El Salvador June 4 - 12/2016, SR1256

TRIP IS FULL

Come and join us for this rewarding and delightful outreach to a poor community in a mountainous region in El Salvador. Boquerón is a small town that is elevated one mile above the capital of San Salvador. The elevation allows us to have delightful weather even though we are close to the equator. Expect rain and some fog each day. About 50,000 people live in this district and have poor access to any healthcare.

Boquerón is a coffee growing region along the sides of a volcano by the same name. Fortunately, the volcano has been inactive since 1917. Many of our patients work in coffee production. The beans are picked mainly November-March each year but there is a lot of work needed to maintain the coffee bushes year round. A bonus for us: we get to purchase some of the best coffee!

We are blessed to have Pastor Rene Gonzales serve as our local arrangements guru. He has been in our partner church, Cimiento Estable (Firm Foundation), since he was three years old and has been on the church staff since 2010. Pastor Rene's wife, Magali, is a physician specializing in nutrition. Their children are Rene III age 7 and Alicia age 4. We will worship with the church on Sunday in a rousing and challenging service you don't want to miss. Senior Pastor Rene Mejia will most likely be the speaker.

One of the pleasures of serving this week is that 10th graders from the Oasis School will serve as our interpreters. They are a delightful group of Christian young men and women. Classes at their school are taught in English beginning in the first grade, which leads to superior English skills.

The work at Boquerón is busy but at a pleasant pace. We need physicians, PAs, NPs, dermatologist, chiropractor, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, logistics, etc. to serve the needs of this community in the name of Jesus. While we treat physical needs, the goal of the outreach is evangelistic, and the Good News of the Gospel will be shared with all patients.

We encourage families of medical personnel to join us. We are limited to a team of from 18-22 people because of space on our school bus and clinic building. Our hope is that a least half of the team will be medical/dental professionals or students in training. We are looking for students 15 years of age or older; the exception would be the child of a provider.

This ministry follows the command of Jesus in Luke 9:2 "and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." We don't follow verse 3 where He says: "take nothing for the journey - no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and no extra tunic." Although in 2015 we had two college age sisters who came on our outreach with only a 15-inch carry on piece of luggage between them; nothing else. That was impressive.

Magnify your joy in service. This ministry will be rewarding for you and great for the people of Boquerón. As the Apostle Peter says, "Use whatever gift you have to serve others."

Team Leader: Dwain Illman, MD, Email: [email protected]

Global Health Outreach
P.O. Box 7500 • Bristol TN 37621
Phone: 888-230-2637
Fax: 423-764-1417