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Medical, sports teams bring salvation to people in El Salvador
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By Rosa Ruiz
rosa@newstribune.com
Helping a neighbor doesn't only refer to those living across the street, but also those in other countries.
Twelve local volunteers from six Jefferson City area churches will be teaching Salvadorans about their religious beliefs while helping them medically.
Concord Baptist Association, which is home to 40 churches and missions in the Mid-Missouri area, will be taking a mission trip to the Central American country Aug. 1-9.
They will divide their volunteers into sports and medical teams.
A local Salvadoran pastor and coordinator will guide seven of the volunteers to provide a three-day sports outreach program.
The second mission will allow medical volunteers to provide services, including checking blood pressure and administering vaccines to an estimated 250-300 people per day in Apopa, a municipality of San Salvador, the country's capital.
The medical trip will consist of three clinics in three areas. The volunteers will change locations, but will remain together throughout the duration of the mission.
Mary Griswold, a registered nurse, is on the medical team. Although she went to El Salvador in November 2007 on a mission trip with Southridge Baptist Church, she has never been on the medical side of things.
“I am really excited about this trip and being able to use my medical talents,” she said.
Griswold and her group will be working alongside four Salvadoran doctors to provide pre-screenings to the people of the rural area where they will be traveling.
She and Concord Baptist Association's Missions Director, Calvin Brown, have made 500 salvation bracelets to distribute during their stay. The bracelets have three colors. Black for the sin that is believed to be in the hearts of all, white representing Jesus Christ and red for the blood he shed. An attached scripture will explain salvation in order to get the locals to the church where the group will have a service.
Donna Knife, also a registered nurse, will be going on her second medical trip to El Salvador.
During the first trip, her team was set up in a courtyard in Zaragoza for one day. Her team used plastic tables and chairs to visit with patients.
Most of the patients were children who had very basic stomach aches. They were prescribed medication and also given vitamins. The adults suffered from back pains.
“The most serious case was of a woman who had an ulcer on her leg. The doctor on site said she would need more therapy than the antibiotics prescribed,” said Knife.
Because most of the people in Zaragoza work in coffee farms and make very little money, they do not have access to medical clinics. The distance and lack of transportation would be two reasons the woman was not likely to seek further care.
What Knife experienced will be more than just memories.
She keeps with her a blue notebook that reads “Mission de El Salvador” where she kept her thoughts and observations throughout her trip. The people she described as “wonderful, loving and kind” are all recorded and accounted for. She plans on bringing the book with her during her second trip.
To prepare for their mission trip, Roxy Flores of First Baptist Church taught Spanish to any person willing to learn. Every Saturday for six weeks they spent three hours learning. As part of their graduation ceremony, Flores took them to her Spanish congregation.
Members of six local Baptist churches will provide their Salvadoran neighbors with both the simple and necessary things to take them through a good life.
Twelve local volunteers from six Jefferson City area churches will be teaching Salvadorans about their religious beliefs while helping them medically.
Concord Baptist Association, which is home to 40 churches and missions in the Mid-Missouri area, will be taking a mission trip to the Central American country Aug. 1-9.
They will divide their volunteers into sports and medical teams.
A local Salvadoran pastor and coordinator will guide seven of the volunteers to provide a three-day sports outreach program.
The second mission will allow medical volunteers to provide services, including checking blood pressure and administering vaccines to an estimated 250-300 people per day in Apopa, a municipality of San Salvador, the country's capital.
The medical trip will consist of three clinics in three areas. The volunteers will change locations, but will remain together throughout the duration of the mission.
Mary Griswold, a registered nurse, is on the medical team. Although she went to El Salvador in November 2007 on a mission trip with Southridge Baptist Church, she has never been on the medical side of things.
“I am really excited about this trip and being able to use my medical talents,” she said.
Griswold and her group will be working alongside four Salvadoran doctors to provide pre-screenings to the people of the rural area where they will be traveling.
She and Concord Baptist Association's Missions Director, Calvin Brown, have made 500 salvation bracelets to distribute during their stay. The bracelets have three colors. Black for the sin that is believed to be in the hearts of all, white representing Jesus Christ and red for the blood he shed. An attached scripture will explain salvation in order to get the locals to the church where the group will have a service.
Donna Knife, also a registered nurse, will be going on her second medical trip to El Salvador.
During the first trip, her team was set up in a courtyard in Zaragoza for one day. Her team used plastic tables and chairs to visit with patients.
Most of the patients were children who had very basic stomach aches. They were prescribed medication and also given vitamins. The adults suffered from back pains.
“The most serious case was of a woman who had an ulcer on her leg. The doctor on site said she would need more therapy than the antibiotics prescribed,” said Knife.
Because most of the people in Zaragoza work in coffee farms and make very little money, they do not have access to medical clinics. The distance and lack of transportation would be two reasons the woman was not likely to seek further care.
What Knife experienced will be more than just memories.
She keeps with her a blue notebook that reads “Mission de El Salvador” where she kept her thoughts and observations throughout her trip. The people she described as “wonderful, loving and kind” are all recorded and accounted for. She plans on bringing the book with her during her second trip.
To prepare for their mission trip, Roxy Flores of First Baptist Church taught Spanish to any person willing to learn. Every Saturday for six weeks they spent three hours learning. As part of their graduation ceremony, Flores took them to her Spanish congregation.
Members of six local Baptist churches will provide their Salvadoran neighbors with both the simple and necessary things to take them through a good life.
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