CUW’s School of Nursing program is honored to travel alongside occupational therapy, physical therapy and pharmacy students this spring in Ensenada, Mexico.
Over the next two years, in partnership with Agua Viva Ministries, CUW’s School of Nursing will establish three clinics to provide health care and advocate for the health of individuals living in extreme poverty.
A grant of $119,800 was approved by the Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation in November 2025. The foundation has supported this mission trip since 2005. This year, however, it has extended the grant to include occupational therapy, physical therapy and pharmacy programs, providing even more Concordia students with a global service opportunity. The generosity of CUW friends and alumni plays a vital role in making mission trips and other Christ-centered outreach opportunities possible for our students.
Jill Krell, ’94, MSN ’10, DNP ’14, associate professor in the School of Nursing, has spearheaded this trip since the 2012–13 academic year. This year marks her 11th year leading the experience, but her first time working with students from four disciplines: nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and pharmacy. She is excited for students to have this opportunity, noting the importance of interprofessional education for both students and the patients they serve.
These clinical mission trips often provide the only form of health care for many who live in the area. Students, along with accompanying faculty, care for roughly 150 to 300 patients from the time clinic doors open until they close three days later.
Having included occupational therapy and physical therapy students on previous trips — and knowing the expertise they bring — Krell said it is equally important to have pharmacy students present, as medications are dispensed on-site.
“We’ve always said it would be ideal to have pharmacy students with us,” Krell said. “Their presence strengthens our care. They help evaluate medications, consult on treatment plans and coordinate with a local physician, who knows what is available locally for ongoing care.”
The communities served by Agua Viva Ministries are deeply faith-centered, typically identifying as Christian. In addition to daily devotionals, students pray with patients and offer blessings — and, in return, are blessed by the people they serve, a reminder that God is present in all situations.
“For many nursing students, this breaks down the fear of incorporating faith into practice,” Krell said. “In the U.S., they may feel they’ll offend someone or cross a line. In Mexico, people openly ask for prayer, and students see how natural the integration of faith and health can be.”
Experiential learning and serving with Agua Viva Ministries
Within a short period, students are exposed to patients with a wide range of health needs and concerns, including:
- Musculoskeletal conditions, such as muscle aches, headaches and back pain — particularly among migrant workers and farmers
- Parasitic and intestinal conditions
- Scabies
- Wound and skin conditions in homeless populations, including cellulitis and abscesses
- Pregnancy uncertainty, with pregnancy tests provided because affordable options are not readily accessible
- Newborn checkups: In more remote areas, women often deliver at home and bring newborns to the clinics for reassurance and basic exams.
Krell said the mission program stretches family nurse practitioners’ scope in a positive way. “For undergraduate students, they gain a strong sense of autonomy. One faculty member oversees them as they perform blood sugar checks, take vital signs and complete initial assessments, so they realize how much they actually know.”
Students often return from the experience with renewed confidence, saying, “I knew all this stuff!” It is an affirmation, Krell said, that classroom learning stays with them — even when students feel they have forgotten it after exams.
“I also see that ‘aha’ moment on their faces in the clinic when they realize how much they enjoy serving and how rewarding it is,” she said. “That’s one of the clearest signs the program is achieving its goals.”
A student’s global perspective
Anytime there are extra spots available for this mission trip, Krell loves to bring students with that have gone previously. “They become leaders,” she said. “When everyone looks to me, asking where we set up, it’s helpful to have students who’ve ‘lived it once’ and can help guide their peers.”
Jenna Mundt, a senior in the nursing program graduating this May, will return to Ensenada for the second time. She enjoys sharing the love of Jesus through service to others. Throughout her time at Concordia, Mundt has participated in various local service opportunities. She feels blessed to be able to return to Mexico this spring.
“Last year, I was amazed at the impact of health care ministry in Mexico,” she said. Mundt, who was part of a group that provided pop-up clinics at three locations in the area, said the people were very grateful.
“As Christians, we are called to share the Gospel and love of Christ with all people,” Mundt said. “Several times throughout the mission, we were able to pray with the people we were serving, and I was in awe of the work the Lord was doing.”
Krell said the grant is truly a blessing. “Many students come to Concordia with a servant heart and a desire to serve on mission trips, but when tuition bills pile up, paying an additional $1,200 can feel impossible. The Batterman Family Foundation removes that barrier.”
Students who go on the trip will have their travel, transportation, lodging and meals covered. They are primarily responsible for their passport, study abroad health insurance and meals on travel days.
For more information, read “Concordia Nursing Faculty Combines Love of Teaching with Service.”
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