John Hoines has experienced some soul-satisfying days of late, changing people’s lives for the better in 30 minutes.

The Mankato ophthalmologist spent two weeks in Colombia enabling the blind to see again through cataract surgeries, and says he can’t wait to do more for Third World needy.

“The more you go, the more you want to be gone,” he said.

“It’s addictive,” added wife Cindy, who accompanied him as a helper on the trip.

Next up: a similar medical-mission trek to Peru later this year.

The Hoineses were part of an 86-person team representing Medical Ministry International, dedicated to providing spiritual and physical health care to the world’s needy.

The couple aren’t strangers to such trips. They’ve made several and don’t plan to stop, never mind that trips such as the Colombia venture cost them about $4,000.

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