There’s something beautifully powerful that happens when faith meets action—when hands reach out in service, hearts open across cultures, and hope finds its way into places where it feels in short supply. Medical Missions Foundation (MMF) is one of those organizations that embodies exactly that. And when you look more closely, people like Brindy Nichols illuminate what it means to live out the call to serve. Today, I want to share the story of MMF and Brindy—her journey, her heart, and why her life is inspiring for all of us who long to be part of something beyond ourselves.
Who is Medical Missions Foundation?
Founded in 1996 by Drs. Tony and Luz Racela, Medical Missions Foundation, was born out of the deep need they saw in their homeland of the Philippines—children with medical needs, families without access, communities often forgotten. Their vision: “Health for the World.”
MMF’s mission is clear: to provide surgical and medical care in underserved communities throughout the world, positively affecting the lives of children and their families.
From their earliest missions—examining children, performing surgeries, giving hope—to their current work, MMF has grown in reach and depth. Each mission is more than clinics and surgeries; it is a testimony of compassion, of partnership, of bringing dignity and healing. And MMF doesn’t just focus on the medical side: they incorporate art as a dimension of healing, bringing light, color, joy—murals, music, muralists, dance, creative projects—especially for children awaiting surgery.
MMF is run largely by volunteers—medical professionals (doctors, nurses, surgeons), support staff, logistical teams, interpreters, sometimes artists—people who give their time, their gifts, often their own money, to make each mission happen.
They also run a monthly giving program called “Missions Maker,” which offers a sustainable way for supporters all over the world to help ensure MMF has the resources, people, and momentum to continue its work. Even small contributions make a difference.
Why MMF Matters
- Access to care where it’s needed most. In many remote or impoverished areas, families often lack access to surgical care or medical clinics. MMF goes in—setting up clinics, performing operations, bringing in specialists.
- Holistic service. It’s more than surgery. From art to psychological encouragement, MMF seeks to care for the whole person—body, mind, spirit. This reflects the Christian call to love our neighbors fully, not just in parts.
- Volunteer-driven. Bringing people together—local and international—to share their gifts. Every volunteer plays a role, whether direct medical care or support tasks. For many volunteers, the experience is transformative.
- Partnership and cultural sensitivity. Mission sites are scouted carefully; there’s attention to local culture, translation, working with local partners. This approach helps the ministry to be sustainable, respectful, and more deeply effective.
Brindy Nichols: A Light Among Many
Of all the volunteers who serve with MMF, Brindy Nichols stands out—not because she’s perfect, but because her heart is visible, her commitment genuine, and her stories remind us why this work matters.
Here are some pieces of her journey:
- How she first got involved. Brindy first heard about MMF through a friend she had been on mission trips with previously. She had already done missions with her hospital, but she wanted something more—more learning, more sharing, more growth. She reached out, inquired, and stepped into MMF’s community.
- What motivates her. Brindy believes deeply in the “circle” of knowledge—that she has something to share and also much to learn. She lives by the motto: “The meaning of life is to find your gift; the purpose of life is to give it away.” That spirit of giving, of humility, of continual growth—that’s what drives her.
- Missions she’s been on. She has already served on multiple missions with MMF: two missions to Uganda, one to the Philippines, and beyond that, experiences in Kenya and several in Peru. Each has stretched her, enriched her, challenged her.
- A moment that changed her. One particular mission stands out—a 10-month-old infant needing surgery. The baby’s mother was devastated, yet full of hope. Though Brindy didn’t share her language, the mother entrusted her child to Brindy and the team, praying they’d heal him. Brindy felt the weight of being a stranger, a caregiver, in that moment. As a mother herself, she could imagine the pain, the fear. And yet—she also felt the beauty of trust, the sacredness of serving. That moment still resonates.
- Why she volunteers. Brindy sees medical volunteering as both a responsibility and a blessing. She wants to share what she’s learned (from her schooling, her nursing background) to strengthen care in communities, and also serve locally—helping homeless or underserved in her own region. She believes every human deserves quality care.
- What she’d say to you. If you are considering joining a mission: “Do it!” she says. It’s been among the most fulfilling things she has done. She wishes she had begun earlier.
- The dual nature of the journey. She warns: your heart will be broken and fulfilled in the very same trip. You will see suffering, unmet needs, but also joy, hope, community. You will leave changed. And you’ll want to go again.
Reflection: What We All Can Learn from Brindy & MMF
So what lessons can we take away, whether we ever go on a foreign mission, or simply serve in our own backyard?
- Faith must lead to hands. It’s one thing to believe; it’s another to act. Brindy reminds us that the Christian life is activated when we step beyond comfort.
- Humility in service. Approaching others with respect, listening, learning—recognizing that those we serve are not projects but people with dignity, culture, story.
- Joy in giving, even amid hardship. Healing often comes with mess, difficulty, long hours, language barriers—but there is beauty, laughter, connection.
- Community on mission. Missions aren’t individual hero-acts; they require team work: medical staff, non-medical helpers, translators, donors, art volunteers.
- Long-term commitment matters. Missions are not just “one and done.” Brindy has been on many, and MMF builds structures (like monthly giving, sustainable planning) so that care doesn’t disappear when volunteers leave.
How You Can Be Part of This Story
If after reading this, your heart is stirred, here are some ways to step in:
- Volunteer with MMF—medical or non-medical roles. Even if you’re not a surgeon or nurse, there are meaningful ways to serve (clinic intake, language interpretation, art, logistics).
- Give through MMF’s Missions Maker monthly program. Regular giving helps sustain ongoing work.
- Pray—for safe travels, for the volunteers, for those they serve, for wisdom for mission leaders.
- Share—use your gifts where you are. Encourage others. Maybe help with local outreach, or organize support for a mission.
Medical Missions Foundation is a reminder that when vision, faith, and grit come together, healing happens—often in surprising, beautiful ways. Volunteers like Brindy Nichols are proof that God uses ordinary people with passion, compassion, and courage to bring about extraordinary hope.
If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to follow Jesus with open hands, to let your gifts out into the world, Brindy’s story invites you. It says, there is room for you. There is work waiting. And there is joy, even in hard places.
Check out their Organization Profile on MissionFinder or their Website.
