Teeth Pulling

March 21-25 I (Sandy) had the privilege of assisting International Dentist Ministries on a trip to the village of Cajapucara. It was a great honor to be God's hands and mouth during this time.  Pulling teeth is not my favorite thing to do (I didn't actually touch anyone; I was the Spanish/English translator), but the fact that we provided relief to many infected and hurting mouths made it worth it.  I lost count, but I believe it was over 200 teeth during the week. 

Praying for one brave teenage girl who stayed in the chair for over an hour
while both dentists pulled several difficult teeth. 

We are also doing preventative work, teaching oral hygiene to the school children.  Our hope is to pull less and less teeth each year as we give people the proper education and see families making their health a priority.

Our faithful Quechua/Spanish translator doing a teeth brushing demonstration while people wait.

Youth Meetings

On February 26 and March 26 we hosted about 15 teens at a local church in order to talk about current events, issues in their lives, and simply let them know that there are people willing to stand beside them.  The majority come from surrounding villages to study in the "big city" Cusco. For many it can be a lonely and trying time without a support system.  Albino and I, along with a team of others, want to reach out to them, being that support and providing resources.  We plan to meet again on April 23.

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THE VISA

Fun in Lima with Carletta, not all work on the visa.

We got the visa!!  The ever-present consideration in the back of our minds has been Albino's US visa.  Almost a year ago we submitted the paperwork for it.  After months of the application being passed around different US gov't agencies (and some investigation and insistence on our part), we got word that his interview was scheduled for March 7, at the US embassy in Lima.  God has been so faithful through the whole process and it has come so quickly.  This means that we'll be in the States for a couple years, starting in July.  Look out 'cuz the Rodriguezs are a-comin' to the US!