This report came into our office on February 21, 2011 from Dr. Jack Mitchell traveling with a Dental Field Team of six in northern Mexico: “We had a fruitful ministry today at San Bosco with 26 children and 10 adults making professions of faith in Christ! It was a long day but well worth it!”

Nothing is more encouraging to a Christian than to hear that the Gospel was given and the Gospel was received.  That is why missionaries dedicate their lives in service to Christ.

Dr. Mitchell and his team were on the front lines of evangelistic work, and they saw firsthand the fruit born from Gospel seeds that were planted earlier.  Yet, having a dental evangelism team in Mexico for one week took what seems to be an army of “fellowhelpers” behind the scenes to bring the ministry to fruition. If a starting point were chosen, it would probably be about a year before when the host missionaries agreed on dates for ministry.  Over the next few months, Michael Vetter (GDMMissions Latin American Representative) selected possible locations with local church pastors in the Hermosillo, Mexico area.  From our home office the mission staff prepared a checklist of all the needs for the trip.  The call for field team members was sent out to supporting local churches and individuals.  When applications came in, they were reviewed along with pastors’ recommendations, and individuals were chosen from four local churches. 

In the meantime, the office staff was developing projected costs, logistics, and individual field member duties.  The Latin American Representative continued to refine the daily schedule with the national pastors and to translate e-mail back and forth from Spanish and English.  Office staff purchased airline tickets and foreign travel emergency insurance.  Dr. Mitchell and associate Mary Chase (dental hygienist) identified equipment and dental supply needs to bring with the team.  Faithful volunteers came forward to drive the team to and from the Boston airport while host volunteers provided van transportation for the team in Mexico.  God provided the funds for all travel and daily expenses through regular supporters of GDMMissions, other churches, and individual contributors.  But more importantly, the team was upheld in prayer throughout their week of ministry. 

When the field team hit the ground in February, they joined Mexican believers who had also been planning things on their side.  Pastors had selected neighborhoods where a dental clinic would attract large numbers of people bringing them under the sound of the Gospel.   Pastors, church members, and students from a local Bible college came along side the team to organize the dental clinics, register patients, pass out literature, translate for the team, collect contact information, and share the Gospel (often one-on-one.)  Local women graciously served the team a noon meal each day.

Even after the field team’s one-week ministry was completed, another army of “fellowhelpers” continued the work.  More local church members in Mexico followed up with each person who came to the clinics as part of their neighborhood visitation.  Back in the office, helpers tallied expenses and processed bills.  The mission staff held a wrap-up meeting to evaluate the team and the effectiveness of its ministry.  Sending local churches and supporters received in-person reports by team members and written testimonies (such as those in this newsletter.)

For each soul saved, many hands had a part in seeing fruit brought forth.  GDMMissions cannot seem to keep track of all that “fellowhelpers” do, but God has no problem doing that.  He knows who planted, who watered, who saw the increase.  God gets all the glory.  The GDMMissions staff serving on the front lines knows they are not serving alone. The work is upheld by countless “fellowhelpers” – each with their important part in the ministry!