What do flashlights, bees, and nails have in common? For those who put the roof on the Mexico health clinic, a lot.

From Nov. 16 to 20, a team from Students for International Mission Service (SIMS) volunteered their time to set the roof on the soon-to-be health clinic near Ensenada, Mexico.

The building belongs to Iglesia Adventista de Maneadero, a Seventh-day Adventist church. Currently, SIMS provides health care in the Sabbath school rooms of the church.

“Because we don’t have a permanent and actual clinic, the health care LLU provides is limited,” says Maxine Newell, previous coordinator of SIMS Mexico trips. So for the past two years, SIMS has helped build a permanent clinic that will benefit the region’s 60 percent who cannot afford health care.

“Things went really well for a bunch of unskilled workers,” smiles Buddy Keubler, dean of Daniells Residence Complex. “However, we’re thankful for Greg Eiseman’s expertise since he used to be a roofer.”

Five key people were involved with the construction: Keubler; Lynette Bates, dean of women; Richard Wright, chef for the SIMS team; Greg Eiseman, nursing student; and Claudio Japas, public health student.

“There were thousands of bees swarming around us,” says Bates. “Over there, we can’t just buy Raid like here.” So what did they do? They tried smoking them out, sprayed bleach and cockroach repellant, but without success.

“We ended up buying some bee repellant that seemed like it was just kerosene. It gave the bees a headache—that’s about it,” explains Keubler. “By Sunday we just got used to them.”

“It was kind of funny seeing everyone work with a cloud of bees around them,” laughs Bates. All in all, three people got bee stings.

Saturday night, the team tripled in size. Participants of the monthly SIMS health clinic showed up to help. So with flashlights in one hand and a shingle in the other, SIMS accomplished enough that night to have the original five-member team complete the roof the next morning while the others held clinic.

“My goal was to get the roof on before the rains came,” explains Martine Polycarpe, M.P.H., director of SIMS. “We’re so thankful for those who came down for several days to finish it.”

“The highlight of the trip was getting to know the students in a different way,” expresses Bates. “Claudio and Greg were there the whole time and added so much fun.”

Both Bates and Keubler want to start an annual mission trip that the residence halls sponsor. “It was a good start. We had a great time, it’s a great cause, and we want to go back,” says Keubler. “The plan is to continue to go down to the clinic and continue the work.”

SIMS would like to have a lodging facility next to the clinic for the participants. “It’s fun to know that we can help the people fulfill their dreams,” shares Bates. As for the clinic, doors will open as soon as people can paint it, put the plumbing in, and, of course, remove the bees.