The Last Patient for the Day..

June 15th-pm entry


It was after 5 pm and we had seen approximately 35-40 patients all day-some of them getting both cleanings and fillings-so it was like more than that. All we could think about was food, and bed, not even in that order. I had brought snacks, but it wasn't enough. There was no sweat left in me, it was hot and I felt like I could not go any further.

The other team had arrived from Tampico and was preparing to hold an open air crusade in the village square-we were just trying to finish up the last patients and go home.

A young man in his 20's showed up and explained that he had to be at work by 5 am tommarow and would not have a chance to come tommarow morning and would not make it before we had too many patients. When María looked at his teeth it became obvious something had to be done. She set about to cleaning his teeth and I helped her out. While she was doing it one of the women who was important in the church came up to María and started speaking to her about this young man in Spanish. The "pillar" in the church told María that this young man was possibly not even saved and did not come to church regularly and that she should not be working on his teeth. No matter where you go religion always wants to make blessings a result of works and not of grace.

María explained to this lady that this man's relationship to the church and spiritual condition did not enter into whether she would help him or not, and she was going to take care of his teeth anyway. The woman looked hurt and turned and walked away. María had been up since 5:30 am like the rest of us, and did not take breaks like the rest of us-only lunch. It was after 6 pm and she was still doing great work and not slowing down. This guy's teeth were horrid! He had to rinse often because of the huge amound of blood and food particles. But María did not berate him, but was kind and loving and ministered to him.

There are a lot of heroes in the world, but María is my idea of a hero. Someone who sacrifices to put the needs of others before their own, and does it with no complaining or fanfare. She may not be a Benito Juarez or Emiliano Zapata-but she is still a hero of Mexico in my book.

We finally finished and headed home, we managed to talk our driver and guide Pete into taking us to Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner, which was very good. No honey for the biscuits-but awesome strawberry preserves. Fell into an exhausted sleep, at around midnight again....