International Medical Assistance

Orthopedic Surgery Mission Trip

2012-01-27T08:22:00.000-06:00

We praise God for His provision and mercies.

At San Lucas Medical Center in Valladolid a group of 22 US doctors and nurses were able to tackle the daunting task of:
Seeing 180 patients in clinic
Perform 57 Surgical procedures in 4 days Including 9 TKR's (Total knee replacement)

Large crowds waiting from 4AM

Very sad and complex cases but God was there all along.

This helped the witnessing team to share the gospel with hundreds of patients. Out of which 280 expressed an interest of accepting Jesus Christ into their hearts as savior. We praise God for this

Two Medical Mission Projects this Fall

2011-08-01T12:06:00.000-05:00

Have you always wanted to visit Palenque? Here is your chance! September 17-23, 2011 (Saturday to Friday) General Surgery Project. Register now through the website www.ima-missions.org or contact Maria maraia@ima-missions.org We need you!!!!

First time Total Knee Replacement Project in Valladolid, Yucatan!! October 1-8, 2011 Join us!!!

THE LIVING WATER

2011-07-14T12:43:00.001-05:00

THESE ARE CHILLING STATISTICS

- Water related disease kills more people than war !!!!!!!
- 1.2 Billion people worldwide don't have access to purified water.
- Diarrhea remains the second cause of death in children under 5 years worldwide.
- More people in the world own a cell phone than have access to a toilet.
- Every 20 seconds a kid dies due to water related disease.
- A 5 minute shower consumes more water than a whole family in a slum in a whole day.
- A bathtub holds 151 liters while a family in a slum might get as little as 30 liters.

We must do something about it. We must act and do it now. Matthew 25 says that whatever we do for the least of His children we do it to God himself. What an honor....

With only $50 Dollars you can provide the gift of pure water and open the door to the most precious gift of all, "The Living Water".

That is why, by partnering with the wonderful people of Fifth Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, MI. and AquaClara, we've started "The Living Water" Program...

IMA has been blessed with this partnership. Today, thanks to their wonderful help and support, we've installed home size filters in Yalcoba, Yucatan. A small village with a population of 2680. We've only reached 1% of the population but the next step is to install a 500 gallon village size filter !!!

We need your help. We need your prayers. We need your support... The AquaClara system is a very easy, affordable way to provide purified water to a family or a village. We use locally available materials, and local craftspeople.

NOT ONLY THAT....

We use this program as an avenue to share "The living water"... The most precious gift OF ALL.

Join us, Help us, Support us, Pray for us, Tweet about us, Like us in Facebook, do anything you can except nothing...

Landscaping around kitchen and "palapa" continues.....

2011-07-07T21:10:00.000-05:00

Work around the kitchen and eating area continues at San Lucas after the June medical mission project! God continues to shower His blessings upon our ministry and the facility we use as "home base". Praise the Lord!

Humbled by His grace...

2011-06-27T10:42:00.000-05:00

What an amazing Mission trip. 2 weeks of pure joy, working hard for one reason.
To give honor and glory to the King of kings. Our Lord and Saviour.
Over 800 Village consultations
212 Specialty Consultations
157 Surgical procedures.

Thank you to all the participants who made this possible. Thank you for all the love you gave. Thank you for keep coming back. Thank you for leaving home and family to serve these Mayans.

It is because you are willing to be an instrument that God works through you.
800 New Testaments were handed out and 700 people came to Christ !!!

Humbled by His grace...

Plastic, Colo-rectal, Laparoscopic & General Surgery Project

2011-06-05T07:46:00.004-05:00

IMA is thrilled to have it's 2 week June Mission Trip once again with the participation of all of you!!!

Under the careful and loving leadership of our chairman Dr. Bruce Bonnell, who will be doing most of the General Surgery, and the always motivating Roberto Rodriguez-Arizpe, MD. IMA will have it's 10th annual "General Summer Project".

We will have 2 excellent Plastic surgeons this time, Vince Naaman, MD. www.chatplasticsurgery.com and Dr. Mario Martinez Elizondo who will perform all kinds of reconstructive procedures.

Dr. Roberto Rodriguez-Ruesga and his team from www.dallasendoscopycenter.com will be performing colo-rectal procedures and endoscopies. The Mexican team lead by Dr. Gustavo Saldana and Dr. Samuel Charles will be tackling most of the laparoscopic cases.

With a team 55 participant strong, and counting, we are so excited to see the Lord working through His servants. Maria Fritz will be leading the team going into the various villages daily doing free clinic, handing out reading glasses and filling prescriptions for free.

WE ARE ON PARTY MODE because we will inaugurate the new kitchen and palapa !!!!!!! (pics available in the pictures section of this blog, scroll down on your right)

For almost 10 years we have been renting inadequate spaces, restaurants and houses for preparing and providing meals. We prayed that the Lord would give us a place and He as always responds to His people's prayer. It's been a hectic 5 months of construction but we are excited to say that we will now enjoy all our meals in our own premises. No more paying "renta"!!!!

Some of the family members will not be able to be with us and we already miss you. You know who you are.

If you have any questions or comments about the project, please feel free to drop a line in this blog.
Your question and a reply will be posted immediately.

See you in a week!!!!

Orthopedics !!!

2011-04-25T10:13:00.002-05:00

What a joy to, again, work along with "El Jefe" Jack Deetjen, MD.
Dr. Deetjen has faithfully served God on mission trips for over 10 years now; leading with a few exceptions, two excellent Orthopedic teams per year.

This project unfortunately will not count with Dr. Richard Driessnak who leads the (TKR) Total Knee Replacement portion of the team due to lack of help in the Anesthesia and Nursing department. Sadly some of our patients, 9 to be precise, will remain on wheelchairs or in some cases walking with a great deal of difficulty and pain until sometime late this year.

We will be praying earnestly for God's provision.

SUNDAY, was a loong day. The surgeons managed to do 100+ consultations while the anesthesia, nursing and logistics staff were setting up the OR suites for Orthopedic surgery, can't wait for Monday.

Mission ortho completed! Thank you team Ortho for a blessed week! We thank you for your fellowship, words, healing hands, prayers, participation, and abundance of love. Please feel free to post any comments, thoughts and/or suggestions on the blog about this past week. What a privilege to serve alongside each one of you.

Our June 12th two week mission is soon approaching!! We are looking forward to seeing old and new faces. We encourage upcoming volunteers to utilize the blog to post any comments or questions.

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

We need your HELP!!

2011-04-14T10:40:00.014-05:00

Dear IMA family

As we go forward with this ministry that God has laid upon our hands; we encounter hurdles, challenges, difficulties and problems alongside His tremendous blessings. God in His infinite wisdom let's us go through tough and stressful times. This reminds me of David being hunted by the most powerful man at the time, king Saul. 1 Sam 20:1 God allows trials not because of our wrongdoings, which are ever present, but He does this so we realize how little and powerless we are. He sends rough days and times of tribulation so we go to Him in prayer and supplication. Psalm 3

IMA-CMSL, for the last two and a half months has been attacked by the local medical community. The attacks have been such that they have been heard by the Mayor of Valladolid, by the Minister of health of the state, and now by the Governor. Not because of our wrongdoings but because God wants us to realize His might. We have had several inspections in the last couple of months, none of which have ended in a negative note. We've passed those inspections "with honors", all praise to the KING of kings.

In the midst of all these stressful times, we move forward with the help of our Lord. He holds us by the hand as His children and takes us wherever He sees fit. What a delight it is to be held by the hand in times of trouble, what a delicate touch we feel, almost surreal, but His touch is real... Sublime.

As we move forward we encounter needs in various areas. Surgery being the nature of our ministry has it's perks as you all know. Today we face a need. Today we realize that we are powerless and we come to you, the body of Christ, with two requests.

1) One minute of your day... If every member of the IMA family goes to God in prayer specifically asking Him to deliver us from the attacks, and provide the necessary means to cover these needs it will mean that several hundred prayers will rise up to heaven and He will answer. John 15:7

2) The pictures below are of what in the medical field is called a C-Arm. This equipment is used during surgeries to assure that the procedure being performed will deliver the results desired. This equipment is extremely valuable to specialties like Urology, Orthopedics and Biliary duct Surgery.

The C-Arm costs $17,500
The table costs 7,500
The shipment costs 3,000
Installation costs 2,500
Startup costs 2,000
Total $32,500

Startup costs include the technician fee plus travel expenses.

With your contribution we can continue to provide excellent care for the less fortunate.

Matthew 25:40

In the midst of troubled times, war and worldwide hunger we are blessed beyond comprehension.

Your pennies can change someone else's life.

The average American spends $108 dollars a month on Starbucks alone. Could you spare a cup of coffee for a patient that needs his life back?

People are hungry for The Gospel. Medical Missions are an excellent way to share the Good News of Salvation. IMA trips to Mexico in 2011 alone have lead 1,405 souls to Christ and counting.

UROLOGY !!!

2011-04-06T18:30:00.003-05:00

So excited for the upcoming mission trip to Valladolid. Our top of the line urologists lead by Dr. Paul Church, Dr. Doug Whittemore, Dr. Randy Singleton and Dr. Grant Taylor will be joining forces once again for the glory of God.

Well, its Wednesday and almost the end of the day and so far so good!!! All praise to the ONE and only King of kings who has showed His majesty guiding the hands of the surgeons and providing the recovery to the patients. We can't praise enough for He is good. Today 11 surgeries of which 2 were nefrectomies (kidney removal) a good number of Cysto - TURPS and TURPS, one Nephrolithotomy, one suprapubic prostatectomy and some other procedures. Big names for BIG surgeries for honoring an even BIGGER God. Have a good night, God bless...

Wheww, it was a loong blessed week. Today the surgeons are discharging the last patients and we praise God for He is good. What a wonderful week. On Thursday the team worked until 3:30AM and although we were all tired and sometimes cranky God was always the motivation.

Words can't express our grattitude towards our Savior but also towards the team. They are true warriors for our Lord and they will reap the blessings not only on earth but in GLORY!!!!

Changing lives one at a time...

2011-03-15T09:25:00.003-06:00

Remember this bad case of skin cancer?

This picture was taken in Feb 13th 2011

Plastic Surgeon, Dr. PR Ramey saw this lady in clinic and immediately scheduled her for surgery the next day. This was a big procedure that required excellent skills.

PR took great care of this lady and today she came back to CMSL for a check up.

This is the after picture taken today, March 15th 2011

Thanks to the wonderful skill of PR, but most importantly thanks to God for giving her the required healing she so desperately needed.

IMA. Changing lives, one at a time.

Matthew 25:40

What an undescribable honor it is to serve Him...

Testimonial from Trisha...

2011-03-11T11:30:00.001-06:00

I have spoken to the majority of you, if not at least a couple of words. My name is Trisha. Unlike the rest of you, I came here by myself without a spouse, without a group, without a church. Other than briefly having met Maria and the Bonnell's last November, I knew none of you before this week or last. I have totally stepped out of my comfort zone. I like to be organized, know who I am with. I like to know what the next step is. I like to plot, plan and strategize. I don't have a medical skill. I am not a preacher, singer or worship leader. I speak very choppy Spanish. And when friends and family asked why I am going on this trip for not only one but 2 weeks, I told them "I don't know, I don't know what I will do or how I'll do anything or who I will meet, but I just have to go."

I am not an eloquent speaker like Dwight, nor do I have a beautiful singing voice like Janna nor am I technical like Tom or charismatic like Ricardo. However I just want to say a few words and share a few observations I have had over the past 2 weeks and hey - sorry for reading my notes. If I was explaining to you how to read a balance sheet or other financial statements or how to coach little league baseball or run a sports program , I could stand up here and just chat you up all day long - but to put my thoughts into words - I needed to write it down.

So what have I done for the past 2 weeks - I have been to the villages quite a few times, I am pretty much an ophthalmologist at this point - I could fit any of you into a pair of reading glasses whether you needed them or not.

I worked out in the warehouse organizing, categorizing, cleaning and inventorying with the hysterically funny and kind-hearted Charles and Zach. I have tattooed dozens of Mayan children, given quite a few manicures and polish changes, instigated and played a mad game of kickball where we all cheated - both the kids and me. Drew pictures, traded words in English, Spanish and Mayan, triaged patients in the village, learning the major body parts and about 25 adjectives to describe them in Spanish. I washed and sterilized bloody surgical instruments for hours. I watched some outrageous surgeries, got to scrub in on one (wildly fascinating), even got to hold instruments inside a patient's stomach, until my nose got itchy, touched it with the back of my hand and was "sent away from the table !" Good grief.

I've seen the bowels of a man pulled out of the interior of his stomach and spread out for all to see and then - he was oh so neatly sewn up and he walked away several days later. I was privileged to see the wonders of God's work.

I witnessed a surgeon praying over his patient while the patient was still awake before his surgery. Bruce, I stood behind you and wept as you prayed, I was so moved. I was privileged to hear God through you.

I listened to a teeny tiny Mayan woman (and they are all needless to say quite tiny next to me) open the New Testament, and after having been fitted with her brand new reading glasses, she started singing the songs in the back of the book in Spanish, with the sweetest voice you have ever heard. I was privileged to hear God in her voice.

I see Felipe sitting outside the dining room every morning on a bench, humbly waiting to come into eat only after every one else has taken their food. I am privileged to see Jesus in him, humbly waiting on us.

I also see Felipe falling asleep on the bus ride every afternoon back from the village trip. He has exhausted himself in his earnestness to share God's word. I am privileged to witness his faith.

I met a 92 year old couple, fitted for reading glasses and when I told the man how "muy guapo" he looked, his esposa giggled till she almost fell over. I was privileged to see God's love in them for each other.

I was fortunate enough to be blessed to have the "Teresa's" as my roommates (or T-1 and T-2 as they are lovingly referred to.) Sorry Dan, I know they were your girls, but now they are mine as well - so we'll just have to share. I have seen God's kindness in that which they have shown me.

Sooo, when I get back home, they'll ask again - "why did you go" "what did you see" "what did you do" And, I'll tell them my stories and show them my pictures, but most of all I'll share with them how privileged I was to "see" and "hear" and "feel" God for the past 2 weeks.

I pray God uses these last couple of weeks to lead me into His plan for this next season of my life. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to come and thank you for your kindness. I love you all.

My Word will not return unto Me void but will accomplish that for which I sent it.

2011-02-24T20:59:00.003-06:00

We are wrapping up the mission trip and we just want to share the wonderful work God has done through His people who have worked diligently with one mind, one heart, and for one purpose alone. That is to give honor and glory to our maker. The King of kings and Lord of hosts.

VILLAGE WORK

908 Consultations 1,727 Filled prescriptions (free meds) 879 Reading glasses fitted

HOSPITAL WORK
342 Consultations

186 Surgical procedures

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY

511 Adults and 50 Children accepted Christ as their personal savior.

Well done good and faithful servants !!!!!!

Let the little children come to Me.

2011-02-24T20:56:00.000-06:00

1st Week was great!!

2011-02-18T09:23:00.001-06:00

Thank you Lord for an awesome team!!!

We were honored by your presence. You were a vital part of the body of Christ playing a role that nobody else could have. We thank you from the bottom of our heart.
We love you...

In loving memory of Madeleine Ramey

2011-02-14T08:58:00.002-06:00

In memory of Madeleine Ramey and her service to the least of His children we dedicate OR suite No.2 with a plaque.

Monday worship and devotional.

2011-02-14T08:39:00.002-06:00

Praise God for an awesome team.

187 consultations on Sunday, 22 surgeries scheduled for today (Monday).
Monday 33 surgeries.

All for His glory.

We pray for His traveling mercies upon His people

2011-01-31T20:02:00.007-06:00

The Jeffries, the Meyers, the Rodriguez's and a Wilterink are here...

Our BIG family will be reunited once again, see you all today !!!!!!!

There will be 4 departures from CUN to Valladolid.

12:00 Dallas team van and whoever has arrived already can ride with them if space allows.

16:00 Arizona team van and also considering space whoever fits in the vehicle.

18:00 IMA Bus

21:00 IMA Van

Breakfast will be at 7:00 AM in the usual place.
Remember there will be transportation daily at 6:55AM from Hotel Maria de la Luz only for those who can't walk. We encourage you to do so, it's a very pleasant walk.

Team Arizona

2011-01-30T11:59:00.001-06:00

We are so excited to be part of the February Valladolid project! Our team includes 1 oral surgeon,
1 pediatric dentist, 1 prosthodontist, 1 hygienist and 1 assistant. We are bringing a hygienist for the first time so we are very excited because a lot of people want to have their teeth cleaned and we usually

don't have a lot of time for that. Also, our worship pastor and his wife will be joining us on Monday!!! Hopefully Wednesday night we can have a time of worship and sharing as a group.

This will be our fourth mission trip together and I think this will be the best one yet, we are bringing enough supplies to see over 500 patients and we are bringing a lot of "things" for the kids. Balls, crayons, nail polish, balloons and a few more things. We are bringing some movies in Spanish so we would like to be able to show a "Jesus" movie at night for the people to hear the gospel so, hopefully the powers that be allow us to do just that!!

Mission trips are a big part of our lives and have been for....for as long as I can remember. Lives changed forever, friendships that are bound by the love of Christ and the love we share for the people we serve. As a family, it has always brought us closer together and we share a special bond. Serving with my parents, brothers and sisters is very special. I would encourage participants to bring their families, it will forever touch your heart serving God and others with your family.

So, here we go! We can't wait, we are praying, hoping and willing to do whatever it takes to glorify the name of our Lord and Savior!

IMA Blogging

2011-01-26T21:35:00.000-06:00

Communication is key, especially when we are planning projects that involve so many people and so much detail. We felt that blogging would be a great way to communicate back and forth and for participants to connect with each other before the trip even begins. The "oldtimers" or more experienced participants can share their insight and experiences with the "newbies" and help them make their experience so much more fulfilling.

At the end of the projects we can share photos, videos, ideas and experiences that make us want to come back over and over and over and be hooked like many of us are. We can also share final statistics on what we accomplished and what we plan to accomplish in the future.

This media will also help you share your experience with friends and families while you are away, so they can follow the progress of your trip from home. We can share a little bit of what is going on everyday and that way they can feel connected and part of the team. At the same time, you can follow IMA and the current project while you are at home and you can even participate by sharing your own experiences with others.

You will be able to hear from our board members and executive director and you can communicate with them and ask them questions.

The blog is open to the public and you do not need to create an account to view it, the address is http://imamissions.blogspot.com If you do want to participate and we encourage you to, you can do so with a Google account or gmail.

We pray this is a useful tool for everyone and we are able to use it to its full potential.

Blessings to all,

IMA