The Drama Queen Can Tell Stories
the rambling, thoughts and narratives of a 30-something dentist
Mission Life Entry #3. Saturday, 23rd of September 2017. Daraga, Albay.
4:00am. My alarm sounded and my mind and body weren’t ready to function yet. The room is pitch dark and my teammates are still asleep. I snoozed the alarm–and bought myself 30 more minutes.
Continue reading “The Mission Life: Serving in the Red Area”
In the latest dental mission I went to, I worked independent from my team. I was invited to join a nationwide Medical-Dental event that was participated by various sectors but I came on my own, so I came representing You and Your Teeth Dental Clinic (my dental practice), and Team Jesus (my mission team).
More confident with my own instruments, I have been accustomed to bringing my set, despite how heavy it is, but I was told I didn’t have to bother because they will bring the instruments. It was more convenient that way, of course, because a full surgery set is quite heavy and it’s much fun to travel light. So I was grateful for that. It seemed perfect–but I was wrong because…
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.”
Ephesians 4:1
One day, during morning devotion in the ARMS mission trip to Tacloban, we woke up to find memory verses on the table. I found Ephesians 4:1 on my side of the table and upon seeing it, I realized that it defines my life’s mission.
Mission Life Entry #2. Monday, 17th April 2017, Departure Area Legazpi Airport.
10:55am. My flight back to Manila is delayed. I am heading back from a mission with Team Jesus and I hope to rush home so I could rest, recuperate and finish packing for Tacloban. When I said “yes” to the holy week mission, I wasn’t thinking straight. But I thought, the clinic will be closed anyway, so I might as well–and I’m glad I made that decision.
Continue reading “The Mission Life: Traveling from One Mission to Another”
Mission Life Entry #1: Saturday, 25th January. Tabacco, Albay
8:30am. Sometimes, I don’t know what I’m doing. Right now I’m stuck in Tabacco, Albay waiting for the ferry that will take me to Catanduanes. I didn’t make it to the 7am one, so I have no choice but to wait for the next trip. I didn’t make it to the 7am one because I didn’t factor in EDSA traffic and the 12hr bus ride stretched to a torturous 15hrs.
The other day I woke up to a very bad dream. In the dream I was a bad dentist. So bad that friends and family hated me. I remember waking up sad… and then I started crying. I was in a mission, sleeping with a doctor on the other bed, and I started to sob. “It’s just a dream, Crix”, I said. “Just a dream.”
Whenever I go on missions in Mindoro, I’m usually very busy inside the Dental Section and miss the rest of the program. I hear the screaming and laughter, and sometimes I want to leave the patients to join in the fun, but when we’re busy, we’re busy. Anyway there are days when the Dental Section does not get too many patients, so we’re done quite early. During those days, I go out and try to have fun with the children.
