Mount Hood Community College Takes Mission Trip to Mexico

ODHA partner Mount Hood Community College (MHCC) recently took a student mission trip to Mexico. MHCC students, faculty and staff shared testimonials and photos from their trip. 

(Pictured from left to right: Irma Gonzalez, Elona Bukmyrza, Irina Tsurkan, Magdalena Flores, Crystal Childers, Ilya Babiy, Josiah Babiy, Dr. Ana from Puerto Penasco.)

ILYA BABIY, MHCC Faculty

Being a dental hygienist comes with many privileges. Among them, one of the most cherished for me is that we can give of our time, energy, technical abilities and heart while bettering someone else’s overall health. Going to Mexico on a hands-on service mission trip was a dream come true! Together with five senior students and several support staff volunteers, we had the privilege of serving a remote fishing village, Puerto Lobos, in Sonora, Mexico. Most of the guests in our dental chairs were receiving dental care for the very first time in their lives! It was incredible to be able to serve them, and feel so special that our care was so needed. Not many professions can come and provide tangible services to benefit others. We as dental hygienists can give a therapeutic dental cleaning that removes tartar from teeth, which allows for healing and keeping teeth in the mouth longer: to smile, chew food, speak, etc. The services dental hygienists can offer provide an immediate benefit people can feel as well as lasting effects on the health of the patients we treat. Home care packages and oral hygiene instruction also benefited the villagers in building habits that can allow them to take ownership for their oral health. I’m so grateful for my team of dedicated students who worked tenaciously hard with compassion and grace. It was a whirlwind trip, but we sure maximized every hour. And we wanted to get as many volunteer service hours in as possible! Our mission trip coordinators poured their hearts and souls into preparing every detail to ensure that patients and volunteers were well taken care of. It was such a personable trip - crafted to fit the needs of our students, schedules, program and of course the local community. We had many candid conversations that were deep. We got to know each other better. And I loved that I could bring my 11-year-old son, Josiah. It’s not too early for him to learn about the world around us. And how we can serve in multiple capacities with the abilities and resources we do have. This trip wasn’t just a service mission abroad. It was personal growth and a cultural exchange that allowed me to feel so much closer to my Mexican brothers and sisters. I only wish it was a much longer trip. Next time!!

Any dental hygienists or dental hygiene education programs interested in future collaboration with Amazing Grace Maritime Missions, please feel free to reach out to Charlotte & Zeus Ebio who worked with our MHCC Dental Hygiene Program to make all of the arrangements for our trip. They were travel and clinic coordinator extraordinaires! They also run a “Vacation with a Purpose” program that raises funds for their nonprofit to make projects such as ours possible while vacationing in Mazatlán paradise. To learn more, visit Amazing Grace Maritime Missions or email [email protected].

JOSIAH BABIY, son of Ilya Babiy

I had a wonderful trip to Mexico. It was an amazing experience and felt so good to be on a mission trip for the first time! It was so cool to help with my dad when someone needed help. It was an unforgettable experience and it just felt so nice to help when people needed it! After I helped with setting stuff up I did not really know what to do. But then I saw some boys that were playing soccer and they looked like they wanted more kids to play with, so I thought it would also help with being a friend. It was funny because I did not understand them and they did not understand me, but we still had fun!

(Pictured from left to right: Carolina (translator from Casa Grande), Ilya Babiy, Irma Gonzalez, Magdalena Flores, Crystal Childers, Irina Tsurkan, Elona Bukmyrza, Charlotte Ebio, Josiah Babiy.)

CRYSTAL FOSTER, Senior MHCC Dental Hygiene Student

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the community of Puerto Lobos. This experience was both humbling and rewarding, as it has allowed me to witness firsthand the impact that dental care can have on those who have limited access to dental care. All of the patients I met were so incredibly thankful for our work and it was very heartwarming. Despite language barriers, the universal language of compassion and gratitude was deeply felt. Overall, my experience was life-changing and I hope to help other communities, just like we did for Puerto Lobos. I am grateful for the team I worked with, Zeus and Charlotte, the patients I met, and the lessons I learned. I look forward to continuing my efforts in making a difference through dental care.

ELONA BUKMYRZA, Senior MHCC Dental Hygiene Student

Puerto Lobos was an unforgettable experience, filled with kindness, compassion, and moments that truly changed my perspective on life. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a meaningful mission, using my skills in dental hygiene to serve those in need. Meeting the incredible people in the community, hearing their stories, and sharing smiles with them was beyond rewarding. Providing care, easing discomfort, and educating others about oral health felt like more than just a service - it was a way to spread love, hope, and the light of Christ. This experience reinforced my passion for helping others, reminding me that even the smallest act of kindness can make a lasting impact. I will forever cherish the connections made and the lessons learned, carrying them with me as I continue to serve with a heart full of gratitude.

MAGDALENA FLORE, Senior MHCC Dental Hygiene Student

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible opportunity the Lord has given me to serve my community at Puerto Lobos. I am fortunate to have dental care that I sometimes take it for granted, and the entire experience has been transformative in so many ways. Witnessing the resilience and spirit of the people living there, especially the children who brought me so much joy, was incredibly rewarding. It was an emotional journey that I will always treasure. My classmates and I are deeply grateful to the organization team for their time and dedication in making this experience possible for us to serve the community. I am committed to continuing my service to the community whenever possible.

(Pictured clockwise from lower left: Carolina, Charlotte Ebio, Irma Gonzalez, Magdalena Flores, Elona Bukmyrza, Irina Tsurkan, Crystal Childers, Ilya Babiy, Josiah Babiy. Morning huddle for Team Orientation, with the sea outside our door.)

IRINA TSURKAN, Senior MHCC Dental Hygiene Student

It was both an honor and a blessing serving the people of Puerto Lobos. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the prayers and gratitude from the people of this town was felt. The opportunity to apply my skills and knowledge to improve the well-being of others was an incredibly fulfilling experience. I will always hold dear the memories, the people and the lasting impact of this journey.

IRMA GONZALEZ, Senior MHCC Dental Hygiene Student

My dream of being able to provide dental care in Mexico is starting to come true with this mission trip. I enjoyed every moment I spent with my patients and other people in this community and getting to know them was a pleasure for me. I still remember how they smiled at me, the stories they shared with me, and I will keep this experience in my heart forever. They made me feel at home with their kindness, the warmth with which they welcomed us and the amazing food they prepared for us. This mission trip was a rewarding experience for me, and I will continue to serve my community as much as possible.  This experience reinforced my passion for serving my community and makes me feel honored to have been a part of this mission trip!!