Radical Missions April Newsletter |
Radical Missions does not employ executives or have any other payroll or administrative expenses. Our organization is run by volunteers and missionaries. All donations go to help real Guatemalans in Guatemala. We are a 501(c)3 organization registered with the IRS. Donations made to Radical Missions are tax deductible. |
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Email us to learn more about ways you can help make a real difference here, and also reduce the amount of money you need to pay the IRS for the 2024 tax year. Or, click below to make a one-time or monthly donation. Every $1 makes a huge difference!
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I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to share a heartfelt story about Marco Antonio Ortiz, a remarkable man whose legacy continues to impact lives in Guatemala through the Tocono Medical Outreach. |
My first encounter with Marco was at 15, while I was still in school. As a member of the Las Americas Rotary Club, he annually brought a medical team from the Hendersonville, TN Rotary Club to Casa Aleluya, where I
grew up. The team, consisting of dentists, pediatricians, ophthalmologists,
general practitioners, and medical family counselors, provided essential care to the children there. Years later, after my husband Tim and I married, we began working with these teams. Tim and Marco quickly bonded, collaborating to launch new programs at Casa Aleluya, including the "mechanical cow" initiative, which taught children to produce soy milk and various products from okara. Despite Marco’s encouragement, Tim couldn’t join the Rotary Club at the time due to our demanding roles at the home. |
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When we left Casa to adopt our daughter Mishell, we finally joined the Rotary Club in Antigua. During a project with a medical team from Newberry Oregon, Marco reached out to Tim with a challenge. He had brought the Hendersonville team to San Bartolome, but the new mayor, wary of COVID-19, barred the doctors from working with the townspeople. Despite our efforts to negotiate, the mayor’s decision stood. Tim devised a solution by merging the two medical teams, which offered complementary services, allowing them to serve the communities of El Hato and San Mateo effectively.
As COVID-19 restrictions tightened, travel became difficult for most groups. However, Dr. Bill Taylor, a dentist with his own plane, decided to come alone. Marco coordinated the effort, and we hosted Dr. Bill Taylor and Dr. Mike Kadera at Clinica Colfax in Chuatzunuj. Community leaders organized small groups to visit the clinic safely. Following this trip, Marco asked Tim to work directly with the Hendersonville team, a collaboration that deepened over the years. |
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Even after undergoing a kidney transplant, Marco remained dedicated to the Hendersonville team. Last year, just before their visit, our truck’s transmission failed. Despite weeks of searching, we couldn’t find a replacement—until Marco located one in just a few days. His selflessness
defined him; he always put others first, willing to give the shirt off his back. Without Marco, we wouldn’t have met the incredible people who have enriched our lives.
Tragically, Marco passed away last year due to complications from cancer, a loss felt deeply by many. In his honor, the Hendersonville team was renamed the “Tocono Medical Outreach,” a tribute to Marco Antonio, affectionately known as Tocono. Last month, this team visited San Bartolome and served over 800+ patients in four days with just six doctors—an inspiring testament to Marco’s legacy. |
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It’s an honor to celebrate Tocono’s life each year as we work together to bless the people of Guatemala. I wanted to share this story with you to highlight the profound impact one person can have and to express our gratitude for being part of this meaningful journey. |
Will you partner with us through a tax-deductible monthly gift? Your monthly support, no matter the size makes a huge difference, allowing us to plan for projects further in advance, and letting us allocate resources to the projects that have the biggest impact here in Guatemala.
As always, your prayer is much appreciated. Thank you again for your past support. Please prayerfully consider making a monthly gift of any amount using this link here:
...one life at a time |
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