A Visit to the Sea of Galilee
Medical Missions Teams Treats Dozens

This article was written by Ann Thompson, nurse and missions team member, as she reflected on her trip to Mexico. The Medical/Dental Missions Team was in Carbonerra from August 15 to 18.

In the Gospels, we read stories about life on the coast of the Sea of Galilee and, through these stories, we get a real feel for what the area was probably like. I have always pictured fishing nets, dusty streets, and barefoot children. In little Carbonerra, Mexico, there is a small Methodist church called “Iglesia Metodista Mar de Galilee” (Sea of Galilee Methodist Church). The name is perfect. When I went to Carbonerra with the Medical/Dental Missions Team, that is what we found – fishing nets and dusty streets. We also found very friendly, hard-working people, beautiful children, and a wonderful sense of community.

Our medical/dental team held a two-day clinic in the Methodist church, seeing about 170 patients in two days. In spite of sweltering heat, blowing dust, and intermittent loss of electricity, the clinic patients never seemed discouraged. The waiting time for many people was measured in hours rather than minutes.

Although we do not have the capacity to perform many modern medical procedures in such remote areas, we can do simple exams. Many mothers just wanted “check-ups” for their children. What a joy it is to be able to provide that service for people who live many miles from the nearest physician. The older members of the community are plagued with arthritis, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Often, we could provide medicine to treat those conditions. Our dentist was able to perform extractions, thereby relieving dental pain.

So much of what we do on medial mission trips is not even strictly “medical”. Participants also have a wonderful opportunity to show our neighbors from another country what God’s love is all about. It is all about smiling, kindness, and touch, even when you don’t know the language. Our host town provided us with a delicious lunch of fried fish (caught that day!), tortillas made as we ate them, and salsa that tops any I have sampled in Texas. If only I could take you all with me…to see the Sea of Galilee.

News of Next Year
Plans are being made to send for medical/dental mission teams into the field during 2003. Teams will conduct clinics in both the border area and interior Mexico, as well as Guatemala. The cost of participation on a Mexico team will be approximately $300 to $320. The cost of participation on the trip to Guatemala will be approximately $775. Specific dates will be announced during the first part of September.