On July 30, after worship at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, stay and hear Dr. Fred and Mare Hartman tell of their work helping refugees and asylum seekers in Maine in concert with the Phippsburg United Church of Christ.

Dr. Hartman writes: “From the time we first met and dated, Mare, as a nursing student and me as a pre-med student, agreed to find ways to provide health services to people in resource poor countries. Those early college student dreams have turned into a lifelong passion. We have lived and worked in countries as diverse as the Central Amazon of Brazil, Honduras, post-Taliban Afghanistan, and most recently completed 10 years supporting national HIV and TB programs in Ethiopia.”

In 2015, as age and health issues crept along, Fred retired from international health, began practicing part time, and focused on supporting refugee health issues in Maine. The Hartmans helped start the Mid-coast New Mainers Support Group, which to date has helped re-settle two asylum seekers from Africa in Brunswick and Bath. This support group held a highly successful furniture drive in June and, with furnishings collected, helped resettle two Syrian families in Augusta.

The Hartmans will be introduced during worship and will speak and answer questions following the service. Everyone is invited.