The work of Sister Isabelle Harmon in Oaxaca, Mexico, is one of the hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to those in need today.

Medical Mission Sisters care for the indigenous people of Oaxaca, Mexico, through an agency called PROSA (Promoters of Health in Defense of the Communities). The poorest state in Mexico, Oaxaca has the highest indigenous population in the country, with 16 distinct ethnic groups. Most of the people work as farmers on small plots of land. Sister Isabelle Harmon has been working with these people for 11 years.

"Our beloved Archbishop Bartolome Carrasco Briceno, who died two years ago, dreamed of reviving the use of herbal medicines," explains Sister Isabelle. With help from the Medical Mission Sisters, a storeroom was built, and supplies were purchased, for materials to make various herbal remedies.

When Sister Isabelle came to Oaxaca in 1993, there were 40 health promoters in 20 communities. Now, there are 500 health promoters in 198 communities. Missionaries had coordinated these efforts in the past; but as of last year, two indigenous people took over responsibility for coordinating the health promotion efforts. "This is a great step forward," Sister Isabelle says.

Along with the basic formation program for health promoters, additional workshops, and the herbal pharmacy, PROSA holds a biweekly clinic using alternative methods of healing. PROSA is also involved with peace and justice issues, and with educating the indigenous people about situations in their country.