VISTA Missions primarily concentrates it efforts in two areas, Dental and Vision care, to underserved communities primarily in Latin America. The organization directly sponsors 2-3 short-term trips per year and provides ongoing assistance to other teams doing similar ministry. Our Vision and Dental Clinic teams work with local foreign host churches to offer free vision exams, fit people with eye-glasses and provide free dental care in their communities. Trips typically last 1-2 weeks and are conducted solely at the invitation of a host church in the community to be served.
Eye-care and dental professionals are assisted by U.S. volunteers trained to work in specific clinic areas. Team preparation also includes cross-cultural adaptation, effective teamwork training and personal spiritual growth development. Team leaders have many years of experience in short-term missions.
Trips are primarily funded by the contributions of the participants, however donations help with the purchase of equipment, dental supplies and scholarship assistance.
| What VISTA Does | ||
| Vision • Training of local volunteers to assist in vision clinics • Cultural adaptation training • Collects, cleans and sorts used glasses for upcoming clinics • Provides free eye exams and glasses to underserved communities – single vision glasses – multifocal glasses(bifocal/trifocal) – reading glasses | Dental• Training of local volunteers to assist in dental clinics • Cultural adaptation training • Provides high quality free dental care to underserved communities – services include: • emergency procedures • fillings • extractions – oral surgery • cleaning / hygiene instruction | |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I join a Vista Missions Team?
Contact our team and share your interest in volunteering with us. We’ll walk you through the process and determine with you if and when a team experience is right for you.
Is there anything I can do without going along?
Yes! Please be in prayer for us. Praying team members are just as important as traveling members.
Do you need eye-care and dental professionals?
This is an important and on-going need. Please spread the word! Our professional team members have found this a very satisfying and interesting way to use the gifts God has given them.
I don’t think I have any skills to help, is there any thing I can do on a team?
Yes, as a matter of fact we have many tasks that we can teach to volunteers with a willing heart.
Do I have to speak another language in order to go?
We always have at the very least a few team members who can speak the language of the country where we will be serving. There are also quite often resident translators to help us out.