City Center Dental Care | Jamaica Journals 2002

Jamaica Journals 2002

Jamaica 2002 Summer Missions Trip
By William T. Griffin, DDS

*click on photos to enlarge*

Tuesday

Devotions: Epistemology: what is truth? How is truth determined? Can some things be true for you, but not for me?

Q. Who in the Bible asked the question, "What is truth?" What was the situation? (Jesus was on trial before Pilate. Jesus had said, "Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice," and Pilate responded, "What is truth?" )

- Everyone will agree that we can determine truth through experience, through observation of the world around us, through processing data with the brain God has given us. Eg - Scientific Method.

Question: is this the only way to discover truth; put another way, can we gather enough data from the world around us to provide us with all the truth we need to know to get through life?

- The Bible claims to consist of another type of truth; its claim to truth is not dependent upon the analysis or interpretation of man, it is based upon the credentials of its Author, God. (i.e. - "Son, it's time to go to bed." "Why, dad?" "Because I said so.")

- 2 Peter 2:20,21 - "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."

- Listen to this passage, Job 28, and look for references to these two different ways of determining truth, that which man can discover and also that which God must reveal specially through His Word, the Bible. It is given in the form of a contrast between knowledge and wisdom.

- Job 28:1-28 General Revelation vs. Special Revelation

- Conclusion: Just as each of us live our lives from a position of faith of one sort or another, each of us will live our lives in search of truth. Our search for truth will either acknowledge God as the source of all truth, including that which is found in the Bible, or else we will be limited in our search to what we can discover apart from God's special revelation.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jessica giving an injection

Today's treatment in the clinic was challenging - not merely due to the need for some difficult extractions, but also because of behavior management issues. I was treating one 9-year old with a tooth to be removed. Unlike a large majority of Jamaican patients, he was whining uncontrollably, even though he was feeling no pain. We required his father to leave the room until he agreed

to stop whining. Initially this just made the problem worse. Soon it became clear that the developing power struggle was at least as important as the dentistry to be accomplished. Finally, after perhaps 10 minutes of whining, he agreed to calm down. His father was then allowed back into the room, and the treatment was completed without difficulty.

Krista evaluates a pateint while Kelly sheds some light on the subject

Lona, Matt, Kim, and LaToya enjoy a quick lunch break

This afternoon I saw a 3-year old girl with rampant decay in virtually every tooth. We were removing the two worst teeth, and she was understandably upset about the process. It's not easy to give anesthesia properly on a moving target,

and it took three of us to control her so her needs could be met. Zach, a fourth year student who was on his second missions trip to Jamaica, was able to stabilize the patient well enough so that we could remove the offending teeth. He is thinking about becoming a pediatric specialist, and if he does, he'll be a good one.

Heather administers anesthesia

Kevin and Kelly combine their efforts.

Next day, Wednesday

Jamaica Journals HOME

Featured Dental Services

Office Info

Jamaica Journals 2002