We are now cleaning teeth!

For a couple of years, we have been looking for a portable dental unit that we could use to clean and fill teeth. If we found one, we didn't have the money for it and if we had the money, we couldn't find what we needed. This past spring, a couple who works in central Nicaragua came to visit our church in Bluefields. They got to talking to Dan, and he told them about the dental work up river. They immediately said that they had a portable dental unit that they were no longer using. All we had to do was to come and get it!

So in August, our wonderful dentist, Dr. Vania Sevilla taught 5 people how to do teeth cleaning. They practiced on the people in our church which made everyone happy. In October, we took our first trip doing both cleaning and pulling teeth. It was great...there was so much activity on the boat. 

There were three people from Pennsylvania who had actually raised the funds for the trip that came along. One was a nurse, who got on-the-job training on pulling teeth and a young lady who is a Spanish speaker who played with the children while their parents were waiting on the dentist. We went to only one village this time, but had 3 days of clinic. We were able to service 127 people and handed out dozens of Bibles.

Street seafood market in Bluefields. Delvis, our cook (on the right), shopping for the trip.

Chillin' along the river

Lunch Break...and what wonderful food we had!

Shelsy using her newly acquired skill....cleaning teeth.

Some patients waited all day in the rain to be treated.......

Kara, a nurse, (on the right) and Mariana with new friends. The little girl on the left wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Whenever we come to her village she is always out on the dock waiting for us.

Aaron, is taking a turn at cleaning teeth. (Newly donated dental unit in the background).

Dra. Sevia, assisted by Mellissa who is a local nurse.

This is one way to get a horse across the river, and actually, the most common way to do it.

More friends...

Cafribbean Grace at Pueblo Nuevo dock

Dra. Sevia and Mariana with a crowd looking on.

Lunch break in the main cabin...Dra. Sevilla is trying to cool off.

Dra. Sevilla and Delvis...Two tired but happy workers

What a great team this was...though they didn't all know each other before the trip, they worked together as if they had been friends for years ... working together to help those in need.

If you would like to help finance a trip in 2020, you can make a donation through Global Outreach at www.globaloutreach.org. account #1056.

Each trip costs approximately $3000. This includes fuel, food, dental supplies, medications and staff wages.

Thanks for reading our blog.... please pass it on.

Dan and Donna Letton