How can I get started in providing health care in the medical mission field? This workshop will help answer this essential question for those desiring to serve in medical missions, and those who desire to increase their effectiveness by partnering with others. Discuss motivations for partnership, including access to resources, experience, and needed capabilities; types of partners available; barriers to successful partnership; and initial steps necessary to begin to develop a successful partnership.The volume of aid resources doesn matter as much as the implementation philosophy that the aid is being channeled into. The old adage that ideas have consequences is quite true untested and shallow ideas often have negative consequences on those that are being served. This session will explore the difference between a dependency philosophy and an empowering strategy, and these ideas will be shared in such a way to be applied to any aid related work.