Volunteers Build Lasting Relationships During Mission Trips to Mexico

By day Bora Ra is an exceptional ICU nurse at Adventist Health White Memorial in Los Angeles, but during a recent Adventist Health mission trip to Loreto, Mexico, she transformed into medical brigade superhero — part logistics expert, part nurse, and part mission matchmaker.

For the five-day trip in March, Bora coordinated clinical services, matching the team of volunteers to mission needs based on medical skills, language skills, strengths, and interests. She also tracked progress of patient flow, stepping in to ease any brigade bottlenecks in order to serve as many patients as possible.

Mission clinic locations in Mexico vary and can be less than optimal. “Based on the availability of electrical power, running water, tables, private rooms, temperature, etc., I plan the workflow of the medical brigade,” said Bora. Without certain access to the amenities readily available back home, she organizes and assigns spaces for patient registration, gathering vital signs, laboratory services, medical care, dental care, spiritual care, diabetes education, supply storage, pharmacy, restrooms, and of course space for the kids to play.

While in Loreto and the nearby fishing village of Agua Verde, Bora and 26 other Adventist Health volunteers provided clinical care for 252 patients, and emotional and spiritual care for 95 patients. A team of chaplains — Edgar Urbina and Roberto Vizcaino from Adventist Health White Memorial and Reninger Flores from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center — also provided Clinical Pastoral Education for 20 local chaplains who work day-to-day with the Red de Clinicas Adventista clinic system.

Rafik Mughnetsyan, a resident physician at Adventist Health White Memorial who provided medical care during the trip, said, “Mission trips are important because they allow us to travel to places we would not have otherwise gone to and provide care for needed communities. I understand how fortunate I am to have access to all sorts of specialty care where I live, and being able to go to a location like Loreto where the closest medical facility is three hours away, really puts things into perspective. This mission trip also helped me to feel more appreciative of the amazing co-workers I have who take time away from work and family to provide such amazing care for these communities.”

Lasting commitment

Each year, Adventist Health White Memorial travels to three locations in Mexico to provide healthcare services: Loreto, Valle de la Trinidad, and Montemorelos. In partnership with local Adventist pastors and clinicians from Montemorelos University, they provide medical, dental, and spiritual care and complete projects in the community for people experiencing difficulties.

During the trip in March, volunteers completed a home construction project for a disabled woman. In one day, they painted her house, built an accessible downstairs bathroom, did landscaping projects and provided furniture and supplies.

“The commitment of Adventist Health White Memorial is driving long-lasting changes in these communities,” said John Schroer, Adventist Health Global Mission System Lead. “The new clinic system started two years ago, but White Memorial has been committed to growing this outreach program — extending time, money and other resources — for the past seven years.”

“Our mission trips are focused on building relationships with people,” said Roberto Vizcaino, Senior Chaplain and CPE Supervisor at Adventist Health White Memorial. “There are no words to describe the happiness and satisfaction you get when you see the smile on people’s faces. When you do that kind of work, you not only help others heal, but you heal yourself and grow as a person.”

Bora has been on four mission trips to Mexico and will put her superhero powers to work there again in the future — donating her time along with the other volunteers.

Bora said, “Returning to these towns delivers another level of purpose as you get to build on the relationships made with not only the local doctors, pastors, government officials and volunteers, but also members of the community! Each mission trip is special, the group energy is lovely, there is a great sense of teamwork.”