LANCASTER, CA — When Dr. Ed Carns arrived in Lancaster, California, he knew he was about to walk into many situations requiring prayer, wisdom, and medical skill, ultimately relying on the healing hand of God.

Now, more than a month later, Dr. Carns, the Samaritan’s Purse team lead for their California COVID response, recounts how he saw the Lord’s hand clearly at work through skilled doctors and nurses at their Emergency Field Hospital. As their medical teams depart the Lancaster community and the campus of Los Angeles County’s Antelope Valley Hospital in the coming days, Dr. Carns says the experiences and memories will go with him.

Ed Carns, MD, Samaritan’s Purse:

Today, we’ve gathered for the closing ceremony for the Emergency Field Hospital in Lancaster, California. It’s been a wonderful ceremony. It’s been a remarkable experience, and we are leaving early because the Antelope Valley Hospital are now ready to continue without our help.

This field hospital was vital for the fight against COVID. The Antelope Valley Hospital was virtually overrun with COVID patients. And so, when we arrived, we took 54 beds that we had and filled them with COVID patients.

It’s a pretty remarkable feat to have taken care of all those patients. That’s what I know is our purpose– yes, to provide medical care, but also, we all want to share the Gospel at every opportunity we have.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

Read more news on Disaster Relief, Medical Ministry and the COVID 19 Pandemic.

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