Through God’s Helping Hands, Inc., a Christian non-profit organization, a group of more than 40 students, doctors, dentists, interpreters and missionaries, led by coordinator David Lopez, traveled to Guatemala March 17–27. People came from far and near to work together to provide medical and dental care and to construct an Adventist hospital in the northern city of Poptun.
For more than 36 years, civil war ravaged Guatemalan society until a peace agreement was signed in 1996. Poverty, poor sanitation and health, and unemployment are just some of the major issues facing the Guatemalan people, especially in the rural areas.
This is the third year that God’s Helping Hands has organized a service group to go to Guatemala. After managing some missed flights and surviving the untamed Guatemalan driving, everyone made it in time for a good night's sleep. The next day, the group spent a restful Sabbath worshiping with the local Adventists in Poptun.
In the rural villages, people came from miles around to get medical and dental help. The teams did extractions and dental hygiene, gave out much-needed medicines, and passed out clothing, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
“This place and these people changed my life,” said Eden Kietponglert, a pre-dental student at Walla Walla College. “I’m now going into dentistry because of my experiences in Guatemala.”
“I was struck by the warmth and gratitude of the people and genuinely impressed with their wealth even though they had so little,” said Jeremy Wageman, worship coordinator for the trip.
See our project online at www.godshelpinghands.org
Eden Kietpongler, pre-dental student at Walla Walla College, assisted the dental team during the mission trip to Guatamala.
