November, 2011 Mission Trip

This mission is a Special Dental mission to the children of Gris-Gris. All the children in St. Rose of Lima School as well as the teachers are getting free dental checkups and care. The children will be checked on whenever the dental missions return.  A database tracking the children and teachers is in progress to help the children maintain healthy teeth into adulthood. You will notice some of the notes from George Kohler make references to the state of dental health of the children. 

Update on Thursday, November 10, 2011

Hi again, All
 
With only two clinical days left on this mission, the dental team was feeling some time pressure at the start of the morning to finish up all of the Ste. Rose school children and teachers by the end of the week. We started the week with children in the youngest grades, so as we now work throught the older students we find that they tend to need more care.  It didn't take long at the start of clinic this morning for the team to get the innovative juices going, rethink the patient flow and tweek it a bit to increase the clinic productivity.
 
Almost all of the children and most of the teachers have never before been examined or treated by a dentist.  I am certain that their first clinic experience can be a bit surreal, given the high activity level of the clinical team, the noise of the compressor and the unknown about the treatment they are about to receive.  Stepping up the pace of the clinic could increase these patients' anxiety.
 
But even with this change of pace and the other pressures of their clinical work, the team still makes sure that each patient they treat feels welcome.  Besides given preventive dental care, they are also treated with a large dose of caring reassurance to help put them at ease.  Before they leave the clinic, the children are rewarded with a couple of little prizes.  They all leave with bigger, brighter smiles.
 
Two boys treated at the clinic this afternoon were wearing very badly worn shoes.  The older boy's shoes were seperating at the toes and the younger one's shoes had holes in the soles at least as big as quarters.  I walked them both to the rectory where the last of the the shoes we brought are being kept.  Fr. Samson saw the condition of their shoes and immediately agreed that they needed new shoes.  I was able to find a new pair of shoes for each of them and they were very pleased to get them.
 
Please continue to keep us all in your prayers.
 
George
 
PS - For those keeping tally, the team has treated a total of 239 through today.

Greetings again to you all from Gris-Gris.  Wednesday, November 9
 
We were blessed again with another very beautiful day.  With today's dental clinic, we have passed the halfway point in our clinical time here in Gris-Gris.  There is a part of me that feels like I just got here and another part that's sure it's already been a full week. We are all having very full days and this one was no different. Today had a very productive clinic, treating 53 children and three more teachers.  The total number of patients treated through today is now 178.
 
After so many past dental missions by our dentists doing nothing but extractions, this mission of preventive dental care is a very special and satisfying change for them.  After 13 years of dental missions to our Ste Rose parish, this one is the first of its kind and establishes a foundation for the future. Our sister parish is very blessed to have these three skilled dentists and the other clinic staff to give so generously of their professional time on this and so many past dental missions.
 
Today was also very special for another reason.  About 40 of the Ste Rose school children came to the church after classes today to each receive a new pair of shoes.  Many of them needed them since they had holes in the shoes they were wearing. They all expressed their thanks for the shoes.  Their smiles did not need a translater.
 
We all all doing well and hope everyone back home is doing the same.  Keep the prayer coming for this mission and our safe trip home.
 

Update on Monday, November 8, 2011

Hi All,
 
We have been experiencing a very slow or sparatic internet connection since we arrived in Gris-Gris, problems with the Hughes satelite link and some weather related issues. I would love to sent some pictures but it's hard enough to get emails out right now.  Following is some information to share with our Risen Savior family.
 
We started the first day of the dental clinic today at the Ste Rose school with a visit to each classroom of students. Ste Louis, our interepreter and former school teacher, did an excellent job engaging the children and explaining what we would be doing for them when they each visit the dental clinic this week. Then the dental team handed out a toothbrush and toothpaste to each of the children and the school staff.
 
The clinic got started about 9am and was a very busy place, treating over 50 children from Ste Rose school and three of the teaching staff.  Unfortunately we found about 3/4ths of the students with sigificant decay and two of those children with rampant decay. The students were treated with lots of flouride. Over the course of the week we will see all of the teachers and treat all of their needs. The good news is that the clinical data being collected can be very important in planning future dental missions to treat these children's decay in hopes that they will keep as many of their adult teeth for as long as possible.
 
That's all for now. Please keep us in your prayers.  - George
 
 
PS - Did I say that Gris-Gris now has a street light? I spoke too soon.  Gris-Gris now has 5 street lights, with three from the church to the cell tower intersection and two more near the new community center building.

Hi All,     November 6, Sunday Update:

 Sunday we had a beautiful celebration of the Eucharist to a very full church, with two young girls receiving their first communion. By the end of Mass it was raining very hard so most everyone stayed inside the church visiting until it cleared.

 The afternoon was busy setting up the room for the dental clinic.  It kept seven of the team and one interpreter very busy until dinnertime.  The girls in the kitchen prepared an exceptional buffet of food for us.  It was a very tasty and satisfying meal.  Most of the team is ready for bed early tonight after a very active day, and in anticipation of a very full and busy first dental clinic day for the school children.

 Fr. Samson and so many St. Rose parishioners send their love and appreciation for this and past missions.  Please keep us all in your prayers as we begin our weeklong dental clinic tomorrow.

Update on Thursday, November 10, 2011

Hi again, All
 
With only two clinical days left on this mission, the dental team was feeling some time pressure at the start of the morning to finish up all of the Ste. Rose school children and teachers by the end of the week. We started the week with children in the youngest grades, so as we now work throught the older students we find that they tend to need more care.  It didn't take long at the start of clinic this morning for the team to get the innovative juices going, rethink the patient flow and tweek it a bit to increase the clinic productivity.
 
Almost all of the children and most of the teachers have never before been examined or treated by a dentist.  I am certain that their first clinic experience can be a bit surreal, given the high activity level of the clinical team, the noise of the compressor and the unknown about the treatment they are about to receive.  Stepping up the pace of the clinic could increase these patients' anxiety.
 
But even with this change of pace and the other pressures of their clinical work, the team still makes sure that each patient they treat feels welcome.  Besides given preventive dental care, they are also treated with a large dose of caring reassurance to help put them at ease.  Before they leave the clinic, the children are rewarded with a couple of little prizes.  They all leave with bigger, brighter smiles.
 
Two boys treated at the clinic this afternoon were wearing very badly worn shoes.  The older boy's shoes were seperating at the toes and the younger one's shoes had holes in the soles at least as big as quarters.  I walked them both to the rectory where the last of the the shoes we brought are being kept.  Fr. Samson saw the condition of their shoes and immediately agreed that they needed new shoes.  I was able to find a new pair of shoes for each of them and they were very pleased to get them.
 
Please continue to keep us all in your prayers.
 
George
 
PS - For those keeping tally, the team has treated a total of 239 through today.