Hill Tribe Medical Clinics... Not for the Squeamish

Before watching this 3:45 minute video (with no narration), you may want to review "The Hill Tribes: A Timeless Mission" Part II. That video explains why there is cause for such extreme measures (extraction) for the rotting teeth and tooth aches that bring hundreds of patients to the clinics. Novocain is used generously, and afterwards, plenty of pain medicine and antibiotics are given at the pharmacy. It is amazing to see the courage and "eagerness" most of the patients show during the entire ordeal.
The lady who said, "This is last time in life to dentist..." said so because we pulled the four remaining teach she had. They were useless since they didn't "meet up" for chewing. And the lady at the end did not feel the work on her in-grown toenail, but she could not look at it. She was very grateful to the doctor for relieving her of a long year of pain.

In closing , I'd like to add the same thought that I have included in each of these explanations about our team's medical mission work in the Chiang Rai Province of Northern Thailand: This is an on-going ministry that focuses on the people and not on the team. We do not arrive at a village as "well-meaning Americans" who show up, take over, and disappear never to be seen again. Our approach in dealing with the hill tribes is more quiet and respectful as we recognize the beauty of their culture. We are not there to "westernize" them, we are their to meet practical needs and to show the love of Christ in the sense described in Matthew 25:40 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=25&verse=40&a... and to share the good news as He encouraged us to do. When we leave, there are local tribal leaders who continue the "follow up" work with each village, and we make return visits as needed (and as medical manpower and funding allows).

The focus of this video project, as you may have noticed, is not so much on "the team"--as rich as their experience is each year. Christ did not "brow beat" or expect some sort of immediate return on his ministry. (Remember the time He healed several blind people but only one stopped to say thank you?). Likewise, our team humbly serves each village with the assumption that the love we show that day (as well as the truth we share in word and example) will continue to play out over time. Through the years, this relational approach to serving these beautiful people has been very effective, and we hope it comes through as you watch the videos presented here at Patterns of Ink.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• hill
• tribes
• medical
• clinics
• dental

[patternsofink]

darkangelhurt,

The song is called "only time" by Enya.

taintedcandy21,

It was a wonderful experience that began one year ago yesterday.

lictor313,

You misunderstand the nature of medical missions. Not one dime of your tax dollars was spent on this trip. We all raised our own support, spent our own money, and were sent by a local church. If the government had been involved in this endeavor, it would have cost ten times as much and accomplished far less.

[patternsofink]

Thanks for the rating. It's amazing to me how many people have seen these videos about our trip. This one seems to have particular interest--right behind the one about building the hut ("From Bangkok to the Hill Tribes: A World of Class")

[mbollen]

can't these lowlifes figure out how to pull their own teeth and cut their ingrown toenails, what a joke, guess they cant afford $1500 for a root canal!!!!

[lictor313]

Actually Churches are tax deductible, so indirectly they are permitted to make money without having to submit to taxation...

Churches are an indirect taxes.

I do agree that illiterate welfare dregs also siphon our money.

[Tiffanip1202]

You are sych a moron. People that do this kind of work depend on donations and grants, not "your" tax dollars. "Your" tax dollars are paying for all of the undereducated women in America that keep popping out babies and go on welfare. "Your" tax dollars pay for the govenor of your state to live in a mansion. ETC., etc., etc. Get it? Probably not.

[lictor313]

i love to see my tax dollars squandered like this!

[TaintedCandy21]

I think it's a good thing we are going to far out places like that and help people in dire need.

[darkangelhurt]

what is this song called