Medical/Dental Mission 2025

Week before last we had the opportunity to volunteer at the Medical/Dental Mission held at the stake center in the temple complex. 

They have been holding this mission for eight years now, offering dental and vision services. This year, medical services were added as well. The mission is sponsored by several charitable organizations that partner with members of the Church here in Cebu. At least 16 dentists flew in from the U.S., and several local dentists also participated. In addition, there were local medical professionals and optical specialists from the U.S. They reported being able to serve between 200 and 300 patients per day, with people beginning to line up as early as 4:30 to 5:00 a.m.

If someone didn’t get in to be seen, they had to come back the next day. The line didn’t carry over from the previous day, so patients had to try again each day until they were admitted. One of the sisters at the temple told us she arrived at 8:00 a.m. and wasn’t seen until around 2:30 p.m. The only individuals given priority were prospective missionaries, and they had to bring their mission medical and dental paperwork in order to move ahead in line.

We were asked to represent the temple missionaries and attended several meetings in preparation for the event. I was overwhelmed by the number of people they projected would come for services and wondered how they could possibly accommodate them all. But everything ran like clockwork—it was truly amazing to witness and be a part of.

The Sunday before Joe and the other senior Elders went and helped set up the equipment and get the building organized. 

We were supposed to work Monday afternoon and Wednesday - Friday mornings but Joe ended up having to sub for one of the other Elders at the temple so we didn’t work on Friday.  The first day we volunteered in Sterilization where we helped sterilize the dental instruments. 

We thought it was interesting that we only had to wear gloves in that room and it really didn’t seem like the most sterile place. But the next time we were there we noticed that the workers in sterilization were in gowns, hats and gloves. That seemed more appropriate. 

Our next assignment was in Optical where we were able to help give simple eye tests and help the patients figure out which prescription helped them the most. It was so interesting, they would put on glasses that had a dial on each side that they could adjust up or down until they found the prescription that worked best for them, then they would take the prescription to be filled. They could choose black or brown glassed and the appropriate lenses would be popped in and they would be good to go. It is estimated that well over a 1,000 pair of glasses were given out durning the week to adults and children. 

Our last assignment was Pharmacy. Here we handed out toothpaste and toothbrushes to the dental patients and pretty much anyone that asked for one. We also gave the dental patients pain killers and antibiotics according to the doctor’s instructions. Usually the dentist would bring the patient out and help us with filling the prescription. 

Each morning before the mission opened up they would have a prayer meeting and it was just amazing to look around at all the people willing to give of their time and talents to people who are in so much need of their services and deserve the help so much.

 Although many of the doctors and dentist were members of the church, many were not, many of the patients were members of the church but many were not. It was a wonderful thing to see so many people come together for the good of those who are in so much need. It was such a privilege to part of it in just a small way. As we sang the opening hymn (usually a Primary hymn) I couldn’t even sing, I was so overwhelmed by the goodness of it all. 

Little Did We Know

While we were volunteering at the Medical/Dental Mission, I received a text from Michael with a picture of their boys who were were serving in a different way but still serving the children of the Philippines. 🇵🇭 

Every now and then when the boys are out of school, Kori will take them to a place called Feed My Starving Children where they pack food boxes for children around the world who live in 3rd world countries. They just happened to be assigned to the Philippines table this time around.

What a blessing it is to the children here. Twice now Dad and I have encountered small children out begging for food. The first time was shortly after we arrived here and we were on our way home from the airport. We were stopped at a red light and two small children that couldn’t have been more than 4 or 5 (maybe younger) were going from car to car begging for food or money. It broke my heart, they were so small and I didn’t see a parent in sight. I couldn’t believe children so small would be out on their own like that. I thought about Ember and Vlady and I wanted to take those kids home and take care of them but of course that’s not possible. 

Another time we were out and again stopped at a red light and several children were going among the cars begging for food. What I didn’t know the last time was that someone makes small food bags and puts them in the console of the van for times like these. I was able to give most of the kids a small bag of food. They immediately ran to the curb and started shoving the food into their mouths. The poverty here is so heartbreaking but like the starfish story, even though we can’t help them all, we can help some of them.

But I want to bless you…

One day last week as we were walking to our apartment, I noticed a peso coin on the ground close to where a cute little girl was playing so I pointed it out to her so she could have it. She picked it up but then tried to hand it to me. When I told her it was for her and she could have it, she almost started to cry said, “but I want to bless you”. I looked at her mom to see if she would help me convince the little girl to keep the coin but she shrugged. So I took the coin back. What a sweet little girl she was and how sweet of her to want to bless us. 

Fun Encounter

This week we got to meet up with a couple more people Bethany knew from her mission. Bethany’s first area was Pakil,  where she met two different families who are wood carvers. The first was the Cajumban family. We actually have some of their carvings that Bethany sent home from her mission. They were here in Cebu for a wedding and to attend the temple.  They brought with them some of their carvings and we were able to purchase a nativity and an Easter tomb.  It was so fun to meet them. Brother Cajumban was a young man when Bethany was here and he baptized the first person Bethany taught. Bethany said he was quite shy and didn’t talk to her very much. 

Now he is not only a grown man with a family, he is also the Bishop of his ward.  His wife Hazel is the sweetest and I really enjoyed getting to know her.  

As we were visiting with them a new missionary came into the mission office and said she was also from Pakil and her family were also wood carvers. We figured she was probably around 5 years old when Bethany was there.  Bethany remembered her but she was too young to remember Bethany. 

Such a darling girl and it was so fun to meet everyone. 

Filipino Ways

I thought I would share some fun things about the Philippines. Here are a few sayings I have gotten used to hearing and grown to love:

I will go ahead - They say this when they are ending a conversation and ready to go. For instance when we are getting ready for preparation meeting and the person I’m visiting with is ready to go they will say “I will go ahead”. 

I will be the one - When something needs to be done and two or more people are offering to do it someone will say “I will be the one”. 

I am so much thankful - I love this, they say it when they pray or bear their testimony. 

But then there’s this…

So is there something different between just a new driver and a lady driver? I’m wondering what they are trying to say with this sign…🤣 I’ve seen quite a few of them and I don’t know whether to laugh or to be irritated. I’ll choose to laugh because I do think it is funny.

This is a long post, I hope you enjoyed it and made it to the end. We miss everyone so much and would love to hear from you and find out what’s happening at home. We continue to love serving in the temple and living in the Philippines even though we are still getting used to so many things. We have come along way, so that is a good thing.  We love you and look forward to hearing from you if you have a minute to drop us a line.

Love,

Mom/Beth