Overwhelmed

That’s often how I feel in the community—wondering where to begin, what to do, and who to work alongside. In my mind, the list of needs is endless. Yet I’m thankful that God doesn’t call us to solve every problem for everyone. When we see so many struggles, it’s natural to wish we could fix them all right away. But Jesus doesn’t ask us to carry that weight—He asks us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That’s where He tells us to start, and since He is the Creator of the universe, it’s best to listen to Him.

I’m grateful that we’ve begun addressing eyesight needs in the community. The next burden on our heart was dental care. I can only imagine the pain of living with teeth that desperately need help, yet having no way to receive it. While working on the eyeglass project, José had a “chance” meeting in Danlí that turned into a friend calling a friend—who just happened to be a dentist with a heart for serving others. Coincidence?

Just a few phone calls later, and two weeks ago we held our very first dental clinic in the community. As with the medical clinic, we asked patients for a small contribution. For now, the only treatment available was extracting severely decayed teeth. Even so, 12 people received help that day. What a blessing to see the dentist willing to come, meet the people, and relieve so much pain.

This month, she plans to return and care for 15 more patients. We’re also exploring the possibility of a mobile dental setup so she (and hopefully other dentists) can serve not only this community but others around Danlí as well.

Once again, we are deeply grateful—grateful to Jesus for connecting us with people who can help, and grateful for your prayers and support for this community.

Thank you so much.

Pictures :  Facebook