the simple blog

Congratulations to the dental clinic team for their awesome team performance on this January trip. Despite freezing cold temperatures, we saw forty patients, producing over $10,000 in free dentistry. Thanks to Lyn, Ellen, Angie, Linda, and Drs. Fowler and Eli for their help. There are so many other people I need to thank for their help, not the least of which is the tireless Rich Kofron--the real man in charge. Photographs of the trip are on display at Saddlebackpics.com. For a bit less clicking, watch the slideshow. Even more pictures are posted at MSI, our non-profit partner in this ministry.

Thank you to everyone for your overwhelming response.  We received over $2,000 in gifts, toys, school supplies and hygiene items for the children of Independencia.  We now have enough gift boxes to fill an entire full size pickup truck bed--two or three times.  Unfortunately, weather concerns (specifically, flash flooding) have postponed our trip to January 19th.  Rest assured that we will post pictures and/or videos of the children receiving your wonderful gifts.   We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds to join us on our one day mission trips. 

Our prayers (and toothbrushes) are headed to Rwanda with a Saddleback PEACE team this week.  In October, at least five of our patients accompanied Pastor Rick Warren and his wife, Kay Warren, on a two week PEACE trip there.  Rwanda is an impoverished country still recovering from a recent genocide.  There's huge dental need: there's only 8 dentists for 8 million people.  Preventative care is crucial in a country with very little access to dental resources.  If your PEACE team would like to bring toothbrushes, toothpaste, or floss to a far off place, our office can help.

Thank you to all the brave men and women of the OC Fire and Sheriff's departments.  "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)  We can never repay you enough for saving Foothill Ranch from these terrible fires.  For the rest of 2007, any firefighter or police officer who comes to our office will receive a free whitening treatment at no charge or further obligation, as our way of beginning to say "Thank You."

We've just returned from another wonderful trip to Independencia.  For the first time, I got to ride along to the Pei Pei indian reservation.  

We had a great trip to Independencia earlier this month. Our dental team was able to see at least 47 patients, producing $29,000 in free dentistry--a one-day clinic record. Thanks to everyone for all your hard work! Watch the full screen slideshow here. For more information about our quarterly mission trips, please visit our blog.

We've just returned from another successful trip to Independencia on December 2nd.  Thanks to everyone who put aside time, money and sleep to help out.  With a little hard work, we were able to give away over $13,000 in free dentistry to at least 50 people.  The on-site medical, optometry and pharmacy clinics had even more success.  If you read on, I've prepared a slide show of the trip.

This is a video slideshow of my very first trip down to Independencia, Mexico with the Saddleback Church Healthcare Ministry, back in December of 2004

We just got back from another successful trip to Independencia.  Medical, dental, optometry and pharmacy care were given free of charge for the poor and the sick.  As part of a great team of volunteers, the dental clinic provided over $11,500 in free services.

Our hopes, prayers and toothbrushes go to Rwanda with Janine, Tina, Gina and Danielle.  God bless the "P.E.A.C.E. gals" in their trip.  If your small group is also interested in doing an oral hygiene project, we'll be happy to support you.

Our friends Shannon, Yvan, and Kristy are all going abroad on PEACE trips as well.  Our prayers and best wishes to them as well.