Dental Work in the Highlands

Hurray!!! I am home … back in Guatemala City, after having spend a week with a Rotary team, Amigos de Guatemala,  in the highlands of Quiche. One group of the team worked on a construction site while I went with the other group to translate during dental ministry. The dentist alone attended to the needs of more than 60 patients, ranging from fillings to extractions. The three hygienists cleaned the teeth, applied fluoride and sealants, and taught proper tooth brushing methods to approximately 70 students, grade 1 through 6.

While translating for the dentist and watching him work in the mouth and on the teeth of his patients with various fine instruments, I was reminded of a prayer, written by St. Francis of Assisi:

 

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

God showed me that we too are like precession instruments in HIS hand, to bring about HIS peace and do HIS will on Earth as it is in Heaven. Each one of us has been fashioned for a specific purpose, just like each dental instrument has its specific purpose. If we stay in the Master’s hand, God will use us as well to bring about HIS peace in this world.  Just like the dentist uses various precession instruments to make a healthy mouth, God uses us like fine instruments to do HIS will here on Earth as it is in Heaven.