Chiapas Medical Campaign July 15 - 22

While we were in the middle of the Tuxtla/San Fernando Youth Conference, we welcomed a wonderful team comprised of medical professionals and assistants. The team was headed by Dr. Jim Nichols and arrived in Tuxtla on Saturday, July 15. They were able to join us for a couple of services and also enjoy the boat ride through the canyon before heading to Chenalho Sunday evening.

Upon our request for interpreters for the week, Stacie came from Orlando, FL and joined the team on Sunday afternoon. She and her husband Pablo had been with us last summer with a youth group from the states and were such an added blessing. We thank God she was able to help out once again. Our local doctor from the Chenalho clinic, Dr. Lulu as she is known to all of us, accompanied the team throughout the week.

Four different villages were selected for the campaign. The schedule included being in Takiukum on Monday with Pastor Jose, Peciquil on Tuesday with Pastor Augustine, Wednesday with Pastor Octoviano in Rancharia Sinai and with Pastor Cesar on Thursday in Palestina. Since Palestina is a colonial of San Cristobal, it was assumed that the need would not be as great because it is one of the few places where we worked that had doctors and dentist. Nevertheless, some of the team had to work until 7:00 PM to meet the needs of the people that showed up that day.

The professional medical team consisted of Dr. Jim Nichols, dentist, Dr. Paul Landeneau, MD, Janet, LPN, and Dr. Jim Morvant, chiropractor, all of Lafayette, LA. Tuxtla professionals were Dr. Herman, dentist, and of course, Dr. Lulu, MD. A number of others who assisted included Dr. Nichol's wife, Carmen, and his daughter, Natalie, Dr. Morvant's wife, Mary, The Thomas family - David, Roxeann, Jami, and Tami - and several other wonderful friends - Hailey, John, Ben, Lyndsey, Elizabeth, Holly and Phillip.

Each day the group had to drive a couple of hours to the different locations, set up for the day, and work very hard to see all the patients that were waiting. The dentist saw at least 25 to 30 patients each day and the doctors saw over 100 in some instances.

We are so thankful for the $1800 that was donated towards the medical expenses. The cost for each medical campaign is mostly for the purchase of medicine for those in need. They are too poor to even consider buying necessary medications and in many cases there are no doctors, dentist or pharmacies even available to them.

A couple of weeks before the team arrived, we were so excited to be able to purchase a new generator and air compressor to use for the medical campaigns. The air compressor runs the mobile dental unit. The generator is brought to all villages because electricity is not always available or reliable.

As is the custom in this part of Mexico, the church members of each village prepared a special meal for the team as a way of showing their appreciation. In wanting to give their very best, one day our team was served an exotic meal of "fried caterpillars". This dish is known as a delicacy in this country, and therefore, our team was treated very royally.

Besides the medical work that took place, part of the group accompanied Russell to paint a church in the village of Yibeljoj. In addition on another day, Phillip and David stayed in Chenalho and painted the downstairs kitchen and did several other repairs around the facility in preparation for the team that would be arriving the following week.

On Friday the medical team drove back to Tuxtla and spent the day at the orphanage Casa Hogar Alegre. Dental and medical care was available to the 120 children who live there. Dr. Herman generously opened his office so he and Dr. Nichols could take care of special dental needs. We are always so pleased to learn that the children of Casa Hogar Alegre are in good health and that the director, "Mama Elizabeth", continues to do an outstanding job caring for her large family.

We thank God for Dr. Nichols who contributes several weeks each year to the cause of helping the needy of Mexico - for Dr. Landreneau for his 3rd year of missions work in Chiapas - and for Dr. Jim Morvant for returning and bringing Mary with him. We thank Carmen for her endless labor of love in the kitchen. And we want to give a special word of thanks to Dr. Paul's wife, Julie, for her understanding and continued support of her husband and the work here. Dr. Paul has missed 2 wedding anniversaries and one of Julie's birthdays by being in Mexico on a missions trip. Thank you, Julie!

And to all the team- thanks for everything! It was a wonderful week once again!