In the night the fans died, leaving humidity so thick it was hard to breath. Then the rain came, sounding like a rushing river cascading down our roof and spearing the ground with thick droplets.The day started with a lot of rain. The drenching, tropical, crazy kind that feels like you're getting pelted with airborne marbles. Had breakfast with teammate Rachel Young, the dentist team, and the orphans. If there's one thing all people can enjoy together it's a meal!! By the time breakfast was over, the rain had stopped, and there was an enormous, full-arch rainbow painted across the lake, reminding us that God would never flood the earth entirely again (though it'd felt like maybe the world was flooding earlier that morning. The rainbow is a sign of God's eternal promises, promises and Words that remain and resound across generations and across miles. It was an hour's drive or so to our site for the dental clinic, packed in a 5-seat truck with two in the open-air back. The simplicity and wild creation around me reminds me of how very away I am. I've been here three times before, and the smell, heat and sun beating on fertile earth, mixed with a sharp burning scent and frijoles in a caldero, always ignites memories. God has been faithful to the people here, and to the people who come. We have so much to share with each other. The dentists are from Managua, and their. They are a blessing to the people. As we bump and chug through the riverbed roads I am amazed at the sacrifice and dedication of the people around me. There are three dentists: Jonathan, who I met four years ago and assisted before, his friend Miguel, and his wife Hazel. Hazel is four months pregnant, and her and Jonathan have brrought their son, Jonathan Junior, who is three, "hyperactive" (Jonathan says: "How do you say that word? Hyperacteev?"), and spends much of his time sprawled across our laps fast asleep despite the earthquake like environment that is the truck ride. Then there is Jonathan's sister and "Jonah's" aunt (tia), Raquel. She is youthful and smiling. Finally there is Rachel and I, and Oswaldo, our driver, who has been at the orphanage pretty much his entire life. What a crew! It very much feels like a family environment, because it is one. We all look out our windows and take in the smoky campos and jungle, and laugh at Jonah's antics, attempting to learning more about each other despite language barriers. It's hot in the simple church we've have to set up our clinic in. The church is four walls and a roof. Wooden benches for chairs, rickety tables and cloth, flowers, a bible, a few instruments. With the help of the village nurses we clear the stage and hang up a curtain. Jonathan re-teaches me the names of instruments, the cleaning cycle and the process of assitisting him. I explain that to Rachel. Hazel hand writes a list of patients and begins making baggies oof pain killers and antibiotics. Slowly patients begin to fill the church seats, children and adults, silent and patient, some massaging their cheeks. Miguel and Jonathan are smiling and light-hearted, expert with their work, easing the minds of their patients and explaining diagnostics. Making good use of the simple tools we are able to bring to the island (which has little dental care). We work steadily all morning and well into the afternoon. Rachel and I hold lights, set up instruments, refill gauze and anesthesia. we hand them to the dentists and snip stitches thread. We hold the hands of children, and smile at the brave people who come with very, very painful, rotted teeth, braving the extraction. The patients are brave, most of them don't make a peep. There are a few tears, but Miguel jokes with the kids and gets them to smile, helps them to trust. Little Jonah and his tia plays in the background, making friends with neighborhood children. It's a long hot, humid day of work, the one fan aimed at the patients. A squeaky dental chair and a stack of plastic chairs their seats. Without any complaints, the dentists do their work. Jonathan gets out his cell phone and plays classical music for atmosphere, a little guitar, a little saxaphone, a bit of Beethoven. Chariots of Fire (be brave kid!! You'll make it!). The people of the village feed us lunch and we get a soda at a local tienda. Stocked with hand picked fruits, t-shirts, shoes, soda, this and that. The people are happy to be cared for. We leave happy to have had patients. I feel proud of this little family with generous hearts and a senses of humor. Steady, helping hands. We've gotten up early and sweated all day, so we find a place to take a break by some cool water and then head back to the orphanage, in time to eat with everyone! Our teammates are all reporting aching limbs and sore backs from mixing concrete all day. We eat a yummy meal of beans, soggy pasta, pan, veggie patties, and fruit juice. Then congregate in the rancho. We sing a worship song together, a favorite thing for many of us, lead by Ted and JM. Jason gives us  a message illustrating Christ's love for people and the love we must have for people. He leads us in praying for one another, an act of love that shows a vulnerable side of each of us not too often exposed in such short aquaintance. It brings us together. Raquel, Terri, and Stella pray for me, and I am blessed an encouraged. Afterwards we are easier in our interactions, though we are a very diverse group. We play games, tocar la guiterra, sing songs, dance around, goof. Tomorrow it's out with the dentists again. And NOW is time for sleep! I wipe sweat from my brow (from humidity, not from the exertion of writing this), and look forward to collapsing on my cot. The bugs are chorusing, the orphans are asleep (or at least tucked in), and I hear a few murmurs. Goodnight all! God bless-  Justina