Our West Ohio Conference October 2010 UMVIM team was blessed by working along side of a Mexican team from the East Conference in Mexico. Rev. Roberta Reyes, D.S., Willie Berman UMVIM Coordinator and GBGM Missionary, and Jorge Chacon Avila, Coordinator of Construction were instrumental in organizing the work for this project. Nuevo Progreso, Mx. With our blended team and exceptional skills from our Mexican Master Masons, we were able to stucco and tile a 60' x 15' second floor of a school. We also completed a 115' cement block railing for this second floor.
"Willie" Berman
Our American team consisted of 15 construction and 20 medical missionaries. The medical missionaries held their regular Clinica Buena Fe in Iglesia La Buena Fe's non-denominational church in Nuevo Progreso. Several of the medical team were also teachers. When they observed the school, they were impressed by the curriculum being used and the method of teaching. Now this school needs scholarship monies in order to be at full capacity. $100 will support one student for one year. Several of our team have already sent financial support.
Our medical team cared for 340 patients and distributed more than that in prescription meds. We are working with a local doctor at the Health Clinic in Nuevo Progreso. He has issued prescriptions for local patients and our clinic was able to fill those prescriptions. Poverty has increased considerably with the lack of tourism and the threat of gang wars. Hunger was evident - we fed our patients both days we held the clinic.
The Mexican Military had taken over the city of Nuevo Progreso a few days before our team arrived. Local people felt safer and were thankful for the their presence.
Our team was soooo blessed and many were moved to tears by all the poverty. They truly were Jesus' hands and feet in Nuevo Progreso. One missionary stated that N. P. shouldn't stand for "Nuevo Progreso" - but for "New Person" because that is how she felt. After this mission, she felt like a spiritually rejuvenated "New Person"!
Next year we want to continue work at the school, begin a sock and shoe giveaway program, and increase the feeding program, along with our medical clinic. Much work still needs to be done in Mexico. Our team just made a dent in caring for the people, but we could see that we brought hope to the people we cared for in Mexico.
Our prayer is for the people of Mexico and for protection for the people who are volunteering to minister in Mexico. It was a privilege for all of us to serve our Lord by serving across the border.
Note: The West Ohio Conference has a covenant with Nuevo Progreso in Mexico to take medical mission teams several times per year. click here to see the 2011 listing of dates and information for these teams on the West Ohio Conference website.
submitted by Rev. Joanne Powers