Congratulations on your progress toward becoming a licensed dentist! As some say, an RD= real doctor-ha! You'll be there before you know it! You'll also cherish some of the things you did during dental school, like going on a dental mission trip. That is why I write to you.
Many of you have been on our Mexico dental mission trip during previous spring breaks (pictures on the right). You remember the joys of serving others, fellowship with like-minded students, mentoring by doctors and your chance to experience another culture outside the USA. This year we feel Mexico is no longer a safe option. It may never again be one during my lifetime. As a matter of fact, missions all over the world are becoming more difficult and less safe. Truly NOWHERE is totally safe-not even in our own country!
Having said that, I have explored Central America as a valid potential spring break mission site. It is as close as you can get to the USA and still do missions safely. I considered Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. I actually took your student leader from Baylor Stephen Sperry and from Houston Drew Nalley to evaluate Guatemala from a students' perspective. It is a great possibility but not available this 2011 due to the location is already rented out by another group (not dental). If enough of you show interest I can book it for 2012 now and have a phenomenal experience there seeing up to 700 students from 2 schools-a perfect match and setup thru Serving Him Ministries.
We evaluated Honduras but find it not ideal yet for our group. Actually the CMDA group from San Antonio is partnering with a Honduras ministry for March 13-19th, 2011 and will take medical and dental participants. Their cost is approximately $1000 plus airfare, which will be between 600-800 more, or approximately $1800 total minimum from San Antonio, more from Dallas/Houston I suspect due to travel connects. If you are interested they may allow you to join their group but since I am not directly involved I am just comparing it with what I will propose to you for our spring break 2011.
I have a great niece/nephew (my niece's daughter) with two small children that pastor a small mission church in Managua, Nicaragua. We have been in dialogue about bringing our group to their area. It is near the capitol city and airport but we would go to San Marcos, one hour from the airport, and rent out a new retreat ground (built by Canadian evangelicals in 2006 to serve the missionaries in Nicaragua) called Skylark Retreat Centre (www.skylarkcentre.org). You may Google it for a visual tour and briefing on their facilities and ministry. They have a medical building now and have hosted a dental team although they only have one portable set up. It is a safe, clean, well managed location with ample dorm space for over 150 people. (You may remember in past years our group to Matamoros numbered around 100!)
In lieu of Matamoros, I propose to take a group of dental personnel (not any medical-just dental as always since we can be much more focused and effective) from March 13 to 18th (Sunday thru Friday). This will differ from previous times when we left on Thursday of spring break (end of the week) to return on Sunday night just in time for Monday's classes. Many of you expressed interest in going earlier in the week so as to be more rested for Monday class start up. Also this is further to go and will require a minimum of 6 days rather than the previous 4 days. Air flight service is limited and only once a day is convenient (unlike Southwest to Harlingen every 2 hours!) Naturally, flying into their country requires a different set of equipment/supply needs. Our drive across the border to Matamoros was easy and efficient relative to anywhere else.
We will stay in the dorms of Skylark, eat in their nice kitchen facilities, operate in their medical building and perhaps remote (if enough of you sign up), and serve the local church members from Matt's church and his other pastor friend’s churches. As you might suspect, this longer distance and time trip will cost more than Matamoros. Airfare is roughly three times the cost and separate expenses from airport to airport inclusive will be over twice what Matamoros cost. There will never be a more ideal situation for us than Matamoros, regrettably. Even then I am keeping expenses to a bare bones minimum. If we actually used another group to plan and execute our trip, it would be more like plus $2000 per person inclusive. I propose our trip expenses to be $900 plus airfare (click here to download support letter DOC | RTF). Airfare can vary significantly depending on when you purchase the ticket. Obviously, the sooner the better. You can go online and check airfare for Continental to Managua. You will be required to take the same flight as the group to participate this year. No arrangements for earlier or later flights can be made. As I send this letter the connection from Dallas leaves Sunday, March 13 at 3:00pm (#5833) arriving in Houston at 4:06pm. It leaves Houston at 5:50pm (#1774) arriving in Managua at 8:07pm. We then depart Managua Friday, March 18 at 12:10pm (#1813) and arrive in Houston at 4:41pm. The flight from Houston to Dallas leaves at 7:20pm (#5832) arriving in Dallas at 8:38pm.
Part of the expenses is in start up costs, taking new equipment and supplies, being mainly portable versus Matamoros Children's Home and DIF fixed. Add to that no left over’s stored from previous years as we had at the Matamoros Children’s Home. I'm sure you understand and appreciate the challenge of this new location after my 34 years going to Matamoros!!!!
Truly some of you may want to contact support groups to help you finance such a great opportunity. Your church, home church, family or friends may respond to help you. We will offer a sample letter to send out if you need it.
Please review the new 2011 application for participation this next year. It will of necessity be a more select group and we may limit the numbers allowed to participate due to equipment limitations. I will work diligently to accommodate all who desire to go. Clearly deadlines will be honored and past deadline applications will not be considered due to equipment and supply preparations well in advance.
We will need dentists, hygienists, assistants, translators, and students (a limited number of pre-dents and spouses/children). Everyone will be assigned either a unit or box of supplies to be their second check bag and hand carryon. Only one personal bag will be permitted by me due to equipment/supply chain needs. Everyone must contribute to some of the gathering of supplies. More on that as you let me know you're going.
Read enough to be interested? Please contact:
Dallas group-Stephen Sperry (stephensperry@live.com) or
903-399-1995 or see him in person at Baylor Dental College
Houston group-Drew Nalley (akn224@gmail.com) or 281-435-2489 or
see him in person at UTHouston Dental Branch
Jacob Moore (Jacob.g.moore@uth.tmc.edu) or
409-670-3457 or see him in person at UTHouston Dental Branch
If truly interested, go online to know your airfare estimate. I have reserved 20 seats out of Houston and 12 out of Dallas. We have a group fare available on the Continental flights. It is $728.70 from Dallas or $616.20 from Houston round trip. This seems to be a good low fare for the spring break week. If you want to join the group fare, send the application and checks to T. Bob before the Jan. 6 deadline. If you purchase your own ticket you must put proof (confirmation #) of the ticketed flight #'s and times on the application plus a check for $900 expenses before the Jan 6. deadline. Only those who have a confirmed ticket will be allowed to sign up.
Also it goes without saying a current (on those dates) USA Passport is REQUIRED-No Visa necessary!!!! Once the ticket is purchased and the expenses fee has cleared our bank, there will be NO REFUND for the expenses since we will have committed equipment, legal fees, facilities, and transportation costs. Your airline ticket may or may not be refundable or exchangeable-note that info when you purchase it since we have no control over airlines.
This is an exciting adventure in the making!! God has blessings awaiting I can't wait to receive due to our service to others. Many of you have experienced it enough before that you know what I mean. Others will soon know after their first trip!
Gratefully,
T. Bob Davis, DMD, FAGD, MAGD, FACD, FICD, FADI
Flight Itinerary – Continental Airlines
Sunday, March 13
DFW to Houston (IAH) - Flight #5833 – 3:00pm (arriving at 4:06pm)
Houston to Managua, Nicaragua – Flight #1774 – 5:50pm (arriving at 8:07pm)
Friday, March 18
Managua to Houston (IAH) – Flight #1813 – 12:10pm (arriving at 4:41pm)
Houston to DFW – Flight #5832 – 7:20pm (arriving at 8:38pm)
Houston round trip $616.20
Dallas round trip $728.70
Group fare held until Jan. 6, 2011
