Do I Look Happy?

Tuesday.  A day in the dental clinic.  After a hectic day in the clinic yesterday, today was much calmer as the children had other “engagements.”  That being said, the Lord was in total control as He knew the procedures we would ultimately face in the afternoon with the need to pack up the clinic as we move on tomorrow.

I would be totally remiss if I wasn’t honest and admitted that I was a bit apprehensive about the lack of dental experience on the team going in to work in schools with children aged 4 to 14.  However, to my total surprise and delight, both days have gone off without a hitch, and not without challenges that would task the most experienced of teams.  Sure, I would love to think and profess that my experience and outstanding leadership was responsible, but it is further testimony to our Lord that “less is more”.   We treated young children, teenagers, behavior management cases, children with fears and tears, and even had a “local” mother sneak in with a wisdom tooth needing removed!  Of course I said I would try (even though I only work on children in my practice), and with God’s grace, it came out in one piece.  I have never been prouder than to have served with our group.  Yes, we touched many teeth, but we touched many, many hearts on many, many children, and no child left the clinic without knowing that we loved them, that Jesus loved them, and that God had a plan for them.  In other words, THEY WERE SPECIAL, and they knew it.

The day ended unfortunately with a little boy with such bad teeth, and with so much infection, that getting adequate anesthesia was almost impossible.  As we removed the 4 diseased teeth, he screamed and screamed and screamed, but sat perfectly still for the very difficult extractions, and I learned later at the team meeting, when I was saying how badly I felt that I had hurt this child, another team member spoke up saying there was not a dry eye among the dental staff, and they knew what it was doing to me as I did what I had to do.

Did I mention how great this dental team is this year?

-Dr. John Pfefferle

The Children Light up our Day by Jaime Kivett

When we pulled into La Limonada today, children greeted us and walked up to the school with us, hand in hand.  The scene outside of Limon School was amazing, children filled with the spirit and love of Christ.

Their eyes as big as quarters, filled with love, grip onto our legs, tackling us, hungry for the love we have to offer.  Many of the children had been through the dental clinic on Monday and smiled pointing to their mouths.  Most of us started our day by serving the children breakfast accompanied by playful interactions, hugs, brushing teeth, shoulder rides (with almost all of the men) and I had a special secret serenade by an extra special nina (little girl) of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

The Dental Clinic was pumping with Christian music and small groups of children.  I tried to keep the kids busy with games-Bubble Gum Bubble Gum in a Dish (Boca Boca in a dish), Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky and teaching them a camp chant Boom Your Dynamite! while some of the children were getting their teeth extracted. One little guy was so nervous that he snuck out and ran home, his mother ended up bringing him back to the clinic and he ended up doing so well.  We told him he was mucho fuerte (very strong) and brave!  God was working in and through us the entire day because the children were amazingly patient and calm.  The Dental Team rocked and we fulfilled our mission with heavy hearts and tears for the day.

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