Dear Family & Friends, I am writing to tell you about a wonderful opportunity I have to go on a medical mission trip to Uganda. The trip is with Palmetto Medical Initiative, March 6-16th 2015, during my spring break. I am currently completing my second semester at the Medical University of South Carolina and pursuing a Masters of Physician Assistant studies. I am almost half way through my didactic year and will begin my clinical rotations starting August 2015. The Palmetto Medical Initiative was founded in Charleston, SC by a local physician in 2009. Each year, local healthcare providers and students travel to Uganda, Burundi or Nicaragua to provide healthcare to these under-served populations. For additional and very interesting information about PMI you can access their website at: http://www.palmettomedical.org/ We will spend the majority of the trip working at the clinic treating a wide variety of medical conditions. Uganda is a developing country located in East Africa; life expectancy is only 54 years of age, and the child mortality rate (under five years of age) is 90 out of 1000. They also have a huge shortage of healthcare providers with one doctor for every 7,272 Ugandans. I am extremely excited about the opportunity to impact the lives of people in Uganda. I am anxious to put my medical training and education to work in a place that greatly needs it. For me, this is the perfect opportunity to combine my passion for healthcare with my desire to spread God’s love by helping those in need. In order for me to attend the trip, I am responsible for raising financial support. The total cost is $3,650 per person, which covers travel, lodging, and meals. If you would like to be a part of my financial support for the mission trip, any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, it is 100% tax deductible PMI Tax ID #: 26-3717278). If you would like to sponsor me, you can donate at my online fundraising site. Just go to: https://bos.etapestry.com/fundraiser/PalmettoMedicalInitiative/March2015Teams/individual.do?participationRef=1171.0.59707405 and click on the Sponsor Me link on the right hand side. Many heartfelt thanks, Laura Ann Timmons "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."-Matthew 28:19