international outreach program in the Dominican Republic.

Now on to Haiti

Jason O’Connor, DC, from Antioch, California was the primary Chiropractic Mission organizer of the Haiti expedition and led the brave team of Chiropractors.  David Hecht, DC, from New York was another mission leader, and John Palmer, Chiropractic Student at Life University was the student leader.  “There was a lot of uncertainty on both sides (Haiti and Chiropractic Mission) as to how this was going to work”, said Dr. O’Connor.  “I was organizing with people who have never received an adjustment, and who do not know what Chiropractic is.  I have never been to Haiti. I do not speak Creole. I was nervous and apprehensive regarding our physical safety. I was concerned about the sanitary conditions.  However since our mission was so important, I was willing to try. I trusted that the God would see that things would work out.  We were pleasantly surprised!”

The expansion to Haiti fits nicely into Chiropractic Mission’s desire to bring the benefits of Chiropractic to people who cannot afford healthcare.  During the last Chiropractic Mission trip, in October 2007, Dr. O’Connor was introduced by a Dominican friend to Rezene Tesfamariam, Director of Plan Haiti.  Plan International has donated $350,000 toward the construction of a kindergarten at Institution Univers, as school of 1,500 students in the town of Ouanaminthe, Haiti.  Understanding the objectives of Chiropractic Mission, Rezene introduced Dr. O’Connor to Hugues Bastien, the founder of Institution Univers.  “That’s how it all began”, said Jason.  “I just wanted to help in any way that I could.  For me this is a perfect match—my love for the Dominican people and my love for Chiropractic—all wrapped up in an effort to serve and make things better for others.  Having lived in the D.R. for two years, I know how poor the country is.  I knew that Haiti was even worse off.”

Looking back on the trip, one can recognize some great lessons of life. 

Things usually look ugly before they get better.  Dr. O’Connor and his team almost decided to turn back when they got to the border and were told they couldn’t take their rental car across. They were weary, hungry and sweaty from their long trip from Puerta Plata to the Haitian border. Not to mention nervous, anxious and apprehensive.  They were receiving lots of offers from "strange" strangers to watch their rental car while they went across the river to Haiti.  Images of returning to a dismantled vehicle, or no vehicle at all ran through their minds.  “We couldn’t reach our contact person Mr. Hugues Bastien on the phone. We were stranded for hours.  We were stuck!”   The team told stories about their time waiting.  “Little children were coming from Haiti begging for money.  Several of them approached the car windows and we could see their skin riddled with all sorts of skin diseases, teeth that were decayed to the roots, and wearing filthy rags for clothes.  We could see across the border to the outskirts of a very poor town, very sparse vegetation, and garbage everywhere.”

Don’t give up!  The team reported that their minds began looking for every reason not to go forward.  But, just as they were beginning to make plans to leave, they received a call from Mr. Bastien.  He confirmed the fact that they couldn’t bring the vehicle across the border.  They felt even more insecure when he told them he might have a place where it could be left.  When Dr. Hect asked if it would be safe, Hugues just replied, “Trust me.”  Followed by an unsettling laugh.

“We really had no other choice, so we left our car, and the keys, and the team hopped into Hugues’ 4 wheel drive van and crossed into Ouanaminthe.  The Chiropractic Missionaries were so happy that they endured the hardships and carried on with the mission.  “We would have missed out on a great opportunity to serve and the people who were expecting us would have been severely disappointed.”   Jason O’Connor also described the organization of the Medical Center.  “They had scheduled appointments with the people, just like a regular office.  They had scheduled 100 patients per hour, and people showed up consistently throughout the day.  We worked non-stop over seeing all the scheduled patients plus walk-ins for the days that we were in Ouanaminthe.  A good 12+ hours of solid work per day for each member of the team.”

To help with the language barrier, the Chiropractic Missionaries had help from translators who delivered the Chiropractic story to educate the people as they waited.  Emphasis was placed on the vitalistic principle “That the power that made the body heals the body.”  The facility at Universe Medical Centre was built for all types of health providers, who can come and donate their time and talents to help the people.  There is a huge need for help.  The team was told that there is only one health provider in the region, a medical doctor. Only 25% of his time is actually spent seeing patients because of the administrative responsibilities he also carries. The 3 story Medical Centre is right off the town square, and is currently scheduling visits from doctors from other nations.

The team also expressed admiration for Hugues Bastien.  Hugues is one of 12 children. He is a well educated gentleman receiving an advanced Engineering degree in college His family immigrated to the United States.  All of his brothers and sisters continue to reside in the United States, but Hugues had a dream to build an educational center in his home town. The educators at the center would teach children how to prepare for opportunities, how to create opportunities and to take advantage of opportunities when they come along.  Little by little he began to build the school.  In the beginning he saved money by working as a taxi driver in New York.  Slowly but surely he worked and toiled on his dream. Finally Mr. Bastien’s dream came to realization.   Now there is a stunning educational facility that has 1,600 students.   This was the first time that any Chiropractors had visited the town.

Another facility is also nearing completion; it will be able to house teams of 50- 60 doctors who could stay for a week or longer.  With Hugues’ engineering background, he has taken his vision and turned it into reality.  Chiropractic Mission was able to share in his joy as the fruits of his labor are beginning to show.  Speaking on behalf of the Chiropractic Mission team, Dr. O’Connor, stated “We were tremendously blessed by what we received from the experience in Ouanaminthe.  We went with one purpose, to give of ourselves.  We will never forget this!”

Back in the Dominican Republic the 30 teams were stationed all over the country. Many of the chiropractors were on their first mission trip but they all prepared for an incredibly powerful week of love and service, giving God's greatest gift to man "chiropractic".  Chiropractic to so many people that may not have ever had the opportunity to experience a chiropractic adjustment.  Teams were located in mountain villages, in city ghettos, in orphanages, nursing homes, prisons, baseball fields and villages that were devastated by a recent hurricane. Some teams adjusted as many as 1,000 people in a day. The average team adjusted 400 people a day. Almost every team adjusted all the students in each local school.  All types of people presented to our teams. Their were new born infants clutching their mothers breast, their were people over 100 years, people with hatchet wounds, people on crutches and wheel chairs, woman with bleeding goiters, people with huge tumors priests, pastors, ministers, curios passerby's would wander over, an endless procession of people with all kinds of ailments. All looking for a miracle from the chiropractic miracle workers. The chiropractors analyzed and adjusted solely for the purpose of removing nerve interference. As DD Palmer stated "Our mission is to reunite the physical with the spiritual". During a mission trip I was dropping a team of chiropractors to their destination. I had been stationed at this exact site on the last mission. I saw the pastor who I had previously spent a night with eating dinner at his house. We spoke about our wonderful night and I thanked him for helping us with our mission trip. As I was leaving three women came up to me and asked if I could adjust them. I told them that this was not my station and the young women chiropractors would take care of them. They replied “oh no doctor you have to take care of me. The last time you were here you created a miracle in my life. The other two women had the same story. One of the women had a tumor that went away, another had a goiter that went away and the third had digestive problems that were completely gone. I replied I did not perform any miracles. I am an instrument of the universe here to remove vertebral subluxations. This will allow the body to work better. Of course I had to adjust these three women. Each adjustment was accompanied by a hug and the love just poured forth.  I stayed awhile and helped the two young female chiropractors because hundreds of people had already come two hours early and were waiting. People cried, laughed, smiled and grinned after they get adjusted, however they all respected the sacred art of adjusting the spine. The damaging effects of vertebral subluxation are easily identifiable in the DR. The Chiropractic Mission Foundation is doing it's best to bring chiropractic to the DR on a permanent basis.  Chiropractic Mission foundation also raised over $5000 dollars on this trip and it was donated to the Casa de Oracion.

Chapter 10:Chiropractic Mission Doctors adjust over 56,000 people in 4 days

Look at what is in our Horizon. 600,000 people around the world need to be served in the next three years. We need your help.

We have at least 15,000 people in Trinidad to adjust in January 2009.  Get this:  We have a weekly radio show that airs in Trinidad. Chiropractic Mission will have a one minute radio spot on the air every week in Trinidad. They will keep airing it until we get there in January.  We will be in serving in several Trinidad cities: Port of Spain, Chaguanas, Couva, San Francique and Mortuga.

We have over 100,000 people to be adjusted in churches in Mexico.

We have over 45,000 people to be adjusted in Jamaica. Thanks to Joe Vetere, DC we have over 40,000 people to be adjusted in Argentina.

Thanks to Pastor Soto we have over 45,000 people to be adjusted in Guatamala.

Unfortunately we can not to theses three countries listed above for a few years.

Please join us on our next Chiropractic Mission:

October 2008-DR/Haiti January 2009-Trinidad April 2009-DR/Haiti

The following is our tentative schedule.

July 2009-Cuba October 2009-Trinidad

October 2009-Cuba

January 2010-Haiti

January 2010-Dominican Republic

 April 2010-Ethiopia  July 2010 DR/Haiti - October 2010-Guatamala

January 2011-Argentina    April 2011-Chile

If you are interested in the Trinidad trip please sign up now. We only have room for five more doctors and ten more students.

"ARE YOU IN MISSION MODE?"

Please E mail Dr. Morgan with comments or questions at Chirorye@aol.com

Our lives are energy. Our bodies vibrate at a certain frequency. If your body is in proper tune it will vibrate at a higher frequency. The vibrations can attract wonderful things into your life. When you are in tune, your vibrations are in tune with nature. You can actually see a healthy person in tune with the universe. Did you know that a piano or a violin can exist for centuries? Over time the wood decays, yet if the instrument is in tune it can sing sweet songs. The same thing occurs in living organisms.

Did you ever think about the relationship you have with your soul. Your world is a reflection of the relationship that you have with your soul! When things are working right your physical body is vibrating with a harmonious frequency. You are in tune with nature; you are vibrating with nature, in tune with your spirit. Your spirit is the highest vibrational "you"—the embodiment of your Spirit—and your interface between human and divine.   

  Your Innate Intelligence runs your physical body but also gives insight to your relationship with the physical world. Innate helps you to attract in to your life the things that you think about. Your soul is the connection between the innate intelligence and the universal intelligence. Spirit is the combination of the innate intelligence, the soul and the universal intelligence. When the body dies, innate intelligence and the soul evolve into a higher spiritual plane and leave the body. The vibratory frequency and tone change. A growth spurt occurs.  The spirit continually evolves, with slight vibratory changes. The spirit will eventually coalesce and vibrate at the same frequency as universal intelligence and become one.  Before that time the spirit will be one with universal intelligence yet vibrate at a different frequency. Many times additional growth is necessary and the process will need to duplicate but at a higher plane. This is often termed a rebirth or a reincarnation.

MISSION STATEMENT OF ADVANCING CHIROPRACTIC 

  MISSION: To unite chiropractors desiring to protect and support the rights of all doctors of chiropractic to provide vertebral subluxation correction and of all people who choose to receive such care.

  To advance and promote vertebral subluxation centered chiropractic to all people, including the public, the media, legislators and those directly or indirectly associated with the chiropractic profession.

  To support evidence-based practice guidelines which protect the right of patients to receive chiropractic care for the analysis and correction of vertebral subluxations.

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL ON CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE

  In July 1995, the Council on Chiropractic Practice (CCP) was established with the mission of "developing evidence-based guidelines, conducting research and performing other functions that will enhance the practice of chiropractic for the benefit of the consumer."

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE NEW YORK CHIROPRACTIC COUNCIL 

The New York Chiropractic Council`s mission is to direct people to the realization that healing comes from within; and that ultimately the promotion of health and wellness is superior to the treatment of disease.

MISSION STATEMENT OF DR. PETER MORGAN 

I am committed to a special vision. DD Palmers vision. I envision a world free of nerve interference, through the correction of vertebral subluxations for the best expression of each person's human potential. I am committed to serving all people with chiropractic care throughout their lifetime. I will travel all over the world to serve Man’s greatest gift to man “Chiropractic”

I acknowledge that vertebral subluxations and interference to the meninges are a serious insult to the nerve system. I am committed to educating each person to the benefits of chiropractic care for the correction of vertebral subluxations and restoration and maintenance of optimal health throughout their lifetime.

My mission is to serve my community and to serve people in third world countries with quality health care and to direct people to the realization that health comes from within, and ultimately that the maintenance of health is superior to the treatment of disease. I encourage each person to participate in this most important and noble mission.

MISSION STATEMENT OF DR. DD PALMER

        “I believe, in fact know, that the universe consists of Intelligence and Matter.   This intelligence is known to the Christian world as God.  As a spiritual intelligence it finds expression through the animal and vegetable creation, man being the highest manifestation.  I believe that this Intelligence is segmented into as many parts as there are individual expressions of life; that spirit, whether considered as a whole or individually, is advancing upward and onward toward perfection; that in all animated nature this Intelligence is expressed through the nervous system, which is the means of communication to and from individualized spirit; that the condition known as TONE is the tension and firmness, the renitency and elasticity of tissue in a state of health, normal existence; that the mental and physical condition known as disease is a disordered state because of an unusual amount of tension above or below that of tone; that normal and abnormal amounts of strain or laxity are due to the position of the osseous framework, the neuroskeleton, which not only serves as a protector to the nervous system, but, also, as a regulator of tension; that Universal Intelligence, the Spirit as a whole or in its segmented parts, is eternal in its existence; that physiological disintegration and somatic death are changes of the material only; that the present and future make-up of individualized spirits depend upon the cumulative mental function which, like all other functions, is modified by the structural condition of the impulsive, transmitting, nervous system; that criminality is but the result of abnormal nervous tension; that our individualized, segmented spiritual entities carry with them into the future spiritual state that which has been mentally accumulated during our physical existence; that spiritual existence, like the physical, is progressive; that a correct understanding of these principles and the practice of them constitute the religion of chiropractic; that the existence and personal identity of individualized intelligences continue after the change known as death; that life in this world and the next is continuous--one of eternal progression.

    Therefore, inasmuch as the light of life was revealed to me in order that I should enlighten the world, and as our physical health and the intellectual progress of the personified portion of the Universal Intelligence depend upon the proper alignment of the skeletal frame, I feel it my right and bounden duty to replace any displaced portion thereof, so that our physical and spiritual faculties may be fully and normally expressed, thereby not only enhancing our present condition, but making ourselves the better prepared to enter the next stage of existence to which this earthly existence is but a preliminary, a preparatory step.

    By correcting these displacements of osseous tissue, the tension frame of the nervous system, I claim that I am rendering obedience, adoration and honor to the All-Wise Spiritual Intelligence, as well as a service to the segmented, individual portions thereof -- a duty I owe to both God and mankind. 

DD Palmer created the art, philosophy and science of chiropractic. Palmer’s mission. You guessed it "Chiropractic"

Chiropractic Mission doctors once again adjusted thousands of people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Last April Chiropractic Mission doctors established a world record for the most patients adjusted in two days. 28 chiropractors, 31 chiropractic assistants and 5 volunteers cared for 21,545 patients, 6 months to 98 years of age throughout the Dominican Republic and Haiti. On the latest trip this past October, over 50 chiropractors and 50 chiropractic assistants cared for over 56,000 people in 4 days.

To prepare to see thousands of patients in the world’s poorest countries, the three leaders and founders of the Chiropractic Mission Foundation had to lead by example. JC doornick, DC; Tod Herold, DC; and I had to clear our minds of every thing else but chiropractic. Dr's Herold and Doornick arrived five days before the Mission at Camp David, Gurabo DR on September 25, 2008. Camp David is a retreat high atop the mountains overlooking the city of Santiago. It has spectacular views and the location serves as a training site for the leaders of the different Chiropractic Mission teams. The duo spent two days in pure chiropractic thought before beginning the tremendous project of coordinating the lectures and education of the medical directors of several hospitals throughout the country. Dr.Pat Gentempo, along with Dr. Doornick and Dr. Aura educated the staff and Medical Directors of the Caribbean’s most prestigious hospital. Holmes Medical Center of Santiago. Dr.Gentempo spent hours explaining the Science, Philosophy and Art of chiropractic. Meanwhile Dr. Tod Herold worked with Sor Teodora to assemble, schedule and transport the more than 50 chiropractic teams to there destinations. Sor Teodora is the Mother Theresa of the Dominican Republic. Each Chiropractic Mission team consists of a chiropractor, a chiropractic student and a mission guide. The Chiropractic Mission teams were sent to churches, orphanages, schools, nursing homes and even jails. Teams were sent to the ghettos, mountain top villages, farms and cities throughout the country.

In preparation for my voyage to Haiti I needed to spend three days by myself in chiropractic meditation. Early in the morning of September 26, 2008 I landed in Santiago, Dominican Republic. I rented a car and proceeded (chiropractic table in hand) to the Caribbean's highest peak. "Pico Duarte" A few hours later I arrived in a beautiful city that lies below this majestic mountain. Arribicoa is lush with tropical plants, fruits and palm trees. I immediately drove to the Arribicoa central police station. Armed with my table in hand and my mission mindset, I walked into the station and opened my table. I adjusted every police officer and employee. Policemen were handing their shot guns to other officers as their turn on my table approached. Others were on the phone calling friends, family and other officers to come to the station as soon as possible. After adjusting approximately 70 to 80 people a group of policeman took me out to lunch. Of course, the best chicken, rice and beans were eaten by all. A strong brew of Dominican coffee launched me on my way. I set up my table in the center of the city and adjusted 200 people in the next 4-5 hours. I know it sounds like a lot of people, however in these third world countries people just line up and can't wait to get on the table. God guides my hands to areas that need adjusting. Full spine diversified takes less than a minute for an adjustment. People in third world countries are very easy to adjust. Very few people are overweight and audibles are common in people over 90.

I found a charming hotel 3/4 of the way up Pico Duarte. For $40 a delightful cabin, with kitchen, living room, den and balcony overlooking the valley below was mine.  The next day I arose early and was hiking through the trails above the hotel. I came upon a lovely old church. I sat in front of the church gazing at the city that was enveloped in the mountains below. A slight drizzle was moistening my pages of "The Chiropractor" Palmer, D.D. (1914) during my daily reading on this day. I was drafting my spiritual chiropractic talk that I would be presenting to the many students, chiropractors, pastors and layman during our chiropractic mission. As I contemplated on the vastness and power of the universe, as I pondered on the writings of DD Palmer an enormous rainbow developed. It started about a 1/4 of a mile from where I was sitting and it went across the entire valley. It lasted for more than 2 hours.

I voyaged over the mountain tops of Piko Duarte and came upon a magical city. The climate was completely different than in any other part of the country. It was a cool 65 degrees with a rich blue sky. I was told by the locals that it is like this here in Constanza every day. The city was also in the midst of there yearly festival. An ideal time to start adjusting. My table was set up in a square that was blocked off for the night’s festivities. I adjusted 300 people in approximately six hours. I took several hours off to eat with a wonderful family at there small abode. They were very appreciative of my adjustments to their grandma's and their infant child. Grandma made a marvelous home cooked Dominican meal. You guessed right. Rice, chicken and beans followed by the world’s best cup of coffee.

Night fall approached and I was back at the festival. Anthony Santos was playing and I was adjusting. Omega was next and I was still adjusting. Anthony Santos (bachata) and Omega (merengue) are two of the most popular Dominican musical groups. I finished adjusting at one in the morning. I arrived at Camp David early Tuesday morning. Dr.Herold scheduled a chiropractic and spiritual hike through the mountains. Dr's Doornick, Aura and Genopolis, life students John Palmer, Jason Brown, Danielle Drobbin, Dina and I followed Dr. Herolds instructions to a T. We were rewarded with the most inspiring chiropractic hike imaginable. A few hours later John Palmer, Jason Brown and I departed for the worlds most impoverished land. "Haiti. I drove for approximately 3 hours when we noticed that the terrain began to change dramatically. We were met at the border by Hughes Bastian. As we were crossing over the bridge to Haiti I gazed down below and noticed hundreds of people in the river. People were washing their bodies as well as their clothes. As you enter Haiti your senses are immediately heightened.  There is no vegetation, garbage is everywhere and your nose is struck by a terrible odor. In 1925, Haiti was lush, with 60% of its original forest covering the lands and mountainous regions. Since then, the population has cut down all but an estimated 2% of its original forest cover, and in the process has destroyed fertile farmland soils. All you see is dirt for miles. We were told that erosion has been severe in the mountainous areas. Most Haitian logging is done to produce charcoal the country's chief source of fuel. The plight of Haiti's forests has attracted international attention, and has led to numerous reforestation efforts, but these have met with little success to date. Needless to say Haiti is in a large environmental crises. We might be in crisis ourselves. We were given the following to read before entering the country.

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Sat September 25:54:42 2008.

This Travel Warning is being issued to advise American citizens to defer non-essential travel to Haiti until further notice. The civil unrest of early April has subsided, but the political and economic conditions that precipitated these events have not been entirely resolved. Conditions may occasionally limit Embassy operations to emergency services. Americans are also reminded of ongoing security concerns in Haiti, including frequent kidnappings of Americans for ransom. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Haiti issued on April 11, 2008.

In early April 2008, there were violent demonstrations, looting, transportation disruptions, and up to seven reported deaths in Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince. Some American citizens were temporarily stranded in isolated locations and could not safely travel until calm was restored. Because political and economic conditions precipitating the civil unrest have not been resolved, American citizens should defer non-essential travel to Haiti.

The absence of an effective police force in many areas of Haiti means that, should protests reignite, there is potential for looting, the erection of intermittent roadblocks set by armed protestors or by the police, and an increased possibility of random crime, including kidnapping, carjacking, home invasion, armed robbery and assault. Americans in Haiti should practice good personal security, take commonsense precautions, and avoid any event where crowds may congregate. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent. Americans should closely monitor news media and the U.S. Embassy’s website at: http://haiti.usembassy.gov/warden_information .html.

U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Haiti despite this warning are reminded that there is also a chronic danger of violent crime, especially kidnappings. Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race, gender or age; all are vulnerable. There were 29 reported kidnappings of Americans in 2007. As of the date of this Travel Warning, fourteen Americans were reported kidnapped in 2008. These kidnappings have been marked by deaths, brutal physical and sexual assault, and shooting of Americans. The lack of civil protections in Haiti, as well as the limited capability of local law enforcement to resolve kidnapping cases, further compounds the element of danger surrounding this trend.

Wow. Chiropractic Mission work is certainly not boring. Yes Haiti is dangerous but we are on a mission from God and from DD Palmer. We arrived at the hospital and hundreds of people were waiting for us on three separate floors. From 1 pm to 6 pm I adjusted approximately 350 people. The two life students utilized motion palpation and prepared each patient for my adjustment. People of all ages and conditions mounted my portable chiropractic tables. Many had great difficulty but were helped by John and Jason. I speak English, Spanish and Italian, but most people in Haiti only speak French and Creole.  I had a translator write a sign for me that said nice to meet you, face up, face down and on your side. I would just point to the sign indicating how I wanted them on the table. Many patients had serious problems. People presented with oozing tumors and giant goiters. They were promptly adjusted and referred to the two MD's down stairs. For their medical visits they had to pay a dollar. Most do not have the dollar and have to wait until mission doctors arrive. The hospital has received all of their equipment through donations from people and hospitals in the U.S A.  They have dental opitories but no dentists. Imagine a city with over 150,000 people without a dentist or a surgeon. The hospital depends upon mission doctors from the United States. Mission doctors come every three or four months. The hospital has no x-ray machine and we were asked if we knew anyone that would be willing to donate a machine. Call me if you have any information regarding donations. Most patients had neuromusculoskeletal symptoms and protein deficiencies. Some had diphtheria, croup; inflammation of the bowels had pneumonia. Many of the patients responded well with one or two treatments. The chronic diseases will take from two weeks to two months to affect a permanent cure. This is why we need Chiropractic Missionaries there on a more regular basis. In the Dominican Republic this is beginning to happen. We need volunteers in Haiti as well.  At 6 pm the sun goes down and since there is no electricity in the whole country, most people go to sleep around 7. Yes a few people have private generators; however gasoline is $13 a gallon so you have to be wealthy to utilize this form of electricity. I did manage to find a candle lit restaurant and candle lit discothèque. It was very exhilarating walking through the candlelit streets. I think that my two students were a little nervous as we walked into the butane lamplight club. All we could see was bright white eyes and the incandescent teeth. The good news was that beer was only 25 cents a bottle. A few rounds for the life students and me only set me back $3. This included a generous tip. We had a late night out and were home sleeping by 10.

I am awakened at 3 in the morning but the loudest rooster I have ever heard. It was a scene right out of "my cousin vinny". I was given ear plugs when we arrived. Now I understood why. At 5 am the church bells ring and thousands of people are going to the catholic or the Baptist church in full daylight. We are scheduled to see patients from 7 am to 6 pm with a small break for lunch. Breakfast ran late and we arrived to hundreds of people at 7:15. Again all three floors were filled with people waiting for us. By 11 am the two students are fading fast. First John Palmer had to take a few hours off since his stomach was off. He returns and Jason Brown almost collapses. He runs off to take a nap and a c--p. Diarrhea strikes. I adjusted all the way through. An astronomical number of people. Three tables were set for me and I just moved in a circle from table to table. Translators helped the people on and off the tables. I did not utilize their language skills because it would just take too long. One thousand adjustments later and after three days in Haiti we are on our way back to The Dominican Republic. We will be joining our colleagues at an all inclusive resort in the tropical paradise of Puerta Plata. My good friends from "New Beginnings" Dr. Jay Handt and Jim Dubell will be speaking tonight at our mission meeting. I am thinking to myself as we are driving "oh how nice it will be to take a hot shower and feel some air conditioning once again. After all, it was a brutal 101 degrees for three straight days.  All showers were cold without any water pressure." I am suddenly surprised, amazed and astonished by the sight I am witnessing out of our car window. 50 or more people are gathered together in a small area made out of concrete. Out of the 50 is a line of about 10 more people. At the end of the line, a person is pumping water out of a well into a bucket. The buckets are being passed down the line; a few people are standing atop chairs and are throwing the water on the heads of the crowd. Others are pouring soap solutions and yet others are scrubbing using archaic brushes. Imagine taking a shower fifty people deep. Imagine no running water and an outhouse is a luxury. I need to stop and take a minute to thank god for my three days of cold water with bad pressure.

Dr. Matthew J. Haumesser sent me this nice letter:

It has been a couple weeks and I have had some time to reflect on the entire experience.  I hope that the people of the Dominican Republic got a fraction of what I feel like I have received from Chiropractic Mission.  I have a new perspective on thanks, gratitude and on what is truly important.  There were 3 things that had a profound impact on me and I would like to share them with you. 

1:  On the first full day of mission work, I got to see the power of one adjustment.  I saw how one adjustment can change not just the life of someone but the entire community.  A student (Gena) and I adjusted a woman who had nothing, no food, water, no clothes.  She had walked by earlier and we were trying to get her come over to get adjusted.  She wouldn’t make eye contact let alone come over.  Some of the Taxi drivers who were lingering around told us not to bother that she was crazy and that no one deals with her at all.  After an hour or so she walked back through and sat 50 yards away on a curb.  We walked over and convinced her to allow us to adjust her.  After that we saw someone come out and give her some food and milk.  We could see that they saw her in different light after we adjusted her (or turned her light back on).  Also Gena gave her a shirt to wear.

2. On the last full day, I went to Villa Progresso.  Here I met an 11 year old boy who took a liking to me.  He walked me around the village so I could adjust all of his family, friends, and neighbors.  He was awesome.  If I was going too slow he’d say, “Vamos Mateo.”  Let’s go Matt.  I had given him 10 pesos for helping me.  After an hour or so he said he was thirsty.  So we walked to a store.  He asked if I was thirsty, I said yes and told him I would buy us some drinks.  He ran ahead and spent the 10 pesos on a drink for me and him.  That hit me hard.  Here is a kid who has nothing and he spends his only 10 pesos on me.  Talk about the true meaning of giving.  I later gave him 150 pesos and you’d thought I gave him a solid gold brick.  (See attached pic)

3. Before my flight out, I was killing some time until it was time to head home.  I had Dr. Morgan adjust me.  Then the 3 of you all honored me in allowing me to adjust you.  That too was huge.  So, doc thanks.  I hope in some way I have helped the wonderful people of the DR, I know they and all of you have changed me.  I will be back, don’t know when but I will be back.  I plan on bringing my wife and maybe two chiropractor friends of mine.

Much Thanks, - -
Dr. Matthew J. Haumesser

 "Cuba! Can you believe that we just completed the first organized chiropractic mission trip to Cuba? I have searched and searched but I have never read about any other successful organized chiropractic mission trip to Cuba"  A special Chiropractic mission team of 10 chiropractors, 3 chiropractic students, three chiropractic assistants and 1 chiropractic office manager brought chiropractic and humanitarian supplies to the people of Cuba. It was the first time an organized chiropractic mission trip actually made it to Cuba.  I led a five-day mission to the communist nation at a time when new hope has emerged among the Cuban residents. In return, our group, made new friendships and brought home a better understanding of the plight of people on the island.

“Dr. Cucci and I had to depart to Puerta Plata Dominican Republic to set up the Haiti-Dominican republic chiropractic mission trip taking place from January 1 to January 10, 2010. We went to rent two homes in Port au Prince Haiti, we met with several pastors and medical professionals, we hired professional photographers, video crew and jeeps for the chiropractic trek from one end of Haiti, through the middle of the country and finally arriving in the Dominican Republic. We will see patients in churches, village centers and hospitals. People will be waiting on line for days to get adjusted. We stayed in the DR for two days and then we took a 16 hour drive to Haiti and back. We made our arrangements and flew to Nassau, Bahamas.  In Nassau we met the rest of our Cuban Mission team. We were 10 males and seven females from California, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. The next day we boarded an Old Russian small propeller plane. We encountered turbulence for the entire hour ride. We touched down in Havana and were greeted by hundreds of Cuban workers wearing swine flu masks. It was really eerie, as was going through an extensive and enduring customs protocol. We finally exit the airport and it as if we went back in time. Most of the cars were made in the fifties and they all run and look as if they are brand new. One of our taxis is a 57 Chevy station wagon that can easily hold ten. We are staying in a beautiful hotel that overlooks Havana's majestic harbor.  The entrance to the harbor is guarded by a 400 year old fort. The Spanish raised this fort next to the harbor entrance between 1589 and 1630, with the objective of warding off attacks by pirates and enemy fleets. In 1845 a huge light house was built adjacent to the fort which makes the entrance to Havana even more picturesque. Havana appears like a mix of Spain, the Caribbean and Italy. The architecture is stupendous. There are statues and fountains in the old spacious squares. We encounter many old forts and heavenly churches. We visit extremely appetizing restaurants with musicians serenading us as we enjoy one delicious meal after the next. The highlight of the evening was when we witnessed soldiers dressed in the uniforms of the British redcoats performing a curfew time firing of the canon as they did when the British had captured Havana back in 1762. It is a ceremony of sound and lights performed on the ramparts with great fanfare and a great favorite with tourists and Cuban children who are brought in from the countryside as a treat during the holidays.

The following day we set out on our chiropractic mission work. We board a ferry that takes us across the harbor to Regla. Regla is where the common folk live. It is completely different than the down town tourist area of 'Old Havana" where we are staying. As we walk by old worn out buildings and shacks, we catch glimpses through the wide-open front doors.  In nearly every house there is a vase bulging with fresh wild flowers placed in the most obvious location on the table or counter.  It's strange to see; the beauty of God's creation set among these shacks of poverty.  Not the flowers, but these wonderful Cuban people.

No clocks, no alarms, no rush, just the rising sun and the clip-clop-tick-tock of the horse's hooves set the pace for these folks.  We're off to a converted house-church.  Scheduled for 9:00 we start about 8:00.  We arrive to a multitude of Cuban patients who have put on their best clothes.  It doesn't matter to the kids that some don't have shoes or that their shirt is buttoned all wrong.  They jockey for position to get a glimpse of us.  Not too close, just close enough. These are simple, honest and hardworking people who have waited patiently to see the chiropractors from the United States.  We address a large crowd that assembled in the church. We tell them the chiropractic story and set up our adjusting rooms.  We were not allowed to bring portable chiropractic tables into Cuba, however our hosts made us a number of fantastic tables that we had in several rooms.

It was a surprise and an encouragement to see how much Cubans can do with so little, it is a truly testimony to the world that the mighty hand of God is upon them. The poverty is devastating, as is the customer service offered in all public places. In spite of this, the Cuban Church where we were stationed is growing every day more and more, about 90 percent of the church population is between the age13-30 which is amazing! While we were adjusting we were able to see the thirst, enthusiasm, and desire the Cubans had to learn more about chiropractic.  The beautiful things they do with little or no resources at all deeply ministered to our spirits.

The next day part of our team was driven about an hour outside Havana to the countryside.  We set up our adjusting rooms in a small church and in a house that was attached. As we walked around we noticed that “comfort” was a foreign word. Many of the Cubans living in the home had severe disabilities. The “beds” were just simple slabs of wood, many without a pillow or even a cover. The floors were manufactured by the Pastor in order to make more room for the people who lived there.

When we broke for lunch or dinner we were told that honored guests eat first, everyone else later.  They have so little yet it is offered as completely yours.  They give what they have from the heart. They would want to give you every thing they have. We made a comment on how we liked the small old fashioned coffee machine, and they wanted to give it to us.

The floor of the kitchen and eating area is plain concrete but is swept and mopped perfectly clean.   Life is simple.  Life is slow.  Generations have been born right on this property and shacks have been added to accommodate the new marriages. They work hard to live; it shows on the roughness of their feet, hands and faces, but their heart is as warm and innocent as a child's.

All the children in the little community were drawn to us.  We felt like the Pied Pipers!  Everywhere we go; eight or nine children follow us.  The digital camera always brings fun, laughter and smiles. The children transform themselves into to athletes, circus artists, clowns and acrobats for the camera.  Suddenly they are all posing for the camera and they begin to do some gravity-defying cartwheel or flip. They immediately want to see their pictures.  Their smiles and laughter are like a penetrating dagger that heads straight to your heart.  They can't stop their tongues once their heart is given to you. 
I guess no one has told them their dreadfully poor.  All they care about is a quick game of soccer. They play it with a ball made out of some rubber that they picked up in some garbage dump. Some kids ride their rickety old bicycles with flat tires and bent wheels.  Do they know their clothes are tattered?  Do they know their homes are shacks? 

As we are leaving, the kids run alongside us waving a hundred times.  With each wave they look you in the eye.  The last wave means as much as the first.  If you're not willing to give your heart away, you should never come to Cuba.”

Here is what one of the female mission team chiropractors related to me “What an incredible experience I had in Cuba. It was 5 of the most meaningful days of my life. We spent weeks training, preparing and praying for God to use our 17 person team as he saw fit. We went to be a blessing to the wonderful people of Cuba. We were blessed far more. We had the privilege of adjusting in homes and sharing chiropractic in churches. We built relationships with the many beautiful Cuban people and delivered pure chiropractic with God's love to as many people as possible. We were humbled to see many chiropractic miracles while we were there.  We saw God working through us as we taught and adjusted in Havana and Regla, Cuba. We heard great life-changing testimonies from those that we adjusted the days before.  Although we adjusted our brothers and sisters in Cuba, our team was also ministered to from our Cuban brothers through their dedication and love of God.  We saw God work despite the very limited resources and the many hardships that must be endured to carry out God’s mission in Cuba. Speaking for our team, and myself, this chiropractic mission trip was a life-changing experience for both our brothers in Cuba and us.”

An international chiropractic mission trip is a life-changing experience. I promise that your life will never be the same. You will come home a changed person. On our next chiropractic mission trip in October we plan to collect and bring school supplies, powdered milk, eyeglasses and toothbrushes, Dr. Morgan said.  “Take part in this unique opportunity by bringing humanitarian aid to churches in the last standing communist country in the western hemisphere. Learn first-hand about the condition of life in Cuba. Join our ongoing mission projects and interact with local churches and community homes. Meet individuals and help us help children, elderly, and the handicapped. You will have the opportunity to roam the island and see its beautiful history while spending most of your time bringing humanitarian aid to the wonderful people of Cuba.

Helping Hands in Haiti: Chiropractic Relief One Adjustment at a Time

By Rennie Statler, DC, MPH, MT (ASCP)

To the best of my knowledge, we were the first team of chiropractors to provide organized on-the-ground aid after the devastating earthquake hit Haiti. It all began on Jan. 20 after I checked my e-mail at lunchtime, which I rarely do.

I noticed an e-mail forwarded to me from Dr. Ellen Coyne. She had helped organize relief efforts at Ground Zero following 9/11, so I trusted that what she was sending was legitimate and warranted my attention. The e-mail was a call for volunteers from a Manhattan chiropractor, Dr. Peter Morgan. I called him and listened to what he had to say about a relief effort plan for the people of Port-au-Prince. Dr. Morgan told me he had sent out numerous e-mails to local and national chiropractic organizations and over a thousand e-mails to individual chiropractors. He said the relief effort would involve bringing food, water and water filtration devices, chiropractic care and hope to the people of Haiti.

Mobilizing a Chiropractic Relief Team

I told Dr. Morgan I had to see if I could cover my Connecticut and New York practices before committing. Within 15 minutes I had the two offices covered and donations for my trip. Within 24 hours, on Jan. 21, I had met six other chiropractors, a chiropractic intern and two missionaries from Stepping Stones Ministries in The Bronx (Stepping Stones has a ministry in Haiti and helped coordinate our visit) at the airport and was on my way to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. (As you recall, Haiti's main airport was inconsistently accessible in the days following the quake.) From Santo Domingo we drove for 10 hours to the Haitian border and spent the night with friends of the missionaries. We left at 5:30 a.m. the following morning for Port-au-Prince. What I experienced next was a life-changing event.

In 2001, 9/11 introduced me to the horror and devastation of terrorist attacks. In Haiti, I expected to see destruction and sadness, but not at the level at which it was etched on the face of every living soul I encountered. As we crossed the border into Haiti, the despair on the people's faces was complete. There were many people reaching out toward our vehicles as we traveled into Port-au-Prince, pleading with their eyes for some sort of assistance. But at that point, we could not give it, because the military was maintaining crowd control.

When we arrived in Port-Au-Prince, the first thing I noticed was the total physical mass destruction of the area - buildings, sidewalks and people. As we ventured farther into the city we became aware of this awful smell; the smell of decaying bodies trapped within the destroyed buildings. Everywhere you turned there was nothing but rubble and soon-to-be rubble. Multiple-level buildings had "pancaked" to one level. We saw buildings that had probably been homes totally destroyed, personal belongings strewn about what was left of the front doorway; we saw baby cribs crushed, children's toys destroyed and clothing hanging from the crumbled structures. We saw numbers spray-painted on building fronts or on pillars denoting the number of human lives lost in that building or area. When we spoke to people in the city, they would tell us about their experiences and how many lives had been lost right next to them, and about how many family members they had lost.

Delivering Water, Food, Chiropractic and Hope

Our first order of business was to go to the refugee tent areas and deliver food (rice) and water, which we had purchased in the Dominican Republic, to as many people as possible. We started at a tent city about a quarter of a mile behind the U.S. Embassy. As we entered the field, the Haitian people were clearly a little skeptical of what we were doing. But when we started to give out water and food and they realized we were there to help, the crowd grew tenfold.

We then started to treat the people on the portable tables we had brought with us. As the first person was treated and rose with a smile on their face, speaking Creole to the people around them, the line started to grow and trust progressively formed. Next thing we knew, we were adjusting and treating person after person for a couple of hours straight. The eight of us took turns evaluating injuries and administering adjustments for whole-body injuries including neck pain, low back pain, leg pain, shoulder pain and rib pain. We also helped apply simple bandages and clean wounds.

When we were finished at that location, we headed into the city, just a couple of minutes away. We stopped at another tent city one block away from the presidential palace. When we pulled up and took out our tables, it felt like we were already seasoned veterans at this. We all started triaging and treating the people right away. It was like we were all on auto drive; we did not even have to talk to one another to work as a cohesive team.

At this location, we were treating people on the portable tables, on the park grounds, and anywhere we could sit or stand a person. Soon the crowd grew and now people were bringing others from the area over to us to treat them. Through interpreters they asked if they could bring family members and friends. One person even asked if he could carry a friend over who had been hurt and couldn't walk.

We kept going for several days, treating the Haitians and bringing water and rice to them at different spots throughout Port-au-Prince. It was exciting, rewarding and sometimes a little unnerving; one time when we stopped and started giving out food and water, the crowd grew so fast it was scary. I had a few strong Haitians males help with crowd control as the rest of the team worked feverishly making portions of rice and handing it out to the hungry masses.

Throughout this journey, we slept in our sleeping bags, in the vehicles we had rented, and some of us slept in a house belonging to one of Dr. Morgan's patients. There was no running water or proper bathroom facilities anywhere. Children in the community helped us by carrying water to our area in large buckets from a community-watering pump a few hundred yards away. We used this water to cook, bathe ourselves and for an outhouse-type facility. We were thankful to the community for sharing what little they had.

One night, after we had finished working, a huge prayer session started; the Haitians are very religious, and this was their way of thanking us. Although we could not understand their language, we could tell that they were singing their prayers and acknowledging us. This was perhaps the most touching moment of all.

An Unforgettable Experience

Although this relief trip was one of the toughest experiences for me, it was also one of the most rewarding, particularly as a chiropractor. During the Haitians' great time of need, we were able to provide for them - not only food and water, but also chiropractic care. In every person I worked with (several hundred), I could see and feel their appreciation for what we were doing. After each treatment, the person would have a big smile, get up and start moving around, and then reach out and shake my hand; no words were necessary. It did not matter if it was a young child or a very elderly person; the results were the same: chiropractic care at its best. We were treating not only the injuries, but also the individual as a whole. This was truly an example of mind, body and spirit being enhanced through chiropractic care.

I would personally like to thank my "new" family; my colleagues who joined me on this brave and humanitarian effort. I will never forget them and will always admire them. My sincere thanks goes out to my chiropractic teammates (see below), as well as Herman Mendoza and his wife, Alexandra, from Stepping Stones Ministries:

Peter Morgan, DC, New York
Scott Jahn, DC, New York
George Zimmerman, DC, New York
Bradley Raush, DC, Massachusetts
Christy Revels Agren, DC, Alabama
Heather Rooks, DC, Delaware
Stephan Moje, chiropractic intern (Northwestern Health Sciences University), Minnesota

How You Can Help

If there is anyone willing to continue this relief effort, ongoing trips to Haiti will be available. The person to get in touch with is Dr. Peter Morgan in Manhattan. All donations can be made directly to Dr. Morgan at chirorye@aol.com and Mission Life International (www.missionlifeintl.com), a nonprofit organization that will make sure your donations will go directly toward helping the Haitian people. I can personally tell you this because I have witnessed firsthand that funds/donations don't get eaten up by "administrative costs." Please help.