Greetings to everyone from Bangkok,
This will be a short report of our recent Health Team International medical/dental mission to the northwestern area of Thailand. I’ve included several photos that might be of interest as well. Last year in the blog I gave a more detailed report regarding the people we served and the reasons for going to that area, so I won’t take up your time to give the same basic information. Much of the trip was very similar to last year except we spent the entire time this year setting up our clinics in only that remote section of Thailand.
The statistics of the trip included seeing a little more than 800 patients of which over 200 hundred had dental treatment that involved extraction of painful or diseased teeth. We set up our temporary clinics in 7 locations. We spent the first 2 days at a refugee camp that included traveling 2 hours one way from our hotel along a very winding road on which several of our team members got car sick. This was after driving about 8 hours the day before when we left Bangkok to reach our destination for the clinics.
After the first two days our plans were changed when we learned that the government was not permitting any foreigners to enter refugee camps anymore. Another plan was initiated and we spent the next clinic days working out of 6 small local church structures only 1/2 to 1 hour away from our hotel. The local pastors were happy we could take care of their church members and present the gospel along with health care to some of the local non-believers who came for assistance. Gary was given the opportunity to give the sermon on the Sunday we were in the area.
Thank you all for your prayer support and a humble, heart-felt thank you to those of you who helped to meet some of our expenses. By supporting us in these ways, you became the unseen members of our team helping to share the love of Jesus and for that we trust that God was glorified.
For His glory among the nations,
Gary and Lyndell
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| Two vans transporting our team and equipment |
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Arriving in Mae Sot after 8 hour ride
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Morning devotions and breakfast before traveling to set up clinics
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| Checkpoints before entering refugee locations |
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| Steep climb to first camp easier on motorcycle |
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| Younger members chose to walk |
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| Hoping the brakes held up as we entered the campsite |
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| Our medical team |
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| Burmese doc and Texan doc |
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| Camp Hospital ward |
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| Patients waiting for dental care |
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| Patients waiting to see a doctor |
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| Sharing gospel with medical patients |
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| Examining medical patients |
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Our team in charge of dispensing the medications with a smile
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| Presenting the gospel to dental patients |
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Praying to receive the gift of eternal life
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| Further teaching of God's love while waiting for anesthesia |
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| Now let's get those infected teeth out |
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| Prayer for each patient before leaving the clinic |
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| Sharing with the children |
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Numerous balloon animals given were a big hit for the kids
 | | The big smile says it all |
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| Good idea, but truck did not have enough power |
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Rung, our Thai translator,
helped to secure additional dental anesthetic |
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January 2025
Last year we had both of our sons helping dad.
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January 2026
This year our youngest had broken wrist and couldn't join us |
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Pastor (interpreter) inspired to learn
how to extract teeth himself |
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Our dental team with interpreters
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No need to explain why dental care is necessary
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Daughter assisting dad like he did for me so long ago
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Innovative eyewash station to cleanse debris
that found its way under the safety glasses
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Hazard for people 6 feet entering outhouse. It only took one
whack on the head to remind me to duck the next time.
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Presenting the gospel from English to Thai to Lisu language
(trust that it was all done under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) |
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| Clinic in operation |
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| One more interpreter for Burmese added when needed |
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| Burmese doc also needed an interpreter |
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Preaching that our only hope, peace, and joy is in God,
who became flesh to live among us, die on the cross
for our sins and rise from the dead so we could receive
the free gift of eternal life by believing in Jesus. |
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| Free Sunday afternoon for touring |
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| Blue Cave |
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| Beautiful Waterfalls |
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| Simple surgical procedure to remove lip tumor |
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Trusting that our God answers prayers
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Especially prayers for salvation.
Wife and her husband heard the gospel and believed |
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Different settings, but the same good news of salvation.
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for the glory of God alone. |
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| Our team was small in number but our trust was in a Big God |
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Added joy to have three generations of our family
serving our Lord Jesus together. |
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Statistics of our mission:
Over 600 seen by medical team
Over 200 treated by dental team
Total of over 800 patients seen by team
Over 350 presented the gospel of Jesus |
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The sun is setting in this photo,
but we pray that the Son of God will shine His glory
in the lives of those we had the privilege to serve. |
