I know that you are a very special group of young people. You are self-selected to do this type of international service trip with GMT.  I will assume that you are amongst the 10%ers of our society. I will, also, assume that you are gifted (each in your own way); open-minded / curious; educated; insightful; service oriented; healer-type; probably empathetic; and highly motivated with ideals, principles, and lofty goals. Don’t laugh, I’m serious. I do expect you to live up to these expectations on this trip…And I am certain that you will.

A person's ''GOOD CHARACTER'' denotes a combination of acquired knowledge, wisdom and resultant behavior; a grasp of rational reality; humility, fortitude and courage...wrapped within an inquisitive and distinctive personality.

By contrast ''a character''is merely a person with an instinct for eccentric self-drama that can be amusing, disturbing or disrupting... depending on the circumstances. --wj

GMT is a Humanist Organization. GMT values good character. GMT believes in integrity, honesty, respect for oneself, respect for others, decency, dignity, responsibility, fairness, caring and service to others. GMT believes in providing an "Education for Life" to the whole person and for all people. Education erases ignorance and, therefore, diminishes myth, mistreatment and a myopic life...and eventually will diminish injustice, poverty and poor health. We will be both giving and receiving education on GMT trips in pursuing our quest for better health.--wj

The safety and well-being of students on all GMT trips is of supreme importance to us. So much depends upon this as a baseline for everything else that we do on all trips.

We [[including my wife, Pat, &/or our professional guides, assistants, doctors, interpreters] will be there with you and the group the entire time. We will have 1or 2 cell phones. Others will, too. The people we work and often travel with are all from that country and often live in the communities we serve. They, above all, want all of us to be safe. They appreciate our being there & want us to have a good safe trip / clinics, so we will keep coming back. We know them well and they are very protective of us. The other Doctors, guides, interpreters, & assistants are hired from there, so they usually travel, and stay with us.

By Dr. Wil Johson, GMT Medical Director

Our life's journey is of asking the right questions, truly listening to the answers, critically analyzing, and moving from relative ignorance to a more enlightened first hand knowledge of the world. This process will provide answers to the above question.

''The rich are different than you and me'',..F Scott Fitzgerald..[?Great Gatsby].

If you accept this assertion and take the magnitude of difference, increase it cruelly and exponentially...observe...reflect...then perhaps a better understanding of the poor, oppressed and exploited in the world will emerge.