The Mission Team
(click on photo to enlarge)

First of all, we want to express our thanks for the support of the Camarillo Christian Church, St. Peter Clever Catholic Church in Simi Valley, Camarillo Bible Church, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Oxnard, Simi Valley Presbyterian Church, and many other churches. These churches sent members, medicines, supplies, medical equipment, eyeglasses, children’s books, clothes, food, and prayers. Also, surgical instruments, supplies and medications were donated by the Simi Valley Hospital and Las Clinicas del Camino Real. The Jules Stein Eye Institute donated a lensometer.

We had 53 mission team members including 13 physicians, a chiropractor, a Mexican dentist and Mexican optometrist, 2 medical assistants, 6 nurses, 2 pre-medical students, and many helpers of all ages. The first day, our clinic was held at the DIF (social services office) in a poor district about twenty minutes east of Ensenada and the next day we worked in Maneadero which is a town of farm labors 17 miles south of there.

Many people received care including 387 medical, surgical, and chiropractic patients, 70 dental patients, and 90 optometry patients for a total of 547 patients. We saw adults and children for common illnesses and screened them for hypertension and diabetes, and provided health education. About 45 minor surgical procedures were performed. The dentist did teeth cleaning. Patients were prayed for and told that Christ cared for them. Tracks and Spanish Bibles were distributed.

We were thankful to God for the many helpers on the team. The trip would not have been as effective without them to drive the cars and vans, help the doctors with setup, interpreting, controlling the crowds, handing out medicines and health kits, assisting in the pharmacy, sharing the gospel, and providing day care for the children. About 40 bags of clothing and boxes of food were distributed.

We were especially blessed with the leadership of Dr. Ramon Vidauri who was our host physician in Ensenada. The health care we provided in Ensenada was possible because of Dr. Vidauri's excellent relationship with the city's leaders and his arranging places for us to go where the need was the greatest. He and the Mexican churches created the publicity necessary for the people to be aware of our coming and the services we could provide.

In a ceremony which included dignitaries from Ensenada and Maneadero, the Mayor of Ensenada presented us with a beautiful plaque expressing his appreciation of the services we donated. He also provided free motel rooms for about twenty of our mission team members. Dr. Vidauri told us that because of us coming to Ensenada the occasion was given for the Mayor to personally come and observe the health status and needs of the people in that town. God truly opened the doors of the city to us.

We believe that Christ’s name was honored in all that we did and that the citizens of Ensenada were encouraged in their faith.