Art Martens

livingsignificantly.ca

I have long been curious about the photos on the wall of my Abbotsford dentistB次元官网网址檚 reception area. The subjects are primarily African or Hispanic. Last week in a conversation in our home, I asked Dr. Sam Edworthy to tell me about them.

A modest man, heB次元官网网址檚 quite comfortable being addressed as B次元官网网址淪amB次元官网网址� by both staff and patients. B次元官网网址淚n 2000,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址渁 dentist told me the Northview Community Church was putting together a team to provide desperately needed services in a Mexican village. It sounded interesting so I accepted his invitation to go. It was a fulfilling two weeks and since then IB次元官网网址檝e done dentistry in a number of countries.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e returned to Mexico about 12 times,B次元官网网址� he said in response to my prodding. B次元官网网址淢ostly under the auspices of the Abbotsford Vineyard Church. Presently they are establishing a permanent dentistry clinic there so dentists can go for one or more weeks and everything is ready. A lot of our work there has been with single moms.B次元官网网址�

On several trips to Ghana, a local pastor expressed an urgent desire for ongoing dental services in his area. Sam trained him in basic dental procedures and the sponsoring church group provided supplies and equipment so he could carry on.

Sam feels it is important that others, including his family, discover the sense of fulfillment he experiences on mission trips. B次元官网网址淲hen my son James was 14 I took him along on a trip to Nepal,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 wanted him to interact with people of another culture. I also wanted him to understand how fortunate we are in Canada and that we really should help people who have so little.B次元官网网址�

Earlier this year Amanda, his adult daughter, accompanied him to Mexico. Apparently she caught his sense of responsibility for serving people who receive little assistance from their government. This November she wants to go with him to Haiti, a country universally known for rampant poverty, dismal living conditions and unbridled corruption. Amanda, who has a PhD in science, is quite willing to help with dentistry.

Sometimes Sam takes along one or more clinical staff. They pay a portion of their expenses which include air fare, travel in the country, meals, accommodation, and occasionally security. When necessary, he subsidizes their participation. He pays for all his personal expenses, brings along dentistry supplies (some are provided by dental companies), plus his own compressor and dentistry unit.

For most of his assistants, this is an extraordinarily positive experience. B次元官网网址淭here was one early exception,B次元官网网址� he noted. B次元官网网址淎 dental assistant came back with tales of flies, obnoxious odours, overwhelming heat, primitive washroom conditions and more.B次元官网网址�

This type of dentistry requires mental and emotional adjustments. Some villages are remote, accessible only by traversing treacherous terrain. Invariably, working and living conditions are primitive.B次元官网网址淚n one village we go to, we have to dam up the creek so we can shave and wash up at the end of the day. ItB次元官网网址檚 hot and we get pretty sweaty. Also, we have to use non-digital equipment. Up to date equipment is more sensitive to impurities in the water and wonB次元官网网址檛 function. When equipment breaks down, we have to fix it. If the village doesnB次元官网网址檛 have electricity, we bring a generator and gas. The environment we work in frequently isnB次元官网网址檛 very sterile.B次元官网网址�

Adverse circumstances seem not to faze him. B次元官网网址淎lmost anything we do in our Abbotsford office, we can do there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e regularly do root canals and the results have been very satisfactory.B次元官网网址� He noted that at the completion of any procedure, the patient often expects to be given a pill. B次元官网网址淔or them itB次元官网网址檚 confirmation they have received medical attention.B次元官网网址�

Intrigued by the willingness to leave behind his spotless, well equipped office to work where challenges abound, I asked what motivates him. B次元官网网址淲e go as a team,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪ome of the members are young and they bring excitement. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good feeling to be part of something important.B次元官网网址�

He paused, then said, B次元官网网址渢he people are grateful for what we do. In one village they brought us the straw mattresses, bed bugs and all, from their own homes. They wanted to give something in return, even though this meant sleeping on a dirt floor. We go into their homes and become friends. What we do gives people hope. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good feeling to help people who have so little.B次元官网网址� The pictures on SamB次元官网网址檚 wall represent an inspiring story.