Santo Domingo (Espaillat) 5 - Just Hold On....

Santo Domingo 5 - Just Hold On....

We had such an amazing week here in Espaillat. In addition to all of the lessons, the working, sweating, and busy stuff, we had the opportunity to help out a ship that comes here every 2 years. The majority of the medical and dental providers that come over on the ship are American and they're here to provide free medical services for Dominicans, Haitians and basically people that can't pay or provide them for themselves. So a couple billingual missionaries and I went over there on yesterday to translate (that's why I didn't write on P-day and I'm writing today, by the way).

It was a lot different than I expected. I knew the people were going to be in need and that we were going to be providing a lot of help for the people that I've come to love and appreciate so much in my time here. But I was humbled greatly. I worked in the dental section, helping surgeons and doctors understand and communicate with the patients. As the day started up, the people started coming in with all kinds of problems. Cavities, root canals, and sometimes their teeth were so bad that the doctors just looked at me and we had to decide which of all the teeth we were going to pull. It was very sad to see the lack of health care that the people have in this country. 

 

At the medical station, translating for the doctors and dentists that came on the ship

 

In my time there, a family walked in, a mother with two small children. One of them was 2 years old and had Down Syndrome; the other a little 8 year old girl. I was thinking that they came with their mother to wait for her to get surgery, but after talking with them for a while realized that the little boy- at such a young age and with such a difficult disability- was going to get the dental surgery. We brought him over to the table and I tried my hardest to make him comfortable, get him laughing, and just do whatever I could to keep his attention. The doctor took out the needle and I told the little boy to grab my hand and squeeze it as hard as he possibly could. I told him to try to break my hand if he could. So, with one hand holding down his flailing knees and the other holding his right hand firmly trying to comfort him, to do whatever possible, we proceeded with the surgery. The following 15 minutes was one of the most touching and difficult experiences I've had in my entire life. To see the pain and discomfort of someone so innocent, so loving and young, killed me inside. In that moment, I wanted more than anything to take his place. To put his trial and his pain on my shoulders so he could have rest. In that little room with the doctor and his worried mother and little sister, God helped me see how He felt when His Son, Jesus Christ, took upon Himself the pains of the world. There was nothing He could do for his Son. He couldn't go through it himself, it had to be Him. What He did was comfort Him. He sent an angel from the heavens to help the Savior and Reedemer of our souls go through what He did in the Garden of Gethsamane. I learned the pain and anguish that you feel to watch someone go through something so horrible and not be able to do anything about it. And it helped me learn and fortify the testimony I have of Jesus Christ.

 

I know that He lives and I'm so very grateful for the sacrifice He made for each and every single one of us. I know this Gospel is true and I'm priviledged to be able to preach it.

Elder Graff