Guatemala Day #2

Today was our first day at the dental clinic.  I had to leave the hotel at 7:00 am to get all the registration material set up and ready for the first group of kids that were coming.  Jon & Brianna left the hotel and arrived at the church at 9:00 am.  The dental clinic is set up at a Stake Center.  It is amazing to walk in and see the church completely set up like a clinic.  They have taken over the entire church including the chapel.  They have removed the benches and set up tables and everything they need.  It was a little hectic at times trying to get the routine down and learn all that we needed to with our different jobs.  I especially have a hard time because I don't speak Spanish.  I'm the first one they come to and I have to ask them questions and it is hard not speaking their language.  There are interpreters all over to help us when we need them.  I work with a girl named Larissa who does speak Spanish so that has been a great help.  We worked hard all day until 8:00 pm when we loaded the buses and came back to the hotel.  We saw a total of 91 patients today.

This is where I sit most of the day and check each person in.  We have to check their papers they have filled out and then send them to the right area.  They get haircuts, pictures, go to the Dr. for a physical and blood work and then they go to the dental area.

Brianna is taking x-rays.  This is set up right in the chapel.  They have 5 chairs that are all designated for x-rays.

Here is where they are trained on dental hygiene and how to properly take care of their teeth. 

Here is where Jon works all day long.  He sees the patients after they have had oral surgery.  He has to make sure their bleeding has stopped and they have instructions on how to take their medication.  Most of the patients do pretty good.  This is a boy named Henry.  He had a little bit of a rough time.  He was in the recovery room for 2 hours.  As you can see his white shirt is stained a little red.  He had some bleeding problems.  He would not bite down on the gauze like he was suppose to so he just kept on bleeding and gagging.  We will never forget Henry!

This is the view from the back of the church building we are working out of.