Twelve volunteers comprised the Dayspring contingent for this year’s Tochimizolco Medical/Dental Caravan, together with 14 from Grace Church in Olathe, KS. Three physicians and one nurse practitioner staffed four consulting rooms, and the fifth was staffed by the permanent clinic doctor. A fantastic addition to the services provided by our visiting clinicians was the participation of two volunteer Public Health System nurses, who performed Pap smears, breast cancer exams, tests for HIV and other STDs, and measles vaccinations.
We arrived at the clinic complex to find a complete repainting of the clinic and upstairs dorm rooms, tiling of the second-floor patio, installation of much-needed safety rails around it and its stairs, a sail shade for the area, and 20 brand-new bunk beds! While we were gone, a 2,5000-gallon cistern was dug and a pump installed for the clinic and dorm rooms, ensuring an unlimited supply of water for baths, etc. There was also a brand-new basketball hoop that we had left money for a replacement last year. It rained a little nearly every day, effectively neutralizing the dust problem and crowning our patron volcano, Popocatepetl (Popo), with a shawl of snow.
This year, we cared for: 350 patients in the medical clinic, 501 patients in the dental clinic (669 total treatments), 368 eyeglasses given, and 132 hair trims, for a total of 1,351 people served.
A highlight of this trip was the presence of Dr. Nevin (a dentist from Kansas who established the dental clinic). A special blessing was given to us by the presence of Oliva Rosales, who, 37 years ago, amidst her ministering to Tochi as a midwife, prayed for a permanent clinical and dental facility for her village, thus giving birth to the Eben’Ezer Clinic.
Our clinic serves Tochi and the surrounding communities with a permanent doctor and dentist. Dr. Oscar, who runs our medical clinic, is a member of the Public Health Service who refers our patients through that network for non-routine follow-ups, and Dr. Veronica Rosas, the dentist, whose networking has resulted in the participation of multiple volunteer dentists and 20 student dentists.
Our farewells were sad and tearful for all involved, but we were left with the assurance that “God watches over me and thee, which we are absent one from the other.” (Genesis 31:49)
We already have three prospective first-time volunteers for next year, as well as a belated donation of several hundred toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes. For more questions about our annual trip, please email the church office.
~ John VanVleet