Reflections from Isla

It always seems like wherever and whenever you go to do mission work you come back with similar reflections along the lines of "they are so happy, yet have so little.  Why do I daily give into my flesh and act like a stereotypical American?" After spending a week in Isla Mujeres, Mexico doing dental work with my brother and an incredible group of amigos, I have the exact same reflections.  However, this time I can only ask myself what are going to be my next-steps of action based on this reflection (this is the TFA influence in me coming out!).  But for real.  To those you out there who are reading this (which I am sure is somewhere close to a zarillion), I am going to go ahead and answer a question before you ask me (if you haven't asked me already).  No, I am not going to dental school and no I do not want to be a dentist.  I would never hate on the profession.  In fact, I know that is the perfect job for my brother and others.  But somewhere in between watching many tears during extractions to trying to scrap thick calculus off old, stanky teeth, I regress from the profession that so many others want me to follow.  It hurts to admit it to others and to myself.  I do know that God has given me a heart to serve.  I pray daily that I will continue to serve others where my gifts are used best.  Right now, I am confident that this is teaching in Memphis.  As for the future, I am okay with being unsure.  Trying daily to be okay with living "certain of God, uncertain of the future.  Certain He will lead me."

After this week, I come back to the U.S. with varying fears: that the mass amounts of cockroaches in my house will begin to be able to bit like Mexican cockroaches, that I will once again forget how much I have (material and other), that this sting of diarrhea is actually some parasite eating away at my stomach, that in three years I will realize that I do actually want to be a dentist and will start dental school as an oldish person, that I will begin speaking broken Spanish to those who are unfamiliar, and mainly that I will not act upon the impressions that this week has left on me.  This leaves me with hoping to act with a joyful spirit and thankful heart like those who I encountered on the island.  From Irma who did whatever she could to help and serve in the clinic, to the family of 20 who lived in a small room that contained 4 inches of water after Debby that looked into the skies to thank the Lord above for receiving toothbrushes, stuffed animals, and other things we take for granted from us, to the kids who live in the poorest conditions who smile as the run towards the golf cart to ride with us, to the old woman who tried to hand pesos for her thanks for removing almost all of her teeth. As I return back to my comfortable life (which I try to make as uncomfortable as possible so I continue to be pushed and grow), I pray that I will be a similar example of this spirit to those around me.

Abre tu boca

I know that we have impacted so many lives and removed so much pain.  I know Lauten, my oldest brother, and other dentists have a special gift to serve in a unique way.  I know the people of Isla don't know they have impacted each of us.  It is for this reason that I hope to spend many more summers with my brother and others involved in the non-profit organization he has created (the Smile Foundation) in Isla.

Impacted by both the young and the old

Many smiles! Check out the Smile Foundation here