(8 Jun 03) After over a dozen years conducting dental and medical missions in Latin América, this year's St. Paul team is making its first trip to Nicaragua.The team of twenty-three dentists, doctors, and medical support workers will be conducting clinics in coordination with the newly established Lutheran Church in Nicaragua, a mission of the Lutheran Church of Canada.
The typical clinic includes attending to up to 100 patients a day. Many come for tooth extractions and others for medical consultations. All patients recieve basic education in dental hygiene. Each family also receives a Spanish language Bible and are invited to speak with a member of the team about their faith.
Many team participants are "veterans," having gone two or more missiontrips. One person, Darrell Pruitt has taken part in each trip.
In addition to Dr. Pruitt, other team members this year are Ana Auger, Cherie Auger, Ed Auger, Mary Auger, Ron Blakely, Art Brucks, Gordon Brucks, Melissa Irving, Peter Ku, Ken Norman, Patti Pagels, and John Podgore.
The team also inlcudes Ryan Pruitt, Behzat Shabazian, Al Soto, Krisit Stieben, Rebecca Stodieck, John Strange, Tommy Tompson, Jean Van Trump, and Edith Vargas.
Since beginning the Dental/Medical Mission Trips in 1991, St. Paul has sponsored teams to Honduras, Guatemala, and Argentina.
Mission participants pay their own way. Some of their costs are covered by the Wednesday meals they serve during the Lenten church season.