May, 2005

CMDA group with San Carlos students and faculty

The CMDA (Christian Medical and Dental Associations) ministry with dental students and faculty from the local national university of San Carlos, April 16-23, was very successful (everyone wants to do it again next year!). Its was probably one of the most challenging outreaches that I have organized during my twenty-five years of ministry here in Guatemala, with the potential to produce more long term impact for the Kingdom than any other outreach of its type.

The CMDA group was organized by Dr. Michael Roberts, the Los Angeles area representative, and consisted of one UCLA student and seventeen from USC. There were also two couples, Dr. Norman and Joyce Bitters and Dr. Bill and Peggy Pratt. It was an easy group to work with, very flexible and positive, even with the pressure created by a different language, culture and clinic environment. The presence of Christ in their lives was very evident.

Most of the week was spent providing basic restorative care (fillings, sealants, etc.) for about two hundred children from a local public school. The last clinic day we drove five hours from Guatemala City to one of the rural clinics where the San Carlos students fulfill their social service requirement. The North Americans were paired up with the San Carlos students and they extracted teeth for 6 hours straight without a break. They were one tired group by the time we returned to Guatemala City late that evening.

Many patients were treated

One of the highlights of the week was an excellent power point presentation by Dr. Pratt based on his dental outreaches in Asia. It was titled, "The Death of a Dream and the Birth of a Vision" and presented his personal testimony about how Christ has given purpose to his life, especially in the area of serving the poor and needy. Almost the entire San Carlos senior class was present, along with many members of the faculty.

Simultaneously with the CMDA outreach, Dr. Jobe and Jenna Dee Martin were lecturing on creationism. Last year VERBO published his book, The Evolution of a Creationist, in Spanish and this was part of the follow-up, with appearances on TV, radio and high school and university campuses. Our goal was to make San Carlos a major thrust for their ministry, but the opposition was intense and we were only able to arrange two presentations. We also provided a copy of his book to all the senior dental students and professors that attended Dr. Pratt's conference.

Mike, Sandy and David with the Martins

I have done a post activity evaluation with Drs. Ancheta and Barrillas of the San Carlos faculty and they have all kinds of ideas for the future. Next month I will meet with Dr. Mike Roberts and some of the CMDA student members to see where the Lord might want us to go with this. The possibilities are practically unlimited.

Please pray:

• For the spiritual follow-up that I am giving to the dental students and faculty members of San Carlos University.
• For our daughter, Melissa, and Andrew Sturgeon's wedding on June 25th at the First Baptist Church in Fullerton, CA, to be a God glorifying event.
• For traveling safety during our May 30 - August 15 furlough and the encouragement of seeing people and churches commit to pray and support our ministry financially. If you know of a church that would like to learn more about our ministry or if you would like to invite some of your friends to your home for the same purpose, please lest us know.

   For the Kingdom,

   Dr. Mike