The Rocky Mountain Ministries (RMM) was started 15 years ago by Curt & Karen and Mark and Larry, four friends for many years who had always sort of wanted to go on a mission trip. After piggy-backing on a group from Indiana that went to Honduras, we decided that we had plenty of friends and contacts to do some trips of our own. We formed RMM and enlisted doctors, nurses, a dentist, general help, construction and evangelical volunteers and went to Honduras for 4 years. We shifted our trips to rural areas in Mexico where we had great contacts and support, and continue to serve there. There have been personnel and time changes through the years, but generally we go to the Guymas/San Carlos area (6 hours south of Tuscon) for 10 days in Jan/Feb. We have gradually built up a portable canvas medical clinic which we erect in remote villages to provide general medical services and Christian encouragement. This year's trip had 41 team members going down, and 25 more volunteers from San Carlos Community church. Roughly 250 locals were seen daily for medical assistance, glasses (reading and sunglasses), Bibles and spiritual encouragement/prayer and a kids program. The construction team built a large shade cover over a gathering area at Casa de Esperanza, a large home that hosts mission groups working in the area, operated by close friends of ours.
A typical day has us traveling an hour or so to a village, then unloading and erecting the doctor's tents, triage and nurses shelters, the pharmacy, the banyo's (potties), generator, glasses area and whatever else we need, in the space of about 20 minutes. But first, we have a group prayer for safety, the team and especially for the people we see.
Unloading and reloading for the next village/ next day is fairly well choreographed with everyone pitching in.
We've become pretty good at putting the tents and canopies up! Practice makes perfect..lol
Mark, in the white hat, is the master organizer and Jefe of the operation. He really does a terrific job!
The folks are first welcomed, and get signed in. Our greeters are great encouragers.
It's not unusual to have some long, hot waiting periods, but the people are wonderfully patient and thankful for the opportunity to get the free medical attention, plus a bible and glasses if they wish.
I typically oversee the triage area, though this year Mark and I did more roving as we had more EMT's than usual.
We were also blessed with a great group of pharmacists and helpers. We also had a super IT, whom we housed in the pharmacy to handle our computer needs for records, etc.
The nurses area is warm, efficient and very busy, including several interpreters to help out. We have quite a few interpreters and bilingual team members.
This year we had 4 great doctors, who never complained, rarely took breaks, smiled, prayed with their patients and let God's love shine through them. Dr. John, in action.
Dr's Patterson (shown) and Benda ( our medical director and fellow board member ) have been stalwart partners in the mission since it's earliest days.
The kids are really cute, and really enjoy the kids programs. Note the sweatshirts in 80 degree weather.
The glasses service is perhaps the most popular, with us giving out several thousand pairs on the trip.
Doctor's row... Pharmacy on the far end, nurses on the right. Every venue is different, and the layouts often change so we go in before the rest of the team and decide on that day's placement of things.
Once it gets rolling, things really start to move.
Headed back to Casa de Esperaza to eat, shower and get ready for the next day.
Adios Amigos! Vaya con Dios!
Señor Curt
P.S. Karen had recording dates for her newest CD, so had to take a rain check this year.
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