If you are considering a short-term missions trip in 2025, there is a big need in Papua New Guinea!

YWAM Ships Kona is an organization that reaches the most isolated and disadvantaged in the Pacific. Using ships to access these areas is often the only option. They bring hope to the least reached who live in places where there may be no roads or airports. Currently their focus is Papua New Guinea where they conduct eye clinics and cataract removal surgeries onboard the M/V. Liberty, a 1750-ton ship dedicated to medical missions.

They are looking for:

• Ophthalmologists trained in the ECCE / MSICS procedure.
• Optometrist for eye clinics held on shore.
• Ophthalmic scrub nurses who can assist with cataract and pterygium surgeries.

Eye care professionals make a huge impact on the quality of life for both the patient and the patient's family! 

Patients with cataracts are brought to the vessel for surgery via inflatable zodiacs and can be returned the same day.  Also, YWAM Ships partners with Restoring Vision to distribute reading glasses and distance glasses in the mobile clinics on shore.

The medical outreaches are 2 weeks long from arrival (to get onboard the ship) to departure (to take a flight back home).

Being a 501-c3 non-profit missions organization all medical professionals pay $40 USD per day for room and board. Additional costs include airfare, insurance, visa and the $95 USD registration fee. 

Outreach Dates for 2025:

4 April - 19 April
25 April - 10 May
16 May- 31May

6 June - 21 June
27 June - 12 July
18 July - 2 Aug

8 Aug - 23 Aug
29 Aug - 13 Sep
19 Sep - 4 Oct

10 Oct - 25 Oct
31 Oct - 15 Nov
21 Nov - 6 Dec

*Dates might change slightly.

We recommend completing the application at your earliest convenience. Visas are now done online, and it takes between 1-21 days for approval.

You can find more information here: 
https://www.ywamshipskona.org/vol_opp/ophthalmology/
https://www.ywamshipskona.org/vol_opp/optometry/

If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please contact us at info@christianeye.net or Kristy Wilke at kristy.wilke@ywammontana.org.