Medical-Dental Missions in
Belize and Texas
For almost 30 years, Dr. David Nichols, DDS
has been regularly leading a group of volunteers to the jungles of Belize and Guatemala to
administer badly needed healthcare to the people of these Central American countries.
Nearly half the population of these countries and the majority of the Mayan population
have little access to medical and dental care. Volunteers from across the US have
responded by providing much needed help and aid.
Dr. Nichols, an active member and Past President of the Tyler Rotary Club, supports a
medical mission organization known as Tejas Missions, Inc. Tejas Missions organizes the
volunteer medical teams and assistants, and procures the equipment, medicine and supplies.
Needed are volunteers who can cover the cost of their plane transportation to and from
Belize. Volunteers can be medical professionals in the areas of dentistry, general
medicine, surgery, and ophthalmology. Also needed are non-medical personnel to support and
assist in a wide variety of jobs and duties. Some visits require long hikes through the
rainforest so spirits of adventure and good physical health are a plus!
If you are a member of another Rotary Club and have difficulty identifying an
international project each year, this is designed for you. You can donate supplies
(vitamins are badly needed), fund the transportation costs for people in your club or
community to attend, or simply donate money. You can be assured that your money is being
spent properly with oversight by other East Texas Rotarians. Some of the projects the
Tyler Rotary Club and its members have helped fund include a new roof for a damaged
orphanage, audiovisual equipment for a school, and new dental and medical equipment for a
local hospital. We know exactly how our funds are being spent because are own members are
on-site overseeing these projects.
Click on the pictures for a larger view.
Here are two young girls that are receiving
our care in Belize.
Dr. David Nichols, DDS assisted by Eleanor
Stringer (Tyler Rotary Club members) giving dental care at Punta Gorday Hospital in
Belize, Central America.
Billy Hibbs Jr., (Tyler Rotary) Jo Dobbs,
(Sunrise Rotary) and Eleanor Stringer (Tyler Rotary) at a remote Mayan Indian Village in
Southern Belize.
Eleanor Stringer (Tyler Rotary) talking
with Mayan Indians in Southern Belize.
Dr. David Nichols (Tyler Rotary), President
of Tejas Missions, at Cosa Guatemala home for abandoned children.
Indian family seeking medical and dental
care in Southern Belize.
Texas Mission of Mercy
Closer to home, Tejas Missions also
sponsors the Texas Mission of Mercy in conjunction with the Texas Dental Association. This
project was begun in 2001 as a way to assist financially strained people who cannot or do
not seek dental or medical care for painfully abscessed and badly decayed teeth. Many have
missing front teeth causing severe appearance problems. These events are held at YWAM in
Lindale, Texas and usually attract several thousand people from across northeast Texas
seeking care. Volunteers (both medical and non-medical) and funding are also need for this
important work.
If you have an interest in learning more about how to help others,
please contact Dr. David Nichols.
