Medical Mission to the Amazon!

My name is Jordan Harbin. I'm a first-year medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and I'm reaching out to share an opportunity that's close to my heart.

This summer, I have the incredible opportunity to embark on a medical mission trip to the heart of the Amazon Valley. I am working with the non-profit organization AMOR, as well as faculty from the UofL School of Medicine, to provide humanitarian aid to the poor and remote villages along the Amazon River. We will begin our journey in Manaus, Brazil, climb aboard a riverboat, and embark on our two-week journey into the Amazon. While in Brazil, we will work and live in sparse conditions (on the open-air deck of the boat) to serve the physical and medical needs of the poor and unreached there. In these communities, access to basic healthcare is a luxury, and the need is overwhelming. The specific villages and exact needs of the people will be determined when we arrive in Brazil, but some of the services I will be providing could include a broad range of medical care, dental care, distribution of reading/sun/safety glasses, installation of water purification systems and home water filters, and construction to repair villages, homes, and buildings.

But I need your help. I've already invested my own resources, leveraging my medical school loans to secure my spot on this life-changing journey. Yet, there are still significant expenses looming ahead. While I will be able to recover a portion of those funds, I need additional support. Everyone on this trip is paying their own way. This means I am responsible for several expenses: round-trip airfare from Louisville, KY to Manaus, Brazil, baggage fees for check bags of medical supplies, passport, Brazil visa, immunizations, and medications (yellow fever, typhoid, antimalarial prophylaxis, etc), money for the boat crew, some medical supplies, and many smaller expenses such as mosquito repellent, electrolyte powder, sunscreen, etc. Prices and needs may change before we depart. Any money raised that exceeds my need will be used to purchase supplies we are collecting for the locals (glasses, sunglasses, sewing kits, soccer balls, frisbees, small gifts/toys for the children, hats, clothing, possibly other items).

To share some of my story, my journey to this point hasn't been easy. Just 4 years ago, I was an alcoholic, a college dropout with little hope for making anything of myself. Through the grace of God, I was able to overcome alcoholism, return to college, and get into medical school. If you had told me 5 years ago about the position I am in today, I wouldn't have believed you. I have learned so much through my struggles, and now I stand on the precipice of a future filled with promise, driven by a passion to serve others. This trip isn't just another opportunity for me; it's a chance to pay forward the kindness and generosity that helped me find my way.

When you donate, you're not giving to a faceless cause. You're putting money into the hands of an eager medical student; a real person who is actually traveling to remote villages to do tangible, physical work, work that will relieve suffering and improve the quality of people’s lives. You are sending me (and the rest of the team) with supplies and abilities to get things done, and your donation will directly benefit hundreds of people who otherwise wouldn't get the care they need.

I'm passionate about the opportunity to give back, but I can't do it alone. With your help, we can bring hope and healing to those who need it most.

Thank you for considering supporting my mission.

With gratitude, Jordan Harbin

EDIT: I have had requests for alternate donations methods, so here they are!

PayPal: @jordanharbin779

(My wife’s) Venmo: @Holly-Harbin-9