Join us. Healthy and safe water for our world.

"To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unforgivable. Faith means believing in the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless." ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton ~

I am a multi-cultural physician who has deep passion for volunteerism and global medical missions. Life somehow allowed me to be able to serve others doing short term relief work in the Philippines after the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption, in Thailand during the 2005 tsunami, in Africa to explore the issue of child-headed families and the impact of AIDS, and in Houston after the Katrina hurricane to help out with the evacuees from New Orleans. In 2006 I did a brief medical mission in Costa Rica working with Nicaraguan refugees in the most impoverished areas. The past year has been an ongoing series of short term humanitarian needs assessment and medical missions in Cuba, Chad, and Uganda. All these experiences led to the even more heightened awareness of the need for safe and healthy water for the world. Three million people are still dying annualy from contaminated water. The solutions are simple. Action is needed. Now.

Currently, I am the chief medical officer of the child psychiatric services of a large non-profit comprehensive mental health care organization. Our organization focuses on caring for our disadvantaged citizens in our community. I have also been medical director of school-based services, an adolescent drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and jumpstarted child and adolescent psychiatric units in in-patient hospitals, as well as served as the chief of medical staff in one of them.

ADVOCACIES: besides healthy water for the world, de-stigmatization of mental illness; serving the refugees; ; improving the lives of the marginalized and the incarcerated; improving the lives of victims of violence, trauma, and disaster; serving those who suffer illness (HIV/AIDS), disabilities, chemical dependency, and abuse; the homeless; empowering people's talents to shine; Music and Arts for healing; education of children and families regarding mental health; linkage of community resources globally for a common good; world peace; volunteerism and service.

I just finished a book soon to be published called "The Courage to Encourage" which is a tribute to volunteers throughout the world and those who have experienced tragedies, losses and disasters. My co-author served in the Peace Corps. We are now working on a second book, "The Phoenix Miracle".

Making the world a better place in some little way is a soulful and spiritual imperative for me. A personal tragedy several years ago propelled me to focus even more on global missions and disaster work. My training and upbringing, having been raised by a family with several physicians, created a natural desire in me to serve others. I discover each day that to serve others is love in action. For me, Love is all.

I hope to be in touch with other volunteers and mission-focused people to encourage one another to bring more peace, harmony, compassion, kindness, beauty and love to our world. Let us join hands and make good things happen.

Peace and Love to all.

~ Liz

webpage: http://www.GARCIAGRAY.com Weblog: http://www.GarciaGray.blogspot.c om