THE SYSTEM FINALLY WORKS!!

One of our Tio Juan girls getting ready for x-rays

One of the frustrating things we have had to put up with is getting everything up and going in the clinic. We have reached another milestone in the past couple of weeks. We were able to get the computers networking and able to view x-rays at each of the dental chairs. It will also allow us to input records and treatments into the system.

This will be a great thing when we start having visiting dentists here. Each doctor/hygienist will be able to view x-rays right at their station. We have a central location where the x-rays are taken and then they can go to each of the computer stations. It will be wonderful.

Our clinic with the computers networked

It is so fun to watch the kids react to the digital x-rays that we use. They can watch on the computer screen as we take their x-rays and they come up on the screen. They have a hard time at first believing that their teeth are on the computer.

It was fun for me the other day to be able to watch Paul and Wayne as they were working on patients and using the computers. YEAH!!!!

Paul and Wayne checking x-rays

LUNA NUEVA

Waiting for dental work

I know that there has been lots of discussion on the Twilight series phenomenon. I myself have read the series as my daughters were reading it (although honestly I cannot remember the story line or the plot details). When Sara and Alissa were here they bought pirated copies of the latest movie on the streets of Guatemala City. And believe it or not, they were actually good copies of the movie.

Last week I noticed a couple of our dental patients in the waiting room reading. As I looked closer at the book.....I realized that he was reading NEW MOON. I asked him about it, and he said that it was a great book. He even turned off the movies that were on so that he could concentrate on the book.



Who knew?? Twilight is indeed a force in the entire world!!

Missionaries in the Clinic....Three Stories

This past week we saw 22 missionaries in the clinic. It was a great week. We were able to take care of 13 that are currently at the CCM and are going to their missions next Tuesday. A funny thing did happen however. One of the hermanas who we had come got there and Wayne looked at her teeth. He said to me...."I don't see anything that needs to be done." I went over, researched, and realized that I had marked her companion to have her work done, but wrote down the other missionary's name. She was so excited that she didn't need any work....and we saw her companion the next day.

So excited that she didn't need any work.....

but her companion came the next day!!

We had three Elders come from the CCM who were adorable. They all wanted to brush their teeth before Elder "T" checked them. We got a photo of them brushing their teeth at the sinks. A couple of them had received limited care before their mission. This clinic is going to be such a blessing to the Church and these missionaries.

Brushing their teeth before their appointments

We also had a great surprise. Elder Fisher came to check and see if he had any problems. He is serving in the Guatemala City Central Mission with President and Hermana Baldwin. (also from Chandler) He just wanted to be sure...thought that he had a cavity. After checking and realizing that all was well, he and Wayne got talking. SMALL WORLD!!! He is from Chandler, AZ and is best friends with BRETT RIGGS (Rusty's nephew). Brett has just left for his mission in Dallas Spanish speaking. He is an adopted member of the Riggs clan and even worked for our son-in-law Rusty last year. We had a great visit with him. Wayne showed him family pictures....and he said...Uncle Rusty....we love meeting these missionaries.

Elder Fisher and Elder Tomkinson
our Chandler, AZ missionary

PERLA IN THE DENTAL CHAIR

Perla after her treatment

Today we had the great opportunity to have Perla Perdomo in the dental clinic. We were especially happy because today marked the end of TWO FULL WEEKS of nonstop dentistry. We worked on lots of future missionaries and completed the work for many of them. We are doing lots of wisdom teeth...which Wayne loves and I am learning how to assist for.

Perla before the shots started

Perla was adorable. She is the young girl (11 years old) in our ward that we went to her house and she showed me her High School Musical stuff. She literally bounced into the clinic and into the dental chair. When it came time to get the shot....she was completely different!! She made so many noises that we just started laughing!! But we got through her three fillings just fine...and she bounced back out of the clinic when she was finished.

Figuring out where her tongue went

During her treatment I felt a little hand on my shoulder and looked over to find another young girl there. We saw her when we first arrived in Honduras and she was in the clinic today because her mother needed some work. She just pushed her nose in and watched Perla's procedures...it was adorable. Kids just love to learn things about their bodies!!

With our second assistant

We cannot stress enough how excited we are about having two uninterrupted weeks of service in the dental clinic. The suction was working, we had most of the materials we needed, we were able to work into the afternoon....just a great two weeks!!! Hope that I haven't jinxed that by celebrating!!

"POUTY" ELDER TOMKINSON

Elder Tomkinson when the power went off!!

Yesterday we were finally able to get back into the dental clinic!! We scheduled only two missionaries trying to make sure that things would go smoothly and we wouldn't have to leave unexpectedly (the teachers are still on strike)....but ended up seeing three missionaries!!

Thumbs up...ready to go...from Elder Mejia

We picked up Elder Mejia (one of our Assistants) who is going home next week. He has had trouble with a tooth trying to abcess and needed a root canal. We got him to the clinic, set everything up (which in itself is a production) and Wayne was just getting ready to start his procedure when:

THE ELECTRICITY WENT OFF!!!!

The look on Wayne's face was priceless. I just looked at him and started laughing...I felt kindof bad, but it was so hysterical. He had this pouty little boy face...what else can go wrong sort of expression. Luckily the power was off for about 5 minutes and we were able to finish Elder Mejia, Elder Arriola and Elder Chaverria.....it was a good day.

When he realized that I wasn't going to stop laughing!!

WELCOME TO MY...UMMMM....CLINIC?

Dr Wayne explaining what was happening to Hermana Medal

Wayne claims that he can do dentistry just about anywhere and that he can adjust to the lack of ideal conditions. This week he got to prove that claim. We are currently not in the dental school because of vacation. He has had to turn our mission office into a dental clinic.

Setting up the dental supplies on our desk

He actually had two hermanas this week lose fillings. Hermana Ramirez came in from Comayagua about 2 hours away on the bus. He was able to put in a temporary filling. Hermana Medal is here in town and just came over to the office to check on a tooth that was bothering her.

Working on Hermana Ramirez

Hermana Ramirez and her companion Hermana Barrios

Look at her hand grasped to the chair....it doesn't matter the kind of dental clinic!!

I especially love the photo of him doing dental work in a suit. We were having a Zone Leaders Conference when the hermanas came by. Never thought I would see that picture!!

THANKS GORDON CHRISTENSEN

Anyone in the dental field knows the name Gordon Christensen. Wayne explains it like this:

"When I say the name Elvis..you know exactly who I am talking about. Well...in dentistry when I say the name Gordon....you know exactly who I am talking about."

Dr. Christensen was kind enough to send some of his instructional tapes on dentistry with us to Honduras. Wayne was able to do some teaching this past week with the students in our Clinic using one of these tapes. The students LOVED it...and so did Maestro Tomkinson. We are hoping to make this a regular segment during the week.


THANKS DR. CHRISTENSEN!!!

Texting 101

Four Future Missionaries from Juticalpa

Friday we had 4 future missionaries come in from Juticalpa to have all their treatment done for their missions. Three of them needed fillings, all needed cleanings, and 2 needed wisdom teeth out. It was a long morning.

We were doing two lower wisdom teeth on one of the future Elders when I realized that he was texting through the entire procedure. Now, I know that texting is important and that you need to stay in contact with those people that are important to you. My own children can do it with their eyes closed. But I wasn't sure that during third molar extractions was the time to do it. He was even taking pictures of his procedure.....keeping everyone posted on how it was going.

Texting 101

I asked Wayne about it...and he said that it didn't bother him.....as long as it was distracting the missionary from the procedure...Now I think that we have seen it all!!!

The four of them were wonderful Young Adults. We enjoyed our visit with them...and their Spirit. Can't wait to hear where they will be serving....

DIA DEL PADRE

Father of the Day at the Dental Clinic
With Christy, Anna, Ivi, Michelle, Nadia and Sonia

This last Thursday was Dia Del Padre (Father's Day) here in Honduras. The students at the clinic decided to surprise Elder Tomkinson and throw him a Dia Del Padre fiesta. They brought unbelievable food, gifts and just sweet smiles. We spent the first hour of the day feasting and endulging in chocolate cake.

It is so wonderful to be able to work with such great people. These students (and Dra Michelle) have made our welcome here in Honduras so easy and smooth. They brighten up each and every day that we have in the clinic.

Opening a gift from Sonia
It says SOY CUTRAGNO (the slang name for Hondurean)

Here are a few pictures from Wayne's unexpected Father's Day:

With Vicki (she was gone when the group picture was taken)

Amazing food for breakfast

A POOR WAYFARING MAN OF GRIEF

Elders Tomkinson, Quej, Medrano, Perez and Roca

Have you ever had something happen that was just soooo funny at the time? Today we were really busy in the dental clinic. We had about 6 missionaries come for different things...which with their companions can get pretty crowded and busy throughout the morning.

Near the end of the day we were down to the last two missionaries. Elder Quej was having his going home exam and Elder Roca was getting ready to have a wisdom tooth removed. Wayne was working on Elder Quej cleaning his teeth and doing a restoration. Elder Roca was in the next chair getting numb and talking to the other two missionaries..preparing for his extraction. I was doing paper work, etc....

When all of a sudden I hear the song "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief"....and I realize that it is coming from Elder Perez who is singing to Elder Roca. I start to laugh, realizing that he is singing this to the missionary that is getting ready to have an extraction. I just could not stop laughing. Wayne had to stop his procedure and find out what was going on. He said that I needed to take a video of this experience. I explain to the missionaries that this is the song that John Taylor sang to the Prophet Joseph just before he was martyred. They realize it, and then we all start to laugh.

Elder Perez is the elder that we met during our first week here. We did a blog about him (see July 22, 2008) and his wonderful testimony. He continues to amaze us. If you listen to the video closely you can hear Wayne's drill in the background. It blends nicely with the music and the traffic from outside.

Here is the Honduras Dental Clinic rendition of "Un pobre forastero" sung by Elders Medrano and Perez. ENJOY!

DRILLIN' AND FILLIN'......AGAIN!!

Elder Tomkinson and the future Elder Mendez

After his 3rd molar extractions

We are so glad that vacation is finally over. The university had seven weeks of Christmas vacation and our dental clinic was closed the entire time. We are ready to start catching up on all the future missionaries we have scheduled to do work on. Word is getting out to the Stakes about our mission, and we are getting more and more young men and women calling us as they prepare to send in their papers. We also enjoy seeing the missionaries from the Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela missions.

During Andres' surgery

One of the very first future missionaries that we saw was Andres Mendez. He has received his call and will be reporting to El Salvador. This past week Wayne took out his two lower wisdom teeth. He came by himself, so after we were all done we took him home. His dad is the Bishop in one of the wards in the Lempira Stake. He is going to be a great missionary.

Taking Andres home and talking to his grandmother

One of our interesting cases was a missionary that had broken his front tooth off (crown) over the Christmas break. Elder Beard was our first priority when we got back...there is something about having a front tooth missing...just doesn't work... especially when you are trying to contact people. The smile is a little off. We weren't sure who was more excited about the outcome..Elder Beard or his mom at home. He sent pictures for his p-day letter.

Elder Beard's BEFORE

AFTER

All of the missionaries take pictures of their dental work as they sit in the chair. Companions take pictures of them receiving injections. It is quite comical....everyone wants a pictures of their dental procedures for their scrapbooks. It is a badge of honor that you have been in Elder Tomkinson's chair.

Hermana T and Hermana Mejia
She was going home to Guatemala

We love taking care of the missionaries who are getting ready to go home. Wayne wants to make sure that they go home not needing any dental work for the next couple of years. We consider them to be the future leaders of the Church in Central America. And we know that the Gringos who go back to the States we might actually see again. We don't want them having problems.

Hermana Mejia, Elder Tomkinson and Hermana Havea
All she could say was how "alto" (tall) he is!

Elder Pomaleque, Elder Paramo and Elder T
Elder Paramo's going home exam

We love being able to share Wayne's dental knowledge here. The people are so appreciative of it. Many of the future missionaries would not be as able to go on their missions without this service.