Thanks and praise to God for a safe and successful mission trip last month to Mexico!
   There were 75 professions of faith and 179 surgeries. Thanks to everyone who had a part in making this trip possible.
   All 25 large boxes of supplies made it across the border despite a six-hour inspection by four Mexican agents and one dog. Dr. Terry Elder (Corpus Christi) flew to Chiapas with other necessary supplies not included in the officially approved list.
   On the trip to Cintalapa, Daphne and I drove our van in tandem with Vernon Odom, 87, (Lubbock) and his van with five Texas volunteers. From the United States border, the trip is three days, 12 to 14 hours each day.
   Eighteen other volunteers flew into Tuxtla from TN, WI, VA, TX, and LA, and were met by the clinic’s vans and driven the two hours to Cintalapa.
   There were six U.S. and two Mexican ophthalmologists, two American nurse anesthetists, Dr. Charles Norwood (screening patients) and both U.S. and Mexican volunteers. They all worked together prepping, assisting, sterilizing and
operating. 
   Six operating tables were simultaneously going for three days.
   Other volunteers were singing, witnessing and preaching to hundreds of waiting patients and families.  
     We finished all scheduled surgeries, working from 6 a.m. until past midnight. We prayed with and for each patient and each other.
   After 179 surgeries, all
supplies, time and energy ran out.
    Our next trips to Mexico are scheduled for March 7-11 and June 6-10.
   We would love to have youth and others from Emmanuel go on a trip to see and do mission work. 
   Thanks for your continued help and support. To God be all glory and honor.