WATCH THIS 11 MINUTE VIDEO ABOUT OPERATION GUYANA.


Guyana map

Guyana Medical Mission Teams
of West-Ark Church of Christ

      Guyana is an English-speaking nation, about the size of Idaho, located on the northeast shoulder of South America. Called British Guiana until 1966, this tropical country can be reached after about 15 hours air travel from Fort Smith via Miami. The population of 700,000 is primarily composed of descendants from India (51%) and Africa (43%). The people of this developing nation earn an average income of around $200 per month. The Hindu and Moslem religions are widely practiced.

      Fourteen American Christians arrived in Guyana the day after Thanksgiving in 1983 where they began personal Bible studies with 200 World Bible School correspondence students. By the close of that campaign, 51 had obeyed the Gospel. A preacher training school was established in the capital city of Georgetown in 1985. In the late 1980's, Partners In Progress, a mission project of Sixth & Izard church of Christ in Little Rock, Arkansas, began conducting one-week, evangelistic medical clinics in Guyana with astonishing results. Since 1992, Steve DeLoach, of Springdale, Arkansas, has lived in Guyana half of each year and makes all the arrangements for Partners In Progress teams to work there. Today, there are over 80 congregations of the Lord's church in Guyana.

      West-Ark church of Christ has sent evangelistic health care teams to Guyana, South America, every year since 1991, thanks to the assistance of Partners In Progress. There have been over 145 Christians from West-Ark who have served as Bible teachers or health care workers in the medically under-served villages of Canal Number Two, DeKenderen Plantation, Enmore, Leonora, Bagotville, Plaisance, Stewartville, and Nismes. Each team member is responsible for raising his or her own support for the expenses of the mission trip. All medications dispensed at the clinics are acquired from numerous sources at minimal or no expense and packed by our teams before departure. Our typical team has been composed of about 60 Christians, with many joining us from other congregations, including Roland and Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and Mayfield, Kentucky. We have noted increasing participation by Guyanese Christians in assisting with Bible teaching at our annual clinics.

Our medical clinics are evangelistic in the sense of turning the attention of unbelievers to the Gospel by which they can be saved.

      At each of our clinics, all patients waiting to see a doctor, dentist, or eye specialist are offered one-on-one Bible study. Most agree to study with one of our personal workers. Each patient is treated with the same kindness and respect whether they study the Bible or not. A spiritual and evangelistic approach is continued by the doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists. VBS-style classes are conducted in nearby public schools by West-Ark teens and adults. Gospel sermons are presented by Roy Dunavin each evening. Our teams have provided health care for 24,718 patients. Our Bible studies in Guyana have resulted in 741 baptisms.

water lily       These trips are made possible through the generous contributions of West-Ark members and friends. Our next trip is planned for June 2008. Cost will be about $2,800 per person serving on the West-Ark medical mission team to Guyana.


Read annual West-Ark team leader reports of Guyana mission trips:

1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007


Leonora thumbnail  View enlarged photo of Leonora clinic site.

Bagotville thumbnail  View enlarged photo of Bagotville clinic site.



Guyana flag
Check the weather in Georgetown, Guyana.

Listed below are the West-Ark Christians who have served in Guyana followed by the year(s) of participation. (Some have moved to other cities since their first trip.)

  1. Don Abernathy, R.Ph. (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001)
  2. Donnie Abernathy (1995)
  3. Reynda (Pratt) Allen (1997)
  4. Kate Allison (1995, 1996, 1997)
  5. Clayton Amos (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996)
  6. Christy Anders, R.N. (2005)
  7. Larry Armstrong, D.O. (2002)
  8. Jay Arnold (1999)
  9. Todd Bauer (1995)
  10. Britney Beard (1996, 1997, 1998)
  11. Pat Beard (1996, 1997, 1998)
  12. Jeana Belote (1997)
  13. Donna Beneux (1994)
  14. David Berger (1998)
  15. John Berger (2001)
  16. Sandy Berger (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005)
  17. Ashley Blasdel (2007)
  18. Azia Blasdel (2005, 2006, 2007)
  19. Michael Blasdel (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  20. Missy Blasdel, L.P.N. (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  21. David Boozer (2001)
  22. Steve Breedlove (2000)
  23. Gary Brown (1994, 1996, 2000, 2002)
  24. Marshall Brown (1995)
  25. Sarah (Hannah) Brown (1993, 1994)
  26. Kevin Bullard (1992, 1993, 1994)
  27. Richard Bullard (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  28. Shirley Bullard (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  29. David Burns (2000)
  30. Josh Cantwell (1993)
  31. Heather (Wilson) Carroll (1992, 1993, 1995)
  32. Janet Cathey (1998)
  33. Jane Choate (1998)
  34. Suzanne (Monk) Clark (1997)
  35. Jeff Cohu (1996, 2000, 2002)
  36. Jeannie Cole (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)
  37. Louise Cole (2003)
  38. Michael Cole, M.D. (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  39. Steven Cole (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003)
  40. Rhiannon (Edwards) Corley (1999, 2000)
  41. Beth Craig, R.N.P. (1997, 1998)
  42. Olen Craig (1991)
  43. Kendra (Parker) Cutsinger (1997)
  44. Harold Davis (2000)
  45. Kevin Davis (2000)
  46. Felicia (Wilson) Dennis (1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
  47. Debbie Dewbre, R.N. (1995, 1996, 1997)
  48. David Dickey (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004)
  49. Jenna Dickey (2004)
  50. Sean Doyle (2001)
  51. Susan (Tygart) Doyle, R.N. (2000, 2001)
  52. Brent Dunavin, D.D.S. (1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999)
  53. Joyce Dunavin, R.N. (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  54. Roy Dunavin (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  55. Kathy Edwards (1999, 2000)
  56. Ted Edwards (1999, 2000, 2001)
  57. Carol Ezell (1995)
  58. David Ezell (1995)
  59. Dean Ezell, M.D. (1995)
  60. Sarah Ezell (1995)
  61. Jacob Faries (1996, 1997)
  62. Raina (Balch) Finley (1999)
  63. Jane Fisher (1993, 1994, 1995, 1999)
  64. Robert Fisher, M.D. (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)
  65. Beth Frederick (2007)
  66. Leslie Frederick (2007)
  67. Colleen Frost (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  68. Shelley (Shirley) Frost (1994)
  69. Rupa Gootam (1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001)
  70. Gary Green (1998, 2000)
  71. Judy Green (1998, 2000)
  72. Mat Griffin, R.Ph. (1996)
  73. Melinda Griffin (1997)
  74. Janet Grimes, R.N. (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001)
  75. Natalie Grovenburg (1997)
  76. Donna Hannah (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001)
  77. Jim Hardin (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  78. Vicki Hardin (2003)
  79. Jeremy Harper (1996)
  80. Mitch Harper, D.D.S. (1998, 1999)
  81. Robin Harper (2004)
  82. Aaron Henderson (1995, 1996, 2001)
  83. Christy (Cathey) Hesslen (1991)
  84. Connie Hixson (2007)
  85. Rebecca Holloway (2002)
  86. Liz (Cathey) Huff (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998)
  87. Julia (Henderson) Hughes (1995, 1996, 1997)
  88. Jean Jackson (1995, 1996)
  89. Nick Jackson (1995, 1996)
  90. Gary James (2001, 2003)
  91. Nancy James (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  92. Loy Johnson (1995, 1997)
  93. Bart Jones (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
  94. Matthew Jones (1999, 2000)
  95. Donna Larey (1996, 1998)
  96. Keith Larey (1995, 1996, 1998)
  97. Ron Lenderman (1993)
  98. Glenda (Hodnett) Lewis (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  99. Jack Lewis (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  100. Meagan (Canfield) Logan (1993, 1994, 1995)
  101. Amy Mason (1996, 1997, 1999)
  102. Kathy Monk, R.N. (1992, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002)
  103. Angelique (Cole) Moses (1995, 1996, 1997)
  104. Darrell Moses (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)
  105. Greg Moses (1997)
  106. Robertta Moses (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
  107. Meagan (Turpin) Mullins (1996, 1998)
  108. Tami (Brown) Myers (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995)
  109. Wendell Needham (1993, 1995, 1996)
  110. Bob Null (1994, 1997)
  111. Leah (Fisher) Omen, M.D. (1995, 1996)
  112. Terry Overbey (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
  113. Ben Pearson (1992)
  114. Sandy Pearson, R.N. (1992)
  115. Charlotte Pinedo (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
  116. Brad Pistole (1995, 1996, 1997)
  117. Yvonne Pistole (1995)
  118. Pam (Flippo) Rhodes, R.N. (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997)
  119. Jason Roark (1996, 1997)
  120. Jill Roberts (2003, 2004)
  121. Larry Roper (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005)
  122. Wes Roper (1997, 1998)
  123. Pam Shearer (1992)
  124. Kenny Simpson (1997)
  125. Jeff Sorrells (1992, 1993, 2000)
  126. Niketa Stinchcomb (2005, 2006, 2007)
  127. Jay Trotter, R.Ph. (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000)
  128. Leanne Trotter (1995, 1996, 1997)
  129. Lindsay Trotter (2001)
  130. Shelley Trotter, R.N. (1998)
  131. Lindsay (Cantwell) Warren (1994, 1995, 1996)
  132. Brad Wheeler (1995)
  133. Cindy Wheeler (1995)
  134. Bailey Williams (2007)
  135. Rennie (Henderson) Williams (1995, 1996)
  136. Irene Willis (2001)
  137. Mark Willis, D.D.S. (1995)
  138. Bill Wilson (1995)
  139. Brenda (Needham) Wilson (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001)
  140. Deborah Wilson, R.N. (1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001)
  141. Jim Wilson, D.O. (1995, 2001)
  142. Daniel Word (2001)
  143. James Word, M.D. (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
  144. Sara Word (2001)
  145. Doyle Wright, Med. Tech. (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
  146. Judy Wright, R.N. (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)

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