REV. KAREN L. WEISS
Mongolia Initiative Coordinator
Since 2005 Grace Hospice in Mongolia has provided end-of-life care to residents within a 10-kilometer radius of Chingletei United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar. The hospice has an average of 40-50 patients, most of whom have terminal cancer.
Before this hospice program began, people were often sent home without effective pain solutions or other symptom control and had no emotional support from family members or caregivers.
But, thanks to the work and direction of missionary Helen Sheperd, Grace Hospice’s spiritual care counselor, doctors, nurses and trained volunteers have been making regular home visits, offering patients the physical, emotional, social and spiritual comfort they need during their last stage of life. In 2013, Grace Hospice staff acquired a company vehicle, which increased their mobility and availability to check on multiple patients daily without having to rely on public transportation.
Helen, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan and graduate of Bronson School of Nursing in Kalamazoo, started the mission via hospice care services with Global Ministries Missionary Sun Lae Kim following shortly thereafter. Helen has dedicated the latter part of her life to missionary service in both Korea and Mongolia. Churches across the West Michigan Conference have supported Helen through those years.
A missionary for 23 years, Sheperd has spent the last 13 years in service to Mongolia, putting her nursing skills to use in hospice care, while giving direction to Grace Hospice staff and volunteers. She manages day-to-day operations and performs patient visits in coordination with a student nurse practicum program that partners Grace Hospice with a local nursing school. Sheperd also works diligently to provide quality comfort, care and treatment for those who choose hospice care service.
This year, however, marks a new chapter in Sheperd’s life: She is retiring as of June 30, 2015.
As she transitions, a local leader is filling her shoes. Sheperd has identified and is training an indigenous doctor to lead Grace Hospice after her retirement, demonstrating the essence of her years of missionary service to enable local leaders to arise.
The new director of Grace Hospice is Altankhuyag, a 28-year-old doctor who began working with Grace Hospice directly after graduation from the national medical school. At first, he planned to work at Grace for two years, but Altankhuyag quickly developed a heart for hospice care and progressed in his knowledge of symptom control and providing caring support for patients and families in warm humility. He is now working on his master’s degree in palliative care.
Building capacity and empowering local leadership is at the heart of Global Ministries’ In Mission Together program. Through In Mission Together 50/50 partnerships indigenous leaders are equipped to mold strong churches and communities and to disciple followers of Christ.
After officially retiring from Global Ministries, Sheperd plans to continue with Grace Hospice through their 10th anniversary and then return to the United States for a few months before returning to Mongolia as an Individual Volunteer. In this new role, she will assist in the leadership transition while mentoring Altankhuyag, and will continue to develop strong partners within the Mongolia mission network. She may be officially retiring, but her heart continues to be in mission together.
We celebrate the dedication and love with which Sheperd has shared her life, gifts and talents with countless patients, church members, fellow missionaries and Global Ministries’ staff over these 23 years.
Learn more at Grace Hospice (Advance #14928A).
Last Updated on February 2, 2024