Dental Screening at a Municipalidad elementary school

Tuesday Feb 25th, 2020:  A fun morning today as we went to a local elementary school to screen the "Patitos" Little Ducklings.  As you can see, this group of students looks much younger than you would expect in American schools.  We did see older groups but these little ones were SO cute. Only one little girl cried but she came to us with open arms for a hug as she was crying.  Of course, she got a huge hug and big portions of our hearts.  We screened about 120 of these little ones and will begin treating them according to the severity of their condition. I don't know what to expect when they arrive at the clinic but based on their good behavior today, I am hopeful they can tolerate well their upcoming treatments. Grandma Johnson would have said, They are "cute as a button." Although they are groomed, evidently here at the school, they come from the notorious Zona 18, which the health nurse at the school said was the bottom of the bottom of the socio-economic areas of the capital. There will be a great deal of dentistry required for these little Ducklings. This is what we pray about each night.

Elder (Dr) Fisher, a retired army colonel, and Sister Fisher screen a "Patito" at the Municipalidad. 

After the screening, a group of the older elementary students performed a couple of numbers for us on the marimba, an instrument developed in Guatemala and Mexico.  It is the "National" instrument of Guatemala.

A couple of weeks ago we saw this interesting and beautiful sister from the Western highlands of Guatemala.  She is a member of one of the several distinct native Mayan cultures (K'icke)) here in Guatemala.  She didn't speak one word of Spanish...(or English), They speak their own language. So, we had very little verbal conversations.  She came to the clinic to get two prosthetic front teeth and fill out her mission dental application.
We were surprised to see her arrive in such a beautiful dress, which she and her mother made by hand. It is probably the only nice piece of clothing she has as her area is steeped in poverty.  If you can, blow up the photo and get a good look at the pattern on the dress, all hand woven. The kingdom of God will go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples. How beautiful it is and what a blessing to see it and be part of it.