{"id":5744,"date":"2021-03-05T09:14:18","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T16:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/jordan-husband\/?p=5744"},"modified":"2021-03-05T10:09:09","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T17:09:09","slug":"cavities-and-cubbies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/jordan-husband\/2021\/03\/05\/cavities-and-cubbies\/","title":{"rendered":"Cavities and Cubbies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Jordan helping Dr. Michelle improve the oral health of one of our neighbors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Worldwide pandemics have a way of complicating things – including plans for the (mostly) annual dental clinic in Las Moras! Pulling off this year’s edition required jumping through many hoops – including considering PPE access, medical experts’ recommendations, and two nations’ coronavirus responses. Despite these challenges and more, our little mountain community still wanted the clinic to go forward – and our awesome dental team was willing to make it happen. Planes arrived carrying people and supplies, boxes were pulled out of attics, tools lined up on sterile tables… and we got to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The actual clinic ran three and a half days, though travel and prep\/cleanup required plenty of additional time. Over 130 patients were treated – receiving cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, reconstructions, and referrals for work beyond our on-site capacity. Some lived less than a five minute walk from the clinic, while others spent several hours walking or driving from surrounding communities. In each case, it was our privilege to show God’s love to them though addressing basic needs. We are grateful He has provided this avenue to serve the common good out here, and pray that our volunteers’ sacrificial service draw people to the One whose example they emulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adding a resident to our mountain home, and seeing grandparents and grandkids spend some time together!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the dental clinic, our family spent some time on the coast – resupplying, getting badly-needed (overdue!) vehicle and equipment repairs, and occasionally even resting. This was also an opportunity to pick up a Christmas gift promised to our kids – a kitten named ‘Jack,’ who the kids promoted to ‘Captain Jack Sparrow.’ Both Amy’s parents and my own visited at different times: reunions which encouraged us greatly, as we took time to celebrate special moments often missed while apart. That precious time passed all too quickly – as always – but we are incredibly grateful for God’s kind provision of such little foretastes of heaven!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Installing cubbies and shelves in the girls’ room: before (left side), after (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As we returned to Las Moras, a team of missionaries from Chihuahua made the trip as well. A trio of students from the NTM Mexico Spanish program – Gamaiel, Lucas, and Ryan – left their families and studies for a week in order to help us (along with our good friend and build foreman Don Chubb) push the house a little further along. Meeting some of our newest mission coworkers was a long-anticipated privilege, easing some disappointments from missing our COVID-cancelled biannual field conference. Reality did not disappoint – these are some awesome<\/em> guys! – and we got a ton done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top priorities included connecting a cistern to house waterlines, varnishing our entire kitchen against rainy season mold (also installing cupboard doors), and hanging the most helpful interior doors. Once that was done, we tackled other pre-rainy season projects: sealing windows and doors, installing a porch rainwater collection system, and more. We made bed frames, built shelves and cubbies, reinforced floor weak spots, and connected our twin tub washer… and then sorted all the leftover building materials and tools (which had been occupying parts of the living and dining rooms) into our newly re-organized shed. Along the way, the guys also finished myriad other small projects too small and numerous to list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remote ministry has a way of magnifying many life challenges which would be simpler if living in a typical Western context. In the mountains, one cannot simply call a plumber or contractor! Ryan, Gamaiel, Don, and Lucas sacrificed their time to come alongside us and bless us through talents God has given them. We are grateful for each of them, and the way their gift of service eases our load as we work among the Nahuatl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking out over Las Moras with visiting coworkers on a morning hike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coming up soon for Amy and I is a new milestone: our first formal Nahuatl language and culture evaluation. Such evals are a critical part of our studies – a chance to see how far we’ve come, recognize weak areas we have not perceived, and plan out strategy for upcoming study. In a project spanning multiple years, such assessments keep us on course and help us adjust well! Stepping underneath a microscope is always a humbling experience, so please pray for good attitudes and humility on our part as our coworkers arrive to help us in this marathon journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Praising God!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n