I know of your interest in dental missions from your previous travels with me and must tell you we have terminated the Mexico Student Mission Trip due to the extreme violence along the border. Accordingly, we went to Nicaragua last spring break (March 2011) and plan to go to Guatemala this spring break (March 17/18 thru 23/24 depending on the airfare best deal). We will invite students from Baylor and UT Houston and perhaps a couple other schools. I am in great hopes that we can put together a team of 50 to complete the assignment God has laid on my heart last year while visiting the site.
Here is the vision. Pray first before reading this and then consider what God would have you do.
For the first time ever, I am joining another missions sending organization to accomplish this big feat. ServingHim Ministries has been around for over 13 years under the founding genius of my dear friend Dr. Kevin Seidler. It was begun around the time that Kevin actually joined us for our 1998 Mexico Student Mission Trip for his first dental mission trip. Now they are in several locations throughout the world including this site in Guatemala. Go online for www.ServingHim.org to find out more about that organization.
The goal is to see 700 school age children from two nearby schools (one next door-literally-has 500 students and another nearby has 200 students). It will be like a Billy Graham Crusade as we go in and make a huge impact on the children and their families, both dentally and spiritually. I have assumed the responsibility of assembling the dental team to provide the dental care and ServingHim is assuming the leadership of connecting the local churches and families into this massive outreach! We both are committed to a strong outreach into the local churches for follow-up from the dental door opener. When we assemble the dental team I want to consider assembling a strong evangelistic team from the dental team to perhaps have a night or two of evangelistic outreach in a church with me on the piano, music with a song leader, and a message from a leading evangelist friend of mine who travels the world on his own plus with the Billy Graham team. I believe this will be one of the most meaningful outreach weeks you will ever be a part of!!! When you consider the well known fact that most people who accept Christ do so at a young age and it is increasingly less so in the older-you-get-age ranges. This means simply that an outreach to the younger generation is our best opportunity to reach someone in this real world for Christ. By showing God’s practical side of His love thru us by dental care, we will open doors of interest by them and their families. That doesn’t get any better for missions!!!!
Now what are YOU waiting for?
Maybe a bolt out of Heaven or a spoken word from God directly although most of us just know this is what we have already been called to do and were really created for, given a dental license for, and grew up in His likeness for. I am aware that the practicing dentists are scheduling recall appointments for March already and need to set aside the week for the trip. The students are already thinking about spring break and what they can do. Many of you will need to find some financial resources to help with this venture. ServingHim HAS ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HELPING YOU WITH FUND RAISING!!! It is no different than any church group going on the mission field for short term missions-it is bigger than yourself. Do not hesitate to ask for others to join in with you since you have helped so many others go on their trip. Now it is time for you to offer the professional gift that no others possess to impact the world for Christ, in YOUR time.
We will travel there probably on Saturday or Sunday and set up the dental clinic for exams, prophys, xrays, fillings, extractions, oral health motivation, fluoride and a few other surprise treatments we always get to perform that God has awaiting us. Monday thru Friday noon will most likely be our clinic time. Then we will pack up and have a brief R and R before leaving either late Friday or on Saturday, again depending on how expensive the air fares are on those days. I am acutely aware of your urgent desire to keep costs to the bare bone minimum and will assure you we have always done that. The airlines do not always cooperate and we will have to negotiate, negotiate, negotiate with them, since they are the biggest cost in our mission. ServingHim staff are already negotiating those fares for us and I am hopeful this bad economy will keep the fares reasonable thru March.
Here are the personnel needs: 15 dentists, 25 dental students, 5 hygienists, 5 assistants/pre-dents plus any translators, spouses, children of teammates or friends of the missions family!!!!! The magic number is 50. Pray for that!! I know we can do it with 50. Back in 1973. January, I borrowed Baylor Dental College and had 50 helpers see 400 children from Buckner Childrens Home all in one day, Saturday, and we did it without the fillings/extractions but with a charting and creating their new dental chart for their new program starting on campus later that spring. I know what it takes to do what we propose and YOU are the answer to that prayer as we are praying for the harvest and those that go out to share in it.
Won’t you consider joining us for this literal crusade of health and spiritual impact? Please respond with a return note as to your availability and interest level so that I can begin the detail planning for equipment and supplies necessary to be available when we arrive. That is no small feat and I know you understand the mammoth task it is now to take such things across international borders, fly on planes, and purchase in that country. I am up to the task of providing for your experience! Now will you agree to join us to donate your heart and hands to the effort?
Once you respond I will indicate the financial portion, the flight options, the response of teammates to date, and the more specific details of location, daily plans, and general assignments. You can help by encouraging your own staff, friends, or classmates to join us.
Dear Former Mexico or Nicaragua Missionary: