CLINIC WEEK

A typical tooth needing to be extracted
Typical for missionaries that have not had their dental
work completed before they come on their mission

One of the fun things about having our friends come to visit us in Guatemala is the opportunity to work in the dental clinic. Mark and Debra were great sports about it and we spent three full days in the clinic working on missionaries. Wayne and I had gone the week before to the CCM and had previewed the 102 (!!!) new Latino missionaries that had reported for their missions. It is the largest group that they have had in awhile. Out of these missionaries we had about 18 that needed dental work. We scheduled them for the time that Mark could help us out in the clinic.

Mark and Debra Blaisdell in the dental clinic

What is amazing about these missionaries is that many of them have never had dental work...have probably never had anything put into their mouths to check their teeth. Many times the filling that we diagnose at the CCM turns out to be a root canal when we get them in the chair and take x-rays. We had several of those last week......which just added time onto their visits. One particular missionary was from Honduras. His name was Elder Zelaya. We did about 8 fillings on him as well as 4 extractions. He was a trooper and it was apparent that he had never been to a dentist. He was extremely nervous and didn't quite know what to do with blood in his mouth.

After working on Elder Zelaya Wayne got "the rest of the story" from President Steimle. (The Steimles are the new President of the CCM...wonderful couple from California). It seems in his entrance interview with President that he told about getting ready for his mission. Elder Zelaya's entire ward helped him to accumulate the clothing that he needs for the mission. It took them TWO years to be able to help him. One of the sisters in his ward HAND-STITCHED his suit. We were so humbled after realizing that we were able to work on this servant of our Heavenly Father. What an example to all of us. How many of us whine because we don't have our favorite white shirt? We have really thought alot about Elder Zelaya.

With one day of CCM missionaries
Elder Zelaya is in the front in the white shirt

Another great moment for me was watching the missionaries who were waiting for the others to finish. On their own they put their chairs in a circle and were busy studying and discussing things. It was adorable!! They are so young and ready to serve. They will be fantastic missionaries....and great leaders when they return home.

I love to see missionaries studying!!

During the week we were able to help a young man get his papers ready to submit for his mission. Brother Guran and his father were at the clinic when the missionaries from the CCM came to get their work done one day. Turns out that one of the missionaries was the perspective missionary's cousin!! So we had the future missionary, his dad, and his cousin all there at the same time. It was really fun.

Elder Guran (in the middle) with his cousin and uncle

We had an exhausting week...so much so that Mark, Debra, Wayne and I were perfectly content to spend their last day just hanging out...and not touring!! You know we are tired when that happens. THANKS BLAISDELLS!!!