More Dental Bus Adventures

There’s not much going on mission trip wise in our lives right now.  We are still working with the Dental Bus.  On Saturday, September 19 we took the bus to El Centro Hispano Health Fair in Durham.  Mema went with us for her first trip on the bus. This NC State student John (or Juan in Spanish) was an interpreter.  I enjoyed talking with him and he tried to teach me a little Spanish. See that line of people all the way across the picture?  That was part of the line of people trying to get onto the Dental Bus.  It was a wild day.  Jolema was in charge of the dental part of the fair. Then on Sept 21 and 22 we took the bus to Shallotte for our first overnighter. Here is Jennifer the dental assistant and Phyllis the receptionist.

We Passed the Test

Monday Billy and I took the Dental Bus to Fayetteville for the Cumberland Co. Fair. Unfortunately the fair was closed that day so we did not get to eat any fair food. This was our last training before being able to go out solo.  Joanne, the bus coordinator, worked with us and she said we passed the test.  Now she is going to expect to get a lot of help from us. It really is a great ministry and we meet the most interesting people, some of them being patients. The nicest dentists and assistants volunteer their time. Hygienists working the outdoor chair.

Pulling Teeth

Thursday morning I was called by the Dental Bus coordinator, Joanne with an emergency situation.  The bus was in Grifton for the week and the driver had fallen the night before and had to have 6 staples in his head.  She needed someone to relieve him so him and his wife could go home.  I agreed to go even though I am not fully trained and would be working on my own. Dr. Kawn from Charlotte was the day dentist. Super nice guy. We had two night dentists and one assistant.

One of the night dentists did not have an assistant so he asked me to help him once.  I had to assist with with a tooth extraction.  I really didn’t like doing that and hope I don’t have to do it again, but of course I probably will if I am asked.

After this experience I am so thankful that I have always been able to visit my dentist regularly.The group coordinating the patients was from Charlotte.  They were a great group of people to work with.

Today (Friday) Billy went with me so he could drive the bus back to  Cary.