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Who isn’t just a bit leary of the dentist appointment on your calendar? Things come up…it can always be rescheduled. Because sometimes the trip the dentist is going to hurt…a little or a lot.  Even knowing it will all be better in the end doesn’t really help that much when you’re facing a tooth being pulled, a cavity getting filled or just some random drilling!

I spent today at the dental clinic. Robin’s ministry as a dentist (he is our team member from Columbia United Methodist Church) was amazing to witness.  Jeanne assisted him with great ease, obviously enjoying her “once a year” role as a dental assistant.  We  treated  35 patients today…pulled over 50 teeth and filled 12 cavities or so.  Kids lined up from early morning until late afternoon…brave…strong…and then screaming.  We held their hands and prayed for their courage. We sang in the waiting room and I learned more spanish.  We met many amazing children.

The man who is at the clinic each day, Angel, worked the front desk with mucho hospitality. We would take the patients back in fours. Numb them up, set them in the waiting room, then one by one they would come into the chair for whatever was needed.

The people here need dental care very badly, as you might imagine.  Getting teeth pulled is one of their approaches to dental care, while ours would be more about prevention.  The courage displayed by the kids….immeasurable.

 

 

 

 

Construction continued through a hot day and VBS was loved by the 6 year olds…again, well over 100. Tomorrow we will have teenagers and I am so excited to be thinking of them tonight. Chester has assisted me in understanding the struggles of the Latin American teen….much of the same as ours, but also cultural things we do not have to deal with because of the development, freedom and privileges we enjoy as Americans.  I am learning so much each day that humbles me, blesses me and adds more joy to my spirit. Sometimes, I wonder how many amazing things one person can experience in a day. Today, at this late hour (given a long day) it seems like 100’s.  God is faithful.  Prayers are being answered.  Including discovery of how to get some clothes washed tomorrow!

And Mom, thank you for being a caring, spiritual and amazing dental hygienist. I knew it was important for God’s healing touch on many mouths, but today I have a whole new perspective of the HUGE opportunity for ministry when you meet someone in need, pain and fear. 

For All, say “thank you” for the gifts of your dentist and his/her caring assistants. Go to your hygienist and take care of your mouths…for out of these mouths can come the blessings of God!

Every day has its own expression of God’s blessings and were we each to ask one another, each of us would have a different moment to celebrate. At the dental clinic yesterday it would have been the joy of 31 patients who received dental care.  That included 53 extractions and 8 fillings! Yikes! The dental clinic rocked the house!

Today we entered the classrooms and were given an opportunity our team has never been given:  permission to do VBS

Hard work!

for 6 days, about 120 children/day AND a special request to teach about the faith.  The children were highlights of this day as they sang, learned a prayer and were given Romans 10:9 as a verse to hold.  Sarah’s amazing creative gifts delighted the children as the story of the Lost Sheep from the gospel of Matthew came to life. 

 

The trusses went up and the construction team worked so hard today in very hot conditions.  A lot holding, waiting, and placing of the framework so the roof can happen.  We have great workers on our team in every respect…willing souls whether drilling or singing with hand motions (Sarah is leading, remember) and joyful all the way.  Thomas fed us well tonight and survived a market fight breakout between two women. He wasn’t sure what it was about but it evolved into flying vegetables and fruits so Aldofo said, “time to go!”  All in a days work….right?

Please continue to pray that we will be faithful to the opportunities the Lord is giving us here. Pray for safety, health and teachable spirits…ours as much as every child and adult of Guatemala we meet.  We are humbled and blessed to be here.  We are receiving messages of prayer on facebook and here.  We can’t thank you enough.  There is very little time to type and do pictures so but your messages mean a lot and we appreciate them!  All is well.

So proud of their craft which displayed the Good Shepherd finding his sheep

We had a great day.  Sarah McGinley had us practicing music early in the day so we could sing for the congregation this afternoon.  Calvin, Russell, Woody and Howard took leading roles and we prepared “Deep, Deep oh Deep Deep Down” in Spanish and English.

Worship was wonderful.  This church was built by the VIM (Volunteers in Mission) team several years ago. A parsonage was added a bit later and a school just across the street.  The church is beautiful and filled with children. 

Pastor Manuel was delighted to see us and greeted the former team with hugs, gifts and even a few tears.  Some of our team members have been coming here for years so today was a reunion for them. Children have grown up, teenagers have become young adults and everyone remembers the team by name..Howard, Jeanne, Sarah, B.J., John, Robin….and on and on.  

Manuel preached on II Timothy 4:6-8 with this core message being about living a testimony of Christ that will last forever.  We sang many songs with the congregation and then sang for them.  After the sermon, group after group came before the church, said a few words and then performed a song. It was a beautiful expression and reminded me of the part of worship at 61st Ave UMC when Pastor Paul asks if anyone wants to share anything in response to the message. Those responses are ususally spoken words. Here…those responses are songs. 

The children….Josephena, Lethticia, Carrdero, Cyndee…too many names to mention. Diane Little danced and ran with the girls…so fun! 

We walked across the street and looked at the school this team built in 2004. It looked fantastic.  School rooms equipped with typewriters, computers, sectional tables and a brick oven in their kitchen.

Lunches have been made for tomorrow. Breakfast at 6am, leave out at 7:30am.  We have two roofs to put on this week and vacation bible school for hundreds of children.  We’ll see how it all sorts out by day’s end.  For now – we’re tired and ready for sleep. Peaceful and thankful.