Mexico 2011
Central Mexico – Guanajuato
14 members from the Project Compassion team assembled in Leon from numerous areas of the United States and Mexico for 1 week. Sandra led and coordinated the team members as they offered daily prayer for inspiration and gratitude. We partnered with a medical/dental team from Oaxaca that included Dr. Alberto Zamacona, his wife Laura, and two dentists. Project Compassion’s team from the United States included two nurse practitioners, pharmacy coordination by a registered nurse, and many other talented volunteers who managed vision screening, foot care, dental assistance, triage, health education, and prayer ministry.
The first day we were led to a building still under construction that belonged to the local church we teamed with. The Pastor and congregation feed 65 children once a week at this location, and the building was the beginning of a community center for English classes & sewing lessons. The church’s hope was that Project Compassion’s clinic would help open doors for home-based church services in the “colonia” (small colony or district) 200 people were treated here with free medical and dental services.
The next two days, the clinic set up in a local elementary school outside the city limits of Leon. The Pastor arranged with the Principal of the poor community school to use two classrooms, where an additional 200 people received care. Most of the patients were in need of dental care because of poor nutrition, a diet high in soda and sweets, and widespread fluorosis (caused by too much natural fluoride occurring in their local water supply). There was also a great need for vision screening and glasses. Children who previously could not read benefited, as did women needing glasses to do fine needle work and men in need of glasses for reading and distance. Along with toothbrushes and shoes, we provided foot care. Medical care for the population included vitamins and medications for knee and joint problems, upper respiratory infections, and treatment for parasitic infections – all supported by a fully stocked pharmacy. Instruction and education were offered in nutrition, safety and dental hygiene.
Individual and family prayers by the Pastor, his wife and others from the local congregation were a great ministry to those we were serving, and were an integral part of each day. Many people accepted Jesus as their Savior and will continue to be supported and encouraged in their faith by the church through the community center.
A wonderful couple from the local congregation, Eloisa and Sergio, were instrumental in assisting with transportation, coordination, translation and deep prayer. They also arranged with a local high school in Leon for 8-10 students to help the team translate. These translators expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve when our team visited their school the last day to make a presentation about Project Compassion’s mission.
