May 29, 2012

Our day began early with a trip to the local hospital in Quimistan.  The hospital had agreed to lend us the use of a dental room for our work among the people of Honduras.  Our focus today was on the village of Laguna del Carmen (Wilmer's Village).  The people of this remote village have had little medical care and had never seen a dentist.  We saw a total of 48 patients today.  Desperate is not an adequate word to describe the need.  This is how our patients arrived.

Panama Jack (a.k.a Andrew Fountain), Katie Bell, and Kathryn Stringer oversee the coloring operation for the children awaiting their dental appoinment.

Christy Burton, Jack Smith, Wilmer, Andrew Fountain, and Craig Aarhus hanging out in the Quimistan hospital.

 Quimistan Hospital

 Roadside music lesson.

 This is Sandra Roja's house that was built by our church during last year's trip.  Sandra is our cook while we're in town.

 Mary Adele blowing bubbles with a Honduran child.

 Children awaiting their turn to be dental patients.

 We kept the children busy with vacation bible school activities before and after their dental visits.

 Mary Elizabeth and Anna Marie...big smiles from the standouts on the dental team!!!

 Klancie "boss lady" Smith, dental office manager with Daniel, our trusty translator.

 Mary Adele Rackley and Kathryn Stringer are getting ready to give a patient her first ever dental cleaning.

 Mary Adele hard at work.  Future dentist?

 Vacation bible school leader Amy Aarhus did a fantastic job with the kids.  They had so much fun learning, coloring, singing and playing.  Today was the first day that most of these children had ever heard of Jesus!

This is probably our favorite picture of the day.  The line was literally out the door of the hospital with the children waiting for their dental appointments.

 Fear not.  This young man survived his extraction just fine!

 More kids at the hospital.

 Tanner Smith and Andrew engaged in strenous manual labor outside the hospital.

 Suyapa tried her best to teach Tanner the finer points of drinking fresh coconut milk!

 Quimistan hospital.

 This is what became of Tanner when she harrassed Wesley nonstop for three days about a loose tooth.  Tonight, the tooth fairy will be at Martha's compound.  He might not admit it, but this was his favorite patient of the day.

She was all smiles in the end, but it was touch and go for a few minutes.

Construction continued today in Santa Clara.  The footing were poured and the wire was tied for the columns.  Tomorrow they will lay blocks and build forms for the columns.  Pray for the continued success of our mission.  Your prayers are being felt and appreciated.