A report from our AWA mission,
He held his hand to his jaw, his face winced in pain. He had had a cavity for a while now, and the pain was getting worse. His cousin also had two severely decayed teeth and needed help. We decided, as a team, to take them to the city to get care.
Dr. Marvey, who is on our AWA Philippine Board, is a dentist in town with a heart of gold. She was willing to extract the teeth free of charge. The patients were kids, Daverson and Rhea Jane. They eagerly showed up early at the mission house, ready to go to town. Laura gave each a Tylenol so that their pain would be less by the time we got to the clinic. Rhea Jane had never been to the city, an hour-drive away, and was both nervous and excited. At the dental office, any excitement quickly turned to fear when they saw the dental chairs and all of the equipment. They each timidly climbed into the chair when it was their turn. Rhea Jane had one tooth that was very stubborn and it took nearly an hour to get it extracted. It is too bad it was so decayed, because it sure wanted to stay in there!
Dr. Marvey
After we were done with the extractions, it was lunchtime and everyone was hungry. After finding soft food for them to eat at the mall, Laura and Raylene taught them how to ride an escalator and elevator. For the first few times, Rhea Jane was scared of the escalator and did not know what to do, so Laura and Raylene demonstrated how to conquer the moving stairs! At first, Rhea Jane would hurl herself at the stairs in a big jumping motion to get on the stairs, and did it again once we reached the top to get off. After a few rides, she got the hang of it and had fun. The elevator was also an epic event. It is made of clear glass, so it can be very eye-opening if the fastest thing you have ridden is a truck or scooter. Rhea Jane’s face lit up when the elevator started to whisk them up to the next floor. Of course, we had to take that “ride” several more times!
The children had fun walking around the mall and seeing the huge amounts of NEW clothes and toys for sale. Most people here buy clothes in dark, hot, and stuffy thrift shops jammed with clothes sent from thrift shops in the States or Canada. Only the rich can afford to buy the new clothes they sell at the mall. The happy group returned to the village later that afternoon.
Dental care here is very hard to come by, and it is why everyone appreciates it when a team comes to help. The main problem, though, is education. Our local AWA team is doing what we can to provide toothbrushes when available and provide dental care teaching. Cavities abound in a place where everyone is constantly snacking on refined food and drinking sugary drinks.
As a quick update, we would like to announce that work has begun on the access road to the mission base! We are so grateful for the long hours that the AWA office in the States has put into this, along with all the prayers and donations that made it possible. The graders have graded the road and will soon start on the runway. Now, they are hand digging the ditches for culverts, and then they will lay the rock for the culverts. Thank you again for traveling with us in your prayers in this next phase of the adventure!
The Espinosa Family
