Well, anyway, the answer to the first question is a happy yes! We’ve written a little bit in past blogs about the Corban Clinic’s expansion. Like now grown children, every ministry reaches a point at which it should reproduce according to its kind. Now that the Clinic’s expansion is taking more form toward its inevitable birth, we want to tell you about it. Think mirthful grandparents pulling out their wallet full of baby photos to “tell about it!” OK. Maybe not. Don’t want to scare you away. But please look on!

First, a tiny bit of history. Laura has been immersed in medical work and outreach into the unreached people groups of Oaxaca since she first arrived here eighteen years ago. Fourteen years ago the Corban Clinic was built on the Roca Blanca base land. From its inception (note the birth terminology!) the Clinic has provided regular and permanent medical care to tens of thousands of needy poor, and has served as the base of operations for the mobile medical outreaches into difficult to reach mountain villages. It also has housed varied medical personnel, both resident and visiting. It presently houses the Clinic pharmacy, two examination rooms, a dentist office for two, residence for Dr. Eder and Paulina, an office, warehouse, two other rooms for patients or visitors, laundry room, three bathrooms, reception, and a kitchen and dining area.

This all began as a personal gift from Drs. Ted and Karolyn Cook as a commemoration of their deceased child, Jonathan Corban (whose name means “a gift from God given to God”). There have been additions to the original structure over the years too, aided by the vision and generosity of others. Well, it seems like we’ve already got a lot of space and functionality, doesn’t it! But it’s all quite full now, and the mother Clinic is expecting a brand new addition to the family in the very near future!

Why a Clinic expansion, you ask? In order to expand our outreach, and to add some more needed services, and to facilitate some really cool training opportunities that have begun to develop  over the last several years, and are veritably begging to be better accommodated!

For the last year and a half payments have been prayed in and made in for the land purchase  immediately adjacent to the Corban Clinic. The last payment was joyously made just a month ago, and the land is now ours! Drawings have been created, and donations have already begun toward the construction. Many, many thanks to Drs. Dave and Mary Kay Ness who spearheaded the fundraising for the land. God’s obvious blessing was on them. And, of course, many, many thanks to all who gave and are still giving.

So, once again, why go to all the trouble and expense to expand the clinic? Just what are these needed services and training opportunities? We thought you’d never ask! Over the last few years nursing programs from Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Chico State University have done part of their training here at Roca Blanca under Laura’s tutelage. This January another school will be doing missionary medical training here, Elim Bible Institute of Lima, NY. Laura sees this trend as part of what God is doing through the medical ministry here. She’s worked hard and is now enabling others to do the same, imparting her ministry’s characteristic care and compassion that has opened so many hearts to the gospel.

What’s more (and this one really thrills me) is that, Lord enabling, we’ll offer a Community Health Worker tract for second year Mexican Bible School students, part of that simultaneous with the EBI Medical Missions classes. Right now for graduating first year students we offer Music School, a Pastoral tract, and this year we added a Foreign Missions tract. How thoroughly exciting to envision newly trained, ready to love and serve Mexican nationals taking health care and the gospel to the poor in their own villages and dialects, so many of which well fit within anyone’s definition of unreached!

It’s necessary to expand classrooms, add a lab, clinic dorms, more consulting and exam rooms, and more space in general to make this work. We’re also believing God for an increase in staff, and means within and without of Mexico to cover the additional operating costs. The need for this is great, as anyone who’s been here for very long can tell you. And the labor’s fruit is very good.

How great is our God! And His love worth sharing. I’m sure that we’ll write some more about this in future blogs.

Thanks for letting us show you our snapshots of faith, announcing the eventual but inevitable birth of a new Corban Clinic extension for the glory of Him who we love above all things!

Dave and Laura