Faith Family Foundation Provides Free Dental Services to 100 Patients

Faith Family Church saw its grounds packed with patients as another dental mission, conducted by the Faith Family Foundation, was held on October 7, 2017. Hailing from Jeremiah 3017 Dental Clinic, Dr. Eloi Crisostomo, Dr. Glenda Clamar, and Dr. Louis Clyde Bautista, along with their assistants, graciously lent their services to help 100 patients. Free medicine was also distributed to patients. Around 20 volunteers were also present to assist in various matters, such as registration, cleaning of medical supplies, checking the patients’ vital signs, and providing help to the dentists.

As early as 6:30 AM, patients had started to line up to avail of the free dental services provided by doctors from Jeremiah 3017 Dental Clinic. Patients of all ages registered, but a vast majority of them were young children, accompanied by their parents. For most of the patients, travelling to the dental mission was not difficult as many of them live in areas near the church. Dental missions like these are the only opportunity that some of the patients get to visit a dentist. Salvacion Bautista, 44 and mother of two, expressed her gratitude that events like these occur. “Yung dentista kasi doon pa sa may GMA. Mahirap pumunta at mahal pa magpabunot. Kaya pag naririnig ko na may ganito sa Faith, talagang pumupunta kami ng mga anak ko.” (I have to go to GMA to visit a dentist. It is hard to go there and the cost of tooth extraction is too high. Whenever I hear that Faith Family Foundation conducts events like these, I make sure to bring my children.) Others, like Christian (19) and Wilson (52), usually wait for dental missions to have their teeth extracted. They talked about how convenient and helpful dental missions were because they do not have to spend what little money they earn. Many of the patients had either been to past dental missions or had heard from friends and family members who had previously gone to dental missions.

The children, on the other hand, had nothing but smiles ready for the dentists. A few of them were nervous and scared to see the dentists, but were soon consoled by the promise of free ice cream. Peter Mupas, an ice cream vendor, set up his ice cream cart outside the make-shift clinic to console patients who had just had their teeth extracted. Alumni of the Faith Family Foundation pooled their resources together to hire Mr. Peter for the day. The ice cream cart surely made for a comforting sight after a bout of pain.

The dentists, veterans of dental missions, were nothing but professional, managing to do their tasks efficiently and effectively. Their bright attitudes also shone through while joking with patients to calm them down. Dr. Glenda stated, “This is my way to give back the glory to the Lord. I am thankful for His blessings and His faithfulness, so I want to give back. It is also fulfilling to serve in line with my profession.” Fulfillment is a big part of the dental mission for them, as Dr. Clyde mentions that his exhaustion is only second to the feeling of fulfillment and doing God’s work. Their success in their field is a gift from God, as Dr. Eloi says. “I believe God has called me to bless others because He has gifted me with this profession. I can use my profession to let others feel the love of God.” The dentists and their assistants have indeed let others feel the love of God through their excellent dental services that served 100 people.