SMI Student Blog
Browse the SMI Student Blog Posts
The blog entries below were submitted by past participants of the SMI program during their time in Philadelphia. There are also some yearly recaps from our Summer Program Director.
Lessons Learned
by Katie Y.Coming out to SMI, I didn’t know what to expect AND I am a last-minute packer! So here are some insights that I thought would be helpful for future SMI-ers! I didn’t realize I would be spending as much time in scrubs. Scrubs were worn on outreaches in the...
Jesus the Great Physician
by Caleb H.In high school, I had the opportunity to evangelize to a lot of good people. People who were kind, compassionate, and made few mistakes. However, nearly none of them were receptive to the gospel. I was surprised by this since in my mind they seemed pretty...
The Power of the Gospel
by Ashley A.Hey everyone! My name is Ashley and I am in nursing school in Birmingham! Coming into SMI, I had no idea what to expect. Being from out of town, I assumed everyone would already know each other and I would be the outsider. I assumed Kensington would be a...
Being Broken while Fixing the Brokenness
From the beginning, I thought SMI would be about me changing other people’s lives. Coming into Kensington, I’d imagined myself having the answers to the people’s spiritual questions, to teach the...
God in the Unexpected
What a day and what a God we serve. Admittedly, today did not start the way that I wanted. I doubt anybody’s version of a great morning is walking out to their car with a busted window and stolen...
From Bullet to Better
Kelsey walked down the street, saying, “We have an appointment today! We have to be at this lady's home at 10 am.” We walked up the stairs and knocked on Rosa’s* door. “Hola! Vengan aqui. Gracias...
A Letter to Heaven
Dear Heaven, Meeting you was the highlight of my day. After knocking on a row of unanswered doors, the sight of your sweet smile and sparkly eyes greeting us at the door of your babysitter’s home...
Wounds
Sometimes it is visible. Sometimes it consumes the mind. Sometimes it is reflected in in their eyes. Through our door to door screenings, this mission trip has shown me painful stories and deep...
Thought-provoking Quote
—Kelsey Kreyche SMI 2018
Beautiful Things Out of Dust
“Okay, which street should we do next?” I asked my partner, Miriam. “Let’s do this one,” Miriam said, pointing to the next block. As Miriam and I turned the street, we immediately saw an old lady...
Glimpses of the Creator
Everywhere I go today, I know there will be people. Particularly here in an urban setting, humanity is inescapable and that can make it seem ordinary – commonplace even. And perhaps because of this,...
My Grace is Sufficient
Something that I have consistently found when serving on missions trips is that God always uses the experience to mold and shape the Christian almost as much as (and sometimes more than) he uses the...
All Brokenness Aside
If you could ask any member of my team what they would remember most about the weather of the first week and a half of SMI, I can almost guarantee that they would reply emphatically with one word:...
Grace Flows Down
I could tell endless stories of the names and faces I’ve met this week. I walked into Bethel Temple a week ago, carrying the weight of recent life events with very little idea of what I was getting...
A Day of Door-to-Door
Friday, June 29th. We had a full day of Door-to-Door outreach ahead of us. We trekked along, soon to be covered in sweat. “Hi, would you be interested in a free health screening?" Over the many...
MAILING ADDRESS
1701 Delancey Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
DONATION ADDRESS
PO Box 111288
Memphis, TN 38111-1288
PHONE
215-971-0031
Medical Campus Outreach Philadelphia exists to glorify God in the medical campus community by equipping students to love and serve Jesus Christ in healthcare. MCO Philadelphia and the Summer Medical Institute Philadelphia are now part of the Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF) family.
Copyright © 2026 Medical Campus Outreach Philadelphia. All rights reserved.