OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER 2023
When a child smiles, the universe blushes at her own beauty. If any child feels insecure about his smile, the universe curses herself. That is why dentistry is so important – because it determines the well-being of smiles. Acknowledging this importance, Warming Hearts in collaboration with KIDS International Dental Services conducted a dental camp that positively impacted 1670 children from various schools across five locations. Kicking off at Gundu Health Post, the campaign was conducted from October 30 to November 3.
Our dedicated team of compassionate dentists worked tirelessly to bring smiles and improve the dental health of the children. Leading the mission were esteemed professionals, Dr. Eli and Dr. Idan from Massachusetts, Dr. Alex from France, and Dr. Jeff from New York. Their expertise and commitment to the cause played a pivotal role in the success of our dental camp. Dr. Eli and Dr. Idan’s kindness, Dr. Alex’s international perspective, and Dr. Jeff’s dedication truly made a lasting impact on the lives of the 1670 children who experienced the joy of a healthier smile.
The dental campaign proved to be a rewarding experience not just for us and the children but also for the dental team. Between the continuous planning of setting up camps, dental examinations, and unforeseen needs of adaptations, they found time to interact with the locals, form beautiful relationships, and smile at the innocent children. Above all, they found time to capture these compassionate experiences in the vast space of their words. Let us witness their fresh, honest, and kind perspectives on our people, society, and country –
I received many messages about this mission and appreciate the well wishes. It’s important to me for you to know the motivation of the team. Trust me, it’s not for fame and glory. The warm feeling in your soul from helping these kids is not easily described. Those who have done this sort of thing know. It gives you a sense of a larger purpose. A more macro look at the rock we all live on. The world is filled with so much hatred and sadness.
On these missions, we see nooks and crannies in developing countries filled with love and support in unique communal ways. We get to contribute a trinket. The kids don’t really understand their place on the planet. Not yet anyway. They are innocently protected from the hatred that abounds while being trapped inside their personal world that most of “us” would look at horrifically. Some live in squalor, some much less so. But the kids are kids. Just like my grandchildren.
The little girls hear our music and start doing TikTok-type dances. Music is international DNA. The boys see a soccer ball and a game breaks out. Nepal is a little slice of what God chose for them. One of the local volunteers asked me where I was from and we got to talking about NY and the views of the city. I showed pictures. He smiled and said, “You may have a beautiful city but we have Everest “.
He’s right. In a place that on the surface has rich culture and tradition and not-so-rich infrastructure, as you peel back the onion, the raw grit is exposed and you start to see the magic. They make this work. Nepal is a special place. We all volunteer because these kids deserve the help that we can give them. The universe allowed this match to happen.
The thank yous from everyone are great. But the look on these kids’ faces is all we need. Each mission enriches me further. The bonds created among the volunteers are special. With each mission, I make new friends for life. We are a small but might group of only 8 this time around. And we all do this for the same reason. We are the lucky ones for the opportunity. We were able to treat 1670 kids !!! There are more smiles in the world. We need more. Many many more.
The following piece was written by the team on the third day of our campaign –
We arrived at today’s school which is a bit more in the mountains and overlooks Kathmandu in the valley. The children are dressed differently. Not as neat. No uniforms. A bit more apprehensive. Fewer parents seem to be here with the kids. The school’s built with a double courtyard, a kitchen in the middle. The front courtyard is pretty nasty. Dirt and smell. When we arrive at a new location, which on this trip is every day, the first 10 minutes is time for scouting out the best schematic for our pop-up clinic. We walked through to the rear courtyard which was much better. Everyone was relieved.
We set up shop. The outside rooms, all concrete and decrepit windows with a view of the Himalayan range (what a frkn contrast) and served as the treatment room and another as post-op. The screening, education, and fluoride were outside as was my sterilization station. They brought 2 other schools to us today as well. Haven’t counted yet but over 300 kids were treated today. We don’t forget for a minute that the world is still on fire.
Our hearts are in Israel and Nepal at the same time.
Feels good to help these kids. They need it too.
Day 3 in the books.
Namaste.
Meanwhile, on the fourth day –
Another day at another school. This location is similar to the last but the dirt road is narrower and getting our van to the school was challenging. Open courtyard surrounded by classrooms. Light load of kids today. Only about 1200 – 1250 kids so far with one day left.
As we bid farewell to the insightful journals shared by our remarkable dental team, we are left with a profound sense of gratitude and inspiration. Their journey through Kathmandu, marked by challenges and triumphs, reflects the universal language of kindness that transcends borders. Treating over 1670 children, their selfless dedication has not only improved lives but also forged meaningful connections within the local community. Let these narratives remind us of the power of compassion and inspire us to continue spreading smiles and making a positive impact, one mission at a time.
