Who we are
We are an ecumenical group of women and men who come together to serve in rural areas of Central America and Mexico. Our calling is to provide quality dental care and dental hygiene education at no cost to those who are in the greatest need.
Our team of volunteers during the 2019 dental mission trip to San Agustin in the Etla District of Oaxaca State
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Festival surprise Saturday evening after our day in our Mission Clinic. The party grew and grew. Fun, Food, Music and Dancing in the light rain.
VISIT OUR NEWS PAGE
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Walking on the way to San Agustin
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Dr. Toby Derloshon, DDS and Terry treating a young patient
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Volunteer and young patient girl
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Meet christ smiles dental mission
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We're a unique combination of talent, resources, love, fellowship, and compassion.
Christ Smiles Dental Mission is built on the base of 27 years of continuous success as the Peace Lutheran Church Dental Mission.
All of Christ Smiles Dental Mission Volunteers agree to a high standard of moral and ethical behavior while on mission as well as the highest professional standards in clinic. |
Christ Smiles Dental Mission Team 2017 to San Miguel del Puerto
Oaxaca, Mexico
Christ Smiles Dental Mission Team 2018 to San Miguel del Puerto, Oaxaca, Mexico
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meet some of our volunteers at christ smiles dental mission
our story - christ smiles dental mission
Christ Smiles Dental Mission, a nonprofit independent ecumenical group is an outgrowth from 28 years of successful mission service in Central America that began at Peace Lutheran Church (PLC) in Hurst, Texas.
Christ Smiles Dental Mission is the continuation of a mission commitment that began at Peace Lutheran Church (PLC).
In 1988 PLC established an International Missions Committee with a focus on mission service in the Republic of Honduras with a goal to serve those in need of dental care in rural areas of the country. Read more.
Christ Smiles Dental Mission is the continuation of a mission commitment that began at Peace Lutheran Church (PLC).
In 1988 PLC established an International Missions Committee with a focus on mission service in the Republic of Honduras with a goal to serve those in need of dental care in rural areas of the country. Read more.
Upcoming Dental Mission Trip with Christ Smiles Dental Mission
Read more about our past Christ Smiles Dental Mission trip to Mexico.
Who weServe
We go to serve those who are in the greatest need but just as Christ rejected no one who came to him in need we serve all who enter into our clinics with great love, showing dignity and respect to all who enter.
We seek to serve those who look like Christ. For those we serve, we offer the love of Christ who works through us. Ultimately we offer ourselves in service to our sisters and brothers. |
what weOffer
For our teams we offer a twofold opportunity: First to be as Christ for others, to bring love, comfort and healing to some of our neighbors in great need and at the same time we receive the gift of seeing the face of Christ in others. We also offer those who volunteer an opportunity to form a missionary community that goes beyond our individual strengths and limitations as we combine our hearts and talents together to serve in the name of Christ. |
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Our mission statement speaks about going as volunteers to serve those who are in greatest need, following where Christ leads us. Larry Harmon |
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meet some of the team members and volunteers at christ smiles dental mission
Larry Harmon
Deacon Larry Harmon with patients
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president - board of directorsHas been a team member on more than 27 short term mission trips in Honduras, Ecuador, Belize, Haiti and Mexico
Ordained as Deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Dallas in 2002; currently serving at Holy Family of Nazareth Church BFA, 1975; MFA, 1977, University of Texas, Austin Masters of Theology Studies, 2007, University of Dallas |
After wandering away far from Christ too many years, a sudden encounter began a return journey to faith as I never knew it.
I began to hear the call to serve others. With little experience in serving others, many people of faith began to teach me how to serve by their examples of service to others.
My first experience in Honduras with a short term dental mission group began with a simple invitation to “come and see”. I had no experience in the dental field but I was immediately given a place and a function to serve the team.
The sense of community and faith in the group was powerful but the gift of love given by the community we served was without measure. Over the years since that first trip, I have had an opportunity to see many others join with us and share the experience of going out to serve and then coming back home. What happens between the going out and the coming back changes us forever.
I began to hear the call to serve others. With little experience in serving others, many people of faith began to teach me how to serve by their examples of service to others.
My first experience in Honduras with a short term dental mission group began with a simple invitation to “come and see”. I had no experience in the dental field but I was immediately given a place and a function to serve the team.
The sense of community and faith in the group was powerful but the gift of love given by the community we served was without measure. Over the years since that first trip, I have had an opportunity to see many others join with us and share the experience of going out to serve and then coming back home. What happens between the going out and the coming back changes us forever.
Mary Grantges
Mary Grantges with a young patient
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treasurer - BOARD OF DIRECTORSClinic Manager for Dental Mission Trips
B.S. Business Administration - Finance, A.S. Economic Sciences Ibero-American University, Mexico City 20 years of International Business Development for IT. Currently retired |
The gift that Mary brings to the team is the love of Christ that shines through her. In word and deed Mary shares this great love freely with everyone she encounters. Mary has served on many short term dental missions and is one of the founders and prime movers of Christ Smiles Dental Missions. Mary uses her great talent, her business skills and organizational skills to help our mission effort run smoothly from the initial planning to the return home.
dustin doversberger
Dustin Doversberger
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secretary - board of directorsExpert in Mission supplies and logistics
Secretary of Christ Smiles Dental Missions |
Dustin is a great example of long term family involvement that can be a part of the desire to serve Christ through serving others in short term dental mission. Dustin’s parents, both veteran missioners, got him and his sister involved in short term mission work as a teen. Both Dustin and his wife Brittany have worked in mission and I can imagine their children following in the family footsteps when they grow.
dr. Gary Brunk dds
Dr. Gary Brunk DDS treating a young patient
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Board Member - missioner - volunteer
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Dr. Toby has brought his gifts of patience and gentleness to many children on numerous short term Dental Mission trips in Honduras, Haiti and Belize. His experience in treating difficult cases in healthy, handicapped, and medically compromised patients has helped him develop the extra patience and care when treating children with special needs. Dr. Toby has completed two residency programs for advanced training in dentistry after he graduated dental school.
dr. tom strub dds
Dr. Tom Strub DDS and assistant treating a patient
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missioner - volunteerB.S., University of Iowa, 1978
DDS, University of Iowa School of Dentistry 1981 |
I have found that short term dental mission trips have let me serve my Lord and share the talents that God has graciously bestowed on me by serving people in need in 3rd world countries. 20 years and 18 trips ago I had no idea that I would be able to help patients like one man who had only gotten two hours of sleep at night for 30 years due to dental pain and infections. To be able to reduce pain and suffering for so many people, and to be able to help young children with dental education so they may have a different and better future is such a gift. Each trip is unique because of the different locations and populations we serve and because of the different, unique missionaries I have had a chance to travel and work with. The constant with each trip is that God and the people I have served provide me with many more blessings than I can ever give back. These trips have been an opportunity for me to appreciate the blessings that I have received here at home and to grow deeper in my faith. Each trip is an incredible experience that helps me make an impact with the people I have served but just an importantly has made an unexpected and huge impact on my life.
