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2009 Mission Trips
Urology Surgical Mission Trip
September 19-27, 2009
Guatemala City, Guatemala
A team of doctors and nurses from Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt performed a record breaking 50 surgeries during this trip. Cases ranged in severity from minor procedures to major life saving operations. The Shalom Foundation partnered with many local Guatemalan doctors to locate patients for this team, including six children that traveled from the very rural Peten region to receive treatment.
Team members included:
Dr. John Pope, surgeon and team leader; Dr. Dena Engel, surgical resident; Dr. Doug Clayton, surgical fellow; Dr. Ira Landsman, anesthesiologist; Dr. Chris Lemelle, anesthesiologist; Robin Black, RN; Carmen Bobbit, RN; Jennifer Carpenter, RN; Patty Durchprung, CRNA; Tammy Edmonds, LPN; Johnette Jackson, scrub tech; Lisa Johnson, RN; Cindy Sisco, scrub tech; Rhonda Tucker, CRNA; Allison Bender, Executive Director - The Shalom Foundation; Cindy Bhavsar, Program Director - The Shalom Foundation and Brian Durchsprung, volunteer.
Housing Mission Trip
July 24 - August 1, 2009
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This housing team consisted of 26 participants that worked to complete construction of the six homes. Several team members from Southeastern University led a cheerleading clinic for the girls at Shalom School. Team members also shared their knowledge and love of children with the staff at Shalom School during their week in Guatemala. Team highlights also include distribution of over 200 pairs of shoes to children, delivering bulk food items to several families without any food in their homes and hosting a community wide picnic.
Housing Mission Trip
June 25 - July 4, 2009
Guatemala City, Guatemala
In 2009 two housing mission teams combined to build six homes for needy families in the Las Conchas area of Guatemala City. The team consisted of 35 participants who used their gifts and talents to do far more than just build homes. Team members delivered 2,000 pounds of needed supplies to extremely poor families. Their evangelism introduced many to the love of Christ. The team hosted a community wide picnic which gave them an opportunity to meet many of the families that live in the area and to share their love for God.
Belmont University Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy Student Mission Trip
March 8-13, 2009
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Approximately 12-14 graduate students led by Belmont faculty members, Marsena Waller and Renee Brown, traveled to Guatemala to provide physical therapy and occupational therapy patient care and training at a local Guatemala City hospital. Click here to read the blog.
Vanderbilt Biomedical Engineering Trip
February 28- March 7, 2009
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Seniors in the Biomedical Engineering Program at Vanderbilt University led by Cynthia Paschal, PhD, traveled to Guatemala to work with Shalom Foundation's partner, Manos De Amor Clinic. Students provided much needed technical support for a variety of critical medical equipment in use throughout the facility.
ENT Surgery Trip
September 27-October 5, 2008
Guatemala City, Guatemala
A team of surgeons and nurses from Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt traveled with The Shalom Foundation staff to Guatemala City to treat children suffering from many facial deformities including cleft lips and palates. More than 40 children were evaluated during the clinic with 27 receiving surgical care by the team. Dr. Stephen Goudy was also able to have a follow-up visit with Joseline Vazquez while in Guatemala. Joseline was a patient that Shalom brought to the U.S. for surgical treatment of a life threatening facial/neck tumor. Dr. Goudy was Joseline’s surgeon in the U.S. and was very pleased with her progress.
The team included:
Team leader & anesthesiologist, Dr. Chris Lemelle, along with surgeons Dr. Steve Goudy & Dr. Shelagh Cofer, surgical resident Dr. Maria Wittkopf, anesthesiologist Dr. Scott Watkins & anesthesia fellow Dr. Rachel Cambray, Jill Moore, CRNA, Roni Nylander, CRNA, Lori Graves, RN, Brenda Sandlin, RN, Jacque Lee, LPN, scrub techs Kate Rafferty & Glenda Sullivan, Ladonna Reyka, RN, Sandra Tidwell, RN, and Allison Newton, RN.
Construction Mission Trip
July 25 - August 2, 2008
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This trip was focused on the construction of 3 homes in the communities surrounding Guatemala City. These homes were built for families and children who are living in extreme poverty. A team of 12 individuals traveled to Guatemala to work on the construction and to minister to those in need. In addition to the building projects, and in partnership with Shalom Church, the team visited with families, distributed Bibles and shared the Gospel throughout the local communities.
Construction Mission Trip
May 30 – June 7, 2008 
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Homes were built for families and children who are living in extreme poverty. A team of 32 individuals traveled to Guatemala to begin the construction and to minister to those in need. In addition to the building projects, and in partnership with Shalom Church, the team visited with families, distributed Bibles and shared the Gospel throughout the local communities. Seven homes were built and many lives were saved through Christ. Check out the Pictures from this wonderful and highly moving trip.
Belmont University Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy Student Mission Trip
March 24-29, 2008
Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Graduate students from Belmont University traveled to Guatemala to provide physical therapy and occupational therapy patient care and training at a local Guatemala City hospital. Eleven graduate students, 3 faculty, and Shalom Foundation staff worked at the Hospital Infantil de Infectologia y Rehabilitacion. The team conducted research for future Belmont University trips, which may include nursing, pharmacy, international business, and language students. Trip participants included OT/PT students Matt Cabbage, Erin Cook, Andrea Kaplon, Elizabeth Lovell, Emily Mettlach, Jaclyn Taliano, Cassidy Townsend, Elizabeth Argo; Belmont faculty members Marsena Waller and Renee Brown and The Shalom Foundation President, Jeff Lynch. Click here to view photos.
2007 Mission Trips
Pediatric ENT / Plastics Surgery Trip
December 8-16, 2007
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This trip focused on providing surgery for children in need suffering from conditions and disorders related to head and neck masses, ear/nose/throat conditions and cleft lip and palates. A team of 18 surgeons, doctors and nurses from the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt traveled to Guatemala City, along with Shalom Foundation staff, to provide critical surgery to children in need. The team evaluated 72 patients during the first day at clinic, and they operated on 41 children throughout the week. Many of these children in need had gone untreated for years. For most, the surgeries were life-changing.Click here to read the blog and detailed ENT Trip and Surgery Center announcement.
The team includes:
Team Leader, Ira Landsmen, MD along with surgeons, Shelagh Cofer, MD, and Steve
Goudy, MD, Resident Lesley French, MD, Anesthesiologist Chris Lemelle, MD CRNAs Eileen
Griffin and Roni Nylander, OR Nurses Donna Williams, Jacque Lee, Betty Slusher, and
Jennifer Zaragoza, OR Team Glenda Sullivan and Cindy Sisco, PACU Melinda McCarty,
Lisa Johnson, and Kimberly Morrissey, Fellow Fernando Zaragoza, MD, Shalom Foundation
Jacqueline Swartz, and Anna Cofer.
Construction Mission Trip
June 17-24, 2007
Guatemala City, Guatemala
The third construction trip in a series, this mission team worked to complete the construction efforts began by the previous two teams. Fifteen team members traveled together to Guatemala to finish the homes and minister to the families. With the support of Shalom Church, the team also visited homes built by Shalom Foundation volunteers in past years. They prayed with the families, distributed Bibles and shared the Gospel with those in need.
Construction Mission Trip
June 1-9, 2007
Guatemala City, Guatemala
On the heels of the prior trip, this team traveled to Guatemala to continue the construction work began by the May team. The 11 team members also visited with families, distributed Bibles and shared the Gospel at every opportunity. With the support of Shalom Church, the team provided love, prayer and encouragement to children and families in the local community.
Construction Mission Trip
May 25 – June 2, 2007
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This trip focused on the construction of 7 homes in the areas surrounding Guatemala City for impoverished families and children who did not have adequate shelter or protection from the weather and other dangers. A team of 30 individuals traveled to Guatemala to begin the construction and to minister to those in need. In addition to the building projects, and in partnership with Shalom Church, the team visited with families, distributed Bibles and shared the Gospel at every opportunity. Many members of this team plan to return in 2008. Click here to view photos.
Belmont University Physical Therapy Student Mission Trip
March 3-10, 2007
Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Graduate students from Belmont University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, traveled to Guatemala to provide physical therapy patient care and training at a local Guatemala City hospital. Ten graduate students, 2 faculty, and 2 Shalom Foundation volunteers worked at the Hospital Infantil de Infectologia y Rehabilitacion throughout the week alongside local doctors and nurses. The team also conducted research for future Belmont University trips, which may include occupational therapy, nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, international business, and language students.
2006 Mission Trips
Pediatric ENT / Plastics Surgery Trip
November 4-12, 2006
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This trip focused on providing surgery for children in need suffering from conditions and disorders related to head and neck masses, ear/nose/throat conditions and cleft lip and palates. A team of 17 surgeons, doctors and nurses from the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt traveled to Guatemala City, along with Shalom Foundation staff, to provide critical surgery to children in need. The team evaluated 65 patients during the first day at clinic, and they operated on 39 children throughout the week.
The team includes:
Surgeons Steven Goudy, MD, Shelagh Cofer, MD, Sarah Rohde, MD Physician Diego Porras, MD, Anesthesiologist Jennifer Aunspaguh and Michelle Barnes, CRNAs Susan Dixner and Eileen Griffin, Nurses Rachel Baker, Julie Doyle, Jill Owen and Betty Slusher, Surgical Techs Kathryn Rafferty and Cynthia SIsico, along with Susan Kohari and Jennifer Muckala.
Construction Mission Trip
July 22 – 29, 2006
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This trip focused on much needed construction at Shalom School. Projects included moving earth for the placement of additional classrooms and digging footings for additional construction. This small team of 7 individuals made a huge impact on the children as they shared the love of Christ with those in need.
Construction Mission Trip
May 26 – June 3, 2006
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This trip focused on the construction of multiple homes in the areas surrounding Guatemala City for impoverished children and their families who did not have adequate shelter or protection from the weather and other dangers. The team of 33 individuals worked throughout the week on 7 homes while providing hope and encouragement to these families living in need. The team distributed clothing and Bibles and shared the Gospel with those in the area. It was a life-changing trip for many, and most planned to return in 2007. Click here to view photos.
Pediatric Urology Surgery Trip
February 4-12, 2006
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This trip focused on providing surgery for children in need suffering from urological disorders or complications. A team of 14 surgeons, doctors and nurses from the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt traveled to Guatemala City, along with Shalom Foundation staff, to perform the surgeries. This team evaluated 60 children at clinic on the first day and operated on 37 children during the week. Click here to view photos.
The team includes:
Michelle Barnes, MD, John Brock, MD, Jay Deshpande, MD, Will Lowrance, MD, Siam Oottamasathien, MD, John Pope, MD Donna Beller, RN, Lori Graves, RN, Carolyn Maness, RN, Jeffrey Miller, RN, Amanda Pilinton, RN, Ladonna Reyka, RN, Eileen Griffin, and Susan Kohari
2005 Mission Trips
Construction Mission Trip
June 3-11, 2005
Guatemala City, Guatemala
On the heels of the prior trip, this team traveled to Guatemala to continue the construction work began by the May team. The 12 team members also visited with families, conducted VBS and shared the Gospel at every opportunity. With the support of Shalom Church, the team provided love, prayer and encouragement to children and families in the local community.
Construction Mission Trip
May 27 – June 4, 2005
Guatemala City, Guatemala
This trip focused on the construction of 7 homes in the neighborhoods surrounding Guatemala City for impoverished children and their families. A team of 43 individuals traveled to Guatemala to begin the construction and to minister to those in need. In addition to the building projects, and in partnership with Shalom Church, the team visited with families and evangelized throughout the local communities. Click here to view photos.