Above: Long-serving Salud y Paz dentist Dr. Luis performing yearly dental checkups for preschool students.
Below: Dr. Marco Yancor and Dr. Rachael Creisher increasing the impact of our dental program.
Consistent dental care is helping create healthier smiles and stronger long-term habits for students at Colegio Susanna Wesley. Through annual evaluations, treatments, and preventive education, we continue to gain a clearer understanding of both the ongoing needs of our students and the progress being made over time.
Dental evaluations over the past several years show that oral health needs remain significant. Many students continue to require treatments for cavities, reflecting the challenges families face in accessing consistent dental services within their communities.
Important progress is taking place:
Steady increase in preventive treatments reflects emphasis on prevention and early intervention. The number of sealants provided has continued to rise each year, growing from 35 in 2023 to 83 in 2026.
Extractions have remained below the levels seen in 2023. This indicates that earlier care and preventive measures are contributing to a reduction in the need for more severe dental procedures over time.
Trends show meaningful improvement in fillings compared to previous years. These changes reflect improved access to treatment, earlier detection, and continued follow-up care for students.
These trends remind us that lasting change is achieved through consistent care. This progress is possible because dental care at Colegio Susanna Wesley goes beyond a single visit. Through regular evaluations, preventive procedures, hygiene education, and ongoing encouragement for healthy habits at home, students and families are receiving tools that support long-term oral health.
There are many meaningful ways to support the mission of Salud y Paz, and for donors age 70½ and older, one of the most impactful and tax-efficient options is through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
A QCD allows you to give directly from your IRA to a qualified nonprofit organization like Salud y Paz. Because the gift is transferred directly from your retirement account, it is not counted as taxable income. For many donors, this can help reduce taxes while supporting causes they care deeply about.
Qualified Charitable Distributions can also count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), allowing you to fulfill annual IRA withdrawal requirements without increasing your taxable income.
Making a QCD is simple. Contact your IRA custodian—such as Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, or your local financial institution—and request a Qualified Charitable Distribution to Salud y Paz. The transfer must be made directly from your IRA to the organization in order to qualify.
Information for Your IRA Distribution
Legal Name: International Hands in Service EIN: 75-2825471 Mailing Address: PMB 67022 · 21750 Hardy Oak Blvd Ste 104, San Antonio, TX 78258-4946
If you plan to make a gift through your IRA, we would be grateful to hear from you so we can properly acknowledge your generosity and ensure your gift is directed as intended.
For questions or assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
As we reach the halfway point of 2026, we are grateful for the teams that have traveled to Guatemala to serve alongside our staff and partner communities.
We are honored to share the numbers reflecting their impact thus far:
859 medical consultations
424 dental consultations
321 vision consultations
Each number represents a person who received care, support, and encouragement—many of whom would otherwise face significant barriers to accessing these services.
See it yourself! Joseph Uduoj, a talented videographer and member from the Fort Smith First United Methodist Church team, created a documentary highlighting the work and experience that teams live during their service week in Guatemala.
We are deeply thankful for every volunteer, leader, interpreter, and supporter who has been part of this season so far. We look forward to the upcoming teams scheduled for this year to continue building on the work already accomplished.
Our parents’ community participating in the positive discipline workshop held at Colegio Susanna Wesley
Supporting children’s growth goes beyond the classroom. Colegio Susanna Wesley continues investing in both families and educators by helping create healthier learning environments where children can grow academically, emotionally, and socially.
Our parents’ community participated in workshops focused on early childhood emotional development, positive discipline, and prevention and well-being. These sessions provided practical tools to help parents strengthen emotional security, healthy communication, and respectful guidance within the home.
At the same time, teachers participated in trainings designed to strengthen both professional and personal growth. Workshops on emotional management and assertive communication focused on building skills in stress management, empathy, conflict resolution, and healthy workplace relationships.
In addition, educators participated in a diploma program in Didactic English Teaching, where they developed innovative teaching strategies, classroom planning skills, and new educational tools to support active student participation and strengthen language learning.
These opportunities reflect our commitment to holistic education—one that supports not only students, but also the families and educators who walk alongside them each day. By investing in emotional well-being, communication, and professional development, we continue building stronger foundations for learning and long-term community impact.
L to R: Board Members Wayne Wiley, Elizabeth Belvin, Sara Barker, Frank Andersen, Doug Smith and Larry Hjalmarson met with Executive Director Laura Shearer in Utah earlier this month. Board Members Linda Brewster and Marvic Salminen-Morillo joined the meeting virtually.
The Salud y Paz board met in Park City, Utah during May 5-8. Our agenda focused on finances, fundraising, board training, the new clinic, and repurposing the old clinic – all important issues. Our increasingly diverse board members all have great energy and commitment. I could speak about these things, but I would rather speak about where we have come from during the last 25 years, and our dreams for the next 25 years, the vision of thriving, healthy Mayan communities. Salud y Paz has many strengths but maybe community is the most important – the board, staff, patients, students, parents, the Bomberos, the Cocode, the Methodist Church of Guatemala, construction contractors, volunteer teams and donors, all those who make up our extended community. If we listen with our hearts, we might also hear the whispers of our ancestors, the Mayans themselves and Phil Plunk, encouraging us to stay the course, to build relationships and to love each other with actions and words. Our community is spiritual as much as physical. That is our strength. Thank you for being part of this community, for praying, participating and supporting. Please join us for the 25 year celebration in November!
In 2026, Salud y Paz celebrates 25 years of service in Guatemala—a journey made possible by the vision and dedication of our founder, Dr. Phillip Lester Plunk. His legacy continues to guide our mission: promoting integrated health, healing, and education with Mayan communities by expanding access to healthcare and early childhood education.
We invite you to join us November 7–11, 2026 for our 25th Anniversary Gathering in Guatemala. This special celebration will include opportunities to experience our work firsthand, connect with community partners, and honor Dr. Phil’s lasting legacy through meaningful activities, including a graduation ceremony, clinic visit, and cultural experiences.
The cost of the trip is $1,100 plus airfare. By joining us, you are celebrating our past and becoming part of our future.
You can view the full itinerary and trip details on our website.
