DHAKA, BANGLADESH - Workers with a medical mission in the Philippines waited two months for the visas that allowed them to enter this densely populated nation and help the victims of Cyclone Sidr.

But when three members of MARCH for Christ (Medical Action for Relief, Counseling and Healing) finally arrived in Bangladesh, they found no shortage of need, team member Gigie Carranza said. The Nov. 16 cyclone killed at least 3,100 people and left countless others homeless.

Carranza, a church member in Quezon City, Philippines, and missions coordinator for MARCH, accompanied physician Verna Uy and physical therapist Shemer Sameon on the trip. Working with church members in Dhaka and Kulna, the missionaries treated 500 patients, Carranza said.

The team also distributed roofing material to people with damaged homes and food and clothing to those in need, Carranza said.

Though separated by more than 2,000 miles, people in Bangladesh and the Phillipines have similar traits, Carranza said

“Like us Filipinos, they too have close-knit families,” she said. “We were blessed to be able to bring some encouragement to those that were affected.”