Mission trip to Micronesia (all about water and boxes) story and photos by Doyle Nick, SD'78, PG'94 Sapwuafik is the name of an island, three-quarters of a mile in diameter, which balances on the rim of a reef, five miles in diameter, surrounded by one million square miles of Pacific Ocean and a smattering of islands called Micronesia. This pinpoint of land is the home of about 700 people who live by fishing and farming.   Sapwaufic Island shoreline   These people were the focus of a recent service learning trip from the School of Dentistry. Also sponsored by the Oceanside Seventh-day Adventist Church, the dental Alumni Association, and NASDAD, this adventure was lived by Glen Abbott, SD'00, Ravi Busi, SD'00, Jack Kavanagh, SD'01, Trent Listello, SD'00, Tae Oh, SD'00, Ken Pierson, SD'00, Elena Sanz, SD'00, and Doyle Nick, SD'78, PG'94, assistant professor of restorative dentistry, plus five other people, during the last two weeks of June. Another group of eight people, mostly from the Oceanside SDA Church, accompanied us but with Nukuoro, another tiny island, as a destination. Boating some of the boxes from ship to shore. Boxes at Pohnepei Airport. Water defined the trip. Every event of the trip, it seemed, contained the essential ingredient H2O in its many forms: rain, sea water, sweat, etc. Leaving LAX with a small mountain of equipment and supplies at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, we flew over the Pacific to Honolulu, Hawaii. After a hike in the rain, some sightseeing, and a Waikiki swim, we slept very well despite our excited anticipation. The next day, bright and early, we lugged our daunting pile of boxes to the airport and checked in for the island of Pohnepei. The plane, one of nine such 727s, specially modified to carry large amounts of fuel and land on short runways, stopped on Johnston Atoll, Majaro, Kwajalien, and Kosrae, en route to the capitol of Micronesia. Once on Pohnepei, we were taken by car and truck to the harbor where we loaded our freight on a Micronesian naval cutter. Then we were driven to the Adventist academy, where we were graciously welcomed by flower leis and headbands, a wonderful feast, and gentle native singing. Tae Oh and Ken Pierson doing oral surgery. Jack Kavanagh and patient At 11:00 p.m., we were once again at the harbor, where we boarded our ship, made little nests everywhere and settled down for some much-needed sleep. Alas, a drenching downpour awakened most of us and drove us to little dry corners of the ship, where we huddled in foggy weariness until the sun, beautiful cloudscapes and seascapes encouraged us to move on to our final destination. Once again, the boxes were hauled to the rail and passed into little boats for the trips to shore. We waded the last few feet and found ourselves, at last, on the sands of Sapwuafik. Soon thereafter the cutter, with the other group of people, pulled out of the harbor on its way to Nukuoro, another 16 hours away. We spent six wonderful days fixing generators, becoming friends with people who had been only acquaintances, eating island food, snorkeling, swimming, talking to the people of Sapwaufik, and yes: extracting and fixing teeth.   Ravi Busi, Glen Abbott, Jack Kavanagh, Elena Sanz, Tae Oh, Ken Pierson, Trent Listello, and Dr. Doyle Nick comprised the dental team who ministered to the people of Micronesia.   We saw about 300 patients, extracted 500 teeth, and did about 150 restorative procedures. We also learned about outrigger canoes, pig walls, tuba, diving for shells, old-time magic, what the stars and Southern Cross look like in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, how sweat tickles your back when you are doing dentistry, and about God's love. We taught how to avoid cavities, about health and illness, about God's love, and about the United States. We were thrilled with the fact that the people had saved all the water collected off the church roof and, even in dry season, there was enough for us to bathe every day. We filtered many gallons of water and drank as if our lives depended on it. The physician in our group saw many people and was able to alleviate much pain and disease. Back on Pohnepei for the weekend, we saw the majestic and mysterious ruins of the ancient city of Nan Madol, attended church, hiked Sokus Mountain, patronized the woodcarvers and rested for the trip back. Because we crossed the International Date Line, we had a very long Monday, June 28, for the trip back. Lucky, because we traveled for 32 hours to get to our homes that day! With aching backs and a great weariness, we thought back over the last two weeks. How sad we were that it was already over! How we look forward to the next time we can see some of the world and bring better health to other people and other cultures!   Trent Listello, Elena Sanz, and Doyle Nick making memories.   University | Medical_Center | LLU&MC_home | Search | Employment | News_&_events | Academics | Our_mission | Admissions | Registration | Research | Alumni | Student_resources All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University. All rights reserved. Revised February 28, 2001 Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu  URL: http://www.llu.edu