Outreach
A letter from Ukraine
by Dana Yeoman, Fourth-year dental student

Heidi Zinke (top center), and Dana Yeoman (right), fourth-year dental students, were on the mission team from Loma Linda that provided dental care in Ukraine. One of their patients was 8-year-old Ana, (also pictured), who became a good friend.

I want to share the most amazing mission trip with you, and thank you for making this experience possible for me. My trip this summer was to the former Soviet country of Ukraine, in Eastern Europe. We began our journey in Kiev to learn about the culture, the history, the Chernobyl disaster, and to meet other young dentists from the Kiev Dental School.

We were warmly greeted everywhere and welcomed by very important dental leaders. The young dentists were in their internships and quickly became our friends, traveling to museums and other locations with us. They then worked with us jointly at our clinic.

From Kiev, we traveled to an outlying country village. We set up our clinic at a sanatorium built by Khrushchev for sufferers of the Chernobyl disaster. Most of the children we treated there were afflicted with diseases caused by the aftermath of Chernobyl's radiation as it continues to radiate large portions of the country.

We also treated orphaned teenagers bused in from nearby boarding school/orphanage. The children were appreciative and affectionate. They were so happy with the gentle treatment they received, they brought gifts of chocolate and wildflowers pilfered from obliging meadows. We did countless fillings and large numbers of extractions, and helped with Bible story telling, crafts, and aerobic lessons.

Arguably, they were thrilled most by the use of anesthetic, a luxury in a country where dentists are more likely to drill without it. Yet I know we reached people more deeply than a filling. The adults, who appeared distrustful at first, embraced us as friends when they saw how we loved and helped their children.

Luda Ignatyev, a dental team member from Kiev and who was part of the mission trip (right), and Dana Yeoman inspect teaching aids for dental students who are learning about dentures at the School of Dentistry in Kiev.

We invaded their quiet sanatorium like a herd of buffalo, descending on the playground with squeals of delight. At first, the children were surprised at the "grown-up" display of fun. They soon learned we loved to play with them, whether it be rollerblading, jumping rope, basketball (we had no comparable soccer talent among us), or tossing ever popular water balloons.

The kids waited eagerly for us each evening in the courtyard, and Ukrainians and Americans became steadfast friends. We joined them for singing worship songs, prayed with them, hugged them, and loved them till it hurt to leave.

The most touching incident to me involved an elderly gentleman by the name of Anton Michailovich. He had been sitting in a corner of the clinic watching his grandson being treated. He was laughing heartily at our games and gimmicks intended to keep the children happy and distracted. Anton explained to Dr. Nelson, our leader, "Remember when our countries were enemies? It is such a beautiful thing that Americans now come and help our children." He repeated the same message for me with a hug. To me, he is Grandpa Anton, and I will never forget him.

We have made indelible friends for God, for our country, and for ourselves. Thank you for making this life-changing experience possible.

Sincerely, Dana Yeoman, student dentist

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