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Mexico Mission Trip 2007 Wrap-Up Dr. Freddy Martin wrote, regarding the medical/dental team's success:
Gary Edwards wrote, regarding the construction team's success:
Thursday, February 15, 2007 Wednesday, the team went to Tepetate where they saw around 100 medical patients and 30 dental cases. Nine of the team left on Wednesday to return to the U.S. Today, the team went to another first-time town, Asientos. Asientos was a different experience for the group, a more urbanized village with 4,000 people. The comment was that it is a "pretty town." Tomorrow, after working a half day at the camp in Estancia de Animas, the group will pack up. They will sightsee on Saturday in Aguas Calientes, and fly back home on Sunday. And so far, everyone is still healthy. God is so good! Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Kim Calhoun called this evening to relay the following news: The carpentry team hung the stained glass window in Maravillas today; the medical team saw over a hundred patients; the dental team had almost fifty. Some of the small groups will travel home tomorrow. Monday, February 12, 2007 I just got off the phone with Freddy tonight. By the way, I was able to call over the Internet using Vonage for 12 minutes for a total of just $1.65. Can you say el cheapo? Saturday turned out better than it started. At the end of the day, the red van was running well again, the electricity in the dorm was fixed, and the medical team had seen around a hundred patients in Guadalupe. (And Carl and Paul arrived from their trans-Mexico auto journey from the states!) Sunday, tradition led the group to gather for worship in Rascon, where Mike Fields preached an excellent sermon. The medical team saw around seventy patients. However, no day is without its bumps and bruises; Naum, a nursing student in Aguas Calientes who is assisting the team with translation, had a motorcycle accident on his way home from Rascon (swerved to miss a bicycle rider). Fortunately for him, he was not seriously injured and received the care of our three doctors on their way back to Estancia that evening. Talk about service! Freddy said Naum was up and about today. Monday, at Providencia, the three doctors saw over a hundred patients, but finished early. The dental team also saw from 30 to 40 patients. The remaining itinerary goes like this: Tuesday, Rucio; Wednesday, Tepetate; Thursday, Asientos; Friday, Estancia (for a half day, with packing and loading the other half); Saturday, Aguas Calientes for some R&R; and Sunday, the flight home. Continue to pray that the impact of this team will lead to the ultimate salvation of thousands of Mexican people. Freddy said he will attempt to transmit a few images to us on Tuesday. If I receive them, I will post them on this website. Saturday, February 10, 2007 Today, the team needs your prayers. First, the girls' dormitory has some kind of short, causing 220 volts to flow over 110 volt circuits. This is causing light bulbs to explode, shattering shards of glass in the dark, and some have been shocked by electricity in the shower! Also, travel time has greatly increased due to the "red" van having either fuel pump or filter problems. Freddy is frustrated, so you can imagine that the others are as well. In my opinion, this is typical of spiritual warfare. The team has entered new territory, going to Guadalupe (just outside of Zacatecas). Abdiel and Shannon are beginning to minister in this area, and the medical team is there today to show the love of Christ through medical care. I believe we can link the trouble they are having with the fact that Satan doesn't want to cede this territory to the Lord. Yesterday in Pastorilla, they saw around 100 medical and 40 dental patients. Freddy has apologized for not transmitting any photos. They have their hands full. Friday, February 9, 2007 Freddy reported this morning that everything is going well. In just four hours yesterday afternoon in Maravillas, they saw 75 medical and almost 20 dental patients. They celebrated Rachel and Holly's birthdays last night with three large cakes and two piñatas. Everyone is healthy. Carl and Paul are crossing the border this morning; pray that they cross safely and have a safe drive through Mexico today. Thursday, February 8, 2007 The team is now in Mexico and everything is OK. This afternoon, the medical team heads for Maravillas to do some work, and tomorrow, the destination is Pastorilla. Meanwhile, David Ellis and Dean Hagey are returning to North Carolina this afternoon. They have already been in Mexico a week with Gary Edwards doing various carpentry and construction projects. Tuesday, February 6, 2007 Great news! The medical supplies are across the border; although there was some difficulty, as Freddy put it, "God's power was shown and approval was given." Continue to pray for the travel of all involved, including Cris' trip from the border back to Estancia. Now more news! Latest word tongith is that the medicines and medical supplies have arrived in Estancia safely. For the first time in so many years of doing these mission trips, the team can travel without the added burden of managing thirty-some shipping bins with 60 or more pounds of supplies through airports and customs. Ah, praise the Lord. Now be in prayer for the logistics and safe travel of the remainder of the team tomorrow. (Note the travel schedules in the entry below on Wednesday, Jan. 31.) Also be in prayer for the work that lies ahead, that through the team's short but intense time in Mexico, that the Great Commission will be advanced into new territory and that, ultimately, the lives of thousands of Mexican people will be reached with the Gospel. Saturday, February 3, 2007 I have a brief report from Freddy this morning. Gary, David, and Dean arrived in Mexico without any problems and are already hard at work. The major prayer request this weekend it that the medical supplies safely make it over the border. (If anyone has more news, please e-mail me or call.) Wednesday, January 31, 2007 Hi Everyone,
I want to write with some final information to everyone about the trip. First
of all I need to know who is going to need a ride to and from the airport on
Wednesday February 7th and 18th. Those of you that are returning on the 14th
will need to make arrangements to be picked up from the airport since folks
are going different ways probably. This includes Tom, Kenny, Emily Styers,
Dean and Patty Stacy, Anita Long, Kenneth Long, and Anita’s Dad. Everyone else
I have arranged transportation down on the 7th and back on the 18th, but I
need to know by this Friday the 2nd who wants a ride so I can arrange enough
space. We will be meeting at Blountville Christian on Wednesday the 7th at
7:00 a.m. with plans to leave there at 7:15 a.m.
In the past couple of weeks the temps have been between 30’s at night to 45-50
daytime. Last year the highs were in the 60’s. I can not emphasize
enough bring layers to adjust to the temps.
As far as flying and what you can take as carry-on, I have listed below. I would encourage everyone to take a change of underclothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc in their carry-on, just in case there luggage does not make it on the plane the first day. You need to check out this website:
There is to much information on this site to try to put it in the email, so
look at the site before you pack your luggage! This will save you time and
hassle! In Christ, Freddy (Martin) Background
Visit the 2006 trip website: Mexico Mission Trip 2006 The Mexico Mission Trip is an annual trip headed by Dr. Frederick Martin of Blountville, Tennessee. Each year, he leads a group of medical and dental professionals and assistants from east Tennessee, southwest Virginia and eastern North Carolina to Zacatecas Mexico (Zacatecas is a state). There, in tiny Estancia de Animas, is the Bethshean Mexico Mission, founded by Cris Garcia. The Bethshean Mexico Mission includes a home for elderly people, a Christian camp, and a growing team of pastors and regional Evangelical churches. Working in Estancia and outlying villages, the medical team sows the seeds of the Gospel by seeing hundreds of patients during their brief, but intense, visits.
Back in 2001, I had the opportunity to join the two teams on location, doing computer work for the Bethshean mission and taking promotional photographs for Dr. Martin. I was amazed at the receptiveness of the Mexicans to us. For many of the villagers, our medical team is the only medical help they receive from one year to the next. |
Thanks
for help make this year’s trip a success! I believe God was allowed to plant
numerous seeds and open some doors to His Gospel this year. We may not see the
fruits of our labor for sometime yet, but I believe that there will be in time.
I
want to thank everyone who went on the mission trip to Mexico. I just want to
let you know what the construction team was able to do while there. We built 2
pulpits, 2 communion tables, 2 podiums, 6 cabinets with doors, 6 large tables
for adults, 1 large bookshelf, 3 rectangular children's tables, 2 half-round
children's tables, 4 children's benches, 15 pews, 2 easels, 2 doors at
Marivillas, and installed a stained glass window in the church at Maravillas.
In conjunction with
the medical mission is a carpentry team that usually travels during the
same week. Led by Gary Edwards of Heaton Christian Church (Elk
Park, North Carolina), this team builds buildings, cabinets, podiums,
pews and other things for budding Mexican congregations.