November 2004 trip report
Dear Friends,
The dental clinic was great and was very successful. All told we saw around 100 Tepehuan. Scott, Joseph and myself made it out to Lajas in the truck Saturday evening. We spent Sunday working on the airstrip and setting up the dental equipment in the clinic. Sunday night it rained nearly all evening, and we awoke early Monday to a sky full of low clouds. By 8:00 A.M the sky began to clear, and so we gave the all clear for the first flight to leave Durango. Unfortunately in the meantime heavy clouds moved up out of the canyon blocking the final approauch to the strip. We had radio contact with the plane but with such heavy clouds around, it would have been too dangerous to attempt a landing. It seemed an eternity, but just as we thought the plane would have to return to Durango, the Lord cleared an area in the middle of the clouds and the plane was able to land. Dan (dentist), his wife Susan, and John were able to start work almost immediately, as Tepehuan were lining up to have their teeth worked on. Joe returned to Durango and brought Linda (John's wife), Anne Marie, and the kids in on the second flight. It was one of our busiest clinics, and the dentists and assistants worked incredibly hard and long. Most mornings were underway with patients by 8:30, and often didn't stop till well after 6:00 P.M. or later. Perhaps one of the most remarkable efforts was when Dan removed an abscessed front tooth from a Tepehuan lady's mouth, cleaned, shaped and formed it, and stuck it back in place, basically doing bridge work without much of the necessary equipment he would use in his own practice in Texas. Anne Marie was able to spend a lot of time visiting Tepehuan ladies, and many dropped by the house to visit. The kids had a great time hanging out with their friends and watching at the clinic. Joe and I, along with a bunch of neighbors, were able to get a barbwire fence put up around the house.
One of the coolest things that the Lord did was when the plane flew out with the last load from Lajas Friday morning. Victor, the drunk guy who had threatened my life a few months before, showed up to watch the plane took off. I decided to try and talk to him. He was very hesitant at first, but at least greeted me and shook my hand. After the plane took off, he made a direct beeline for me which was somewhat disconcerting. We talked for quite a while and in the end I feel we were able to get a friendship off the ground. He told me where he lived, and invited me to visit whenever I wanted. It was an incredible answer to prayer, and I even feel we may have an ally as to us being allowed to live out there. Once he's saved, I'll work on getting an apology out of him for the scare he gave us.
A number of possibilities are opening up as to how we might be able to secure permission to be in the village longer, and so we continue to encourage you to be praying for that.
On Tuesday I will be driving out to Lajas again with Brent (the builder guy), and we are wanting to put a new tin roof on the house. We also hope to cement the floors, put in some windows, and try and get some of the walls repaired. Again pray that this will be accepted by the town.
For Jesus,
Andrew and Anne Marie
...
