So, Nate just got back from his annual trip to Guatemala. {Except for last year due to a little colon problem} It is always such a great experience for him to go and serve the people there. It is really humbling to see the way that they live...their courage, work ethic, and dedication to their families. They don't have running water or electricity, and most don't have the means to ever visit a dentist in their lives. The Guatemalans flock to the plaza or school, or wherever it is that the dental equipment is set up, to have someone take care of the pain they feel in their mouths. They see people on a first come, first serve basis, and often do not have the time to see everyone that has a need, although they work as fast as they can, often pulling teeth because that is the quickest way to alleviate the pain and see as many people as possible. {Children and women first} There is always one dentist in each group that does restorative work for those who need it. Nate got to do more of that this year. This is one man he worked on.
They put sugar cane between their front teeth and suck on it, causing awful decay. This man wanted Nate to leave a gap between his teeth so that he still had a place to put his stuff. Nate said, "No more gap, and no more stuff..." This man was so happy with what Nate did that he couldn't stop smiling.
This year Nate's cousin, Luke, went with him to assist. Luke is hoping to go to dental school in the next couple of years, and this was a good opportunity to have some dental experience, and to set him apart from the thousands of other applicants who try to get into dental school.
Every year, Nate goes down with the Hirsche Smiles Foundation. They split up every day and send 3 teams to different remote areas outside of Chiquimula. Nate's team this year consisted of Dave and Angie {friends from dental school}, Bryce {friend from here} and his hygienist, Lacey, Nate and Luke, Jose {pre-dental student from UVU}, and camera-man {forgot his name} who was filming a documentary on the trip. Here they are in one of the villages with the children they treated.
This is how they get around down there. They put the equipment in the back of the truck and then they all pile in for the ride...it can be up to 2 hours each way. Nate drove quite a bit this year. Mission friends: I'm sure you can only imagine.
This is a girl who had similar front teeth issues. She was very happy with her smile. Isn't she beautiful?
Nate had to pull ten teeth on this little girl. She still liked him afterward. How can you not like Nate?
Nate said last night, as he crashed at about 8:30, that the trip is exhausting...physically and mentally. It's just a lot of work, really fast. Obviously, Luke must have felt the same. He fell asleep while there was a patient in the chair.
Culturally, gratitude is a little different among the mountain dwelling Guatemalans. Except for a few, they generally do not say thank you, but go about their business when the procedure is through. One village they visited was very different. They cooked up a bird and served Nate and his company a meal to show their gratitude for being there and helping them. The men in this photo took down these old musical instruments and played some beautiful music for them. Nate said it reminded him of the poem, The Touch of the Master's Hand.
Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar - now who"ll make it two
Two dollars, and who"ll make it three?
Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three". . . but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody,pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bidden for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow;
"A thousand dollars - and who'll make it two?
Two thousand - and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice
And going - and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand -
What changed its worth?"
The man replied:
"The touch of the masters hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He's going once, and going twice -
He's going - and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.
~Myra B. Welch
This picture is priceless. Clearly, her work tires her out.
There are such beautiful people there. This is only a fraction of what I'm sure Nate has to tell, but it's some of what he told me...so here it is, second hand. If any of it is inaccurate, I'll be back to edit, and maybe I'll add some more, so check back.
