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Ralph and Charla Francis, Dental Missionaries in Cambodia

Charla and I are just one month from departure [February 9] and have much to do. We understand our replacements are not available until May. We submitted a project request last September 2002 for a four-chair teaching clinic. The amount of the project is $36,812. I have everything in line to do this project; it needs to be approved. The next missionaries should be able to complete it. Things at the dental school are slowly improving. The equipment in both clinics is very old and not in great condition. Everywhere you look, there needs to be improvement. The desire on the part of the faculty and staff is there, but they lack for funds to make changes. That is why a four-chair teaching clinic in the Pedodontic Department would be so valuable. I have been teaching and instructing in that department since last March. Part of the project was to have a follow-up dentist-orthodontist with this project.

My project in Kandal Province for the dental clinic to supply ART technique and extractions is almost completed. We are in the final stages. There will be two dental stations. There is a sterilization room, bathroom, office, and waiting area. We have been instructing and implementing upgraded sterilization techniques, but we are not all the way there, but improving. It is a nice, clean clinic and will serve as a model for other clinics to be built in other Third World countries. This clinic will serve so many poor in that area - there is excitement in the air out there as they are getting ready to complete the building. Many are asking about what is happening and there is a lot of interest and appreciation for what LDS Charities is doing. As a bonus to what we did, a schoolroom was made available on the second floor above the dental clinic and will serve to teach almost 200 students each day. We presently have a project request in Salt Lake for funds to help with the schoolroom, supplies, and necessary equipment to help the teachers offer what is needed.

The seven dentists who came in November enjoyed tremendous success. Richard
Smith can fill you in on that project. (See the accompanying article.)

I have donated through LDSC dental slides from the University of Texas (oral
pathology slides) and an upgraded Kodak slide projector to be used in viewing the slides. Craig Smith donated an apex locator for demonstration in the Endodontic Department. My son, who works for Adec Dental Equipment Company, supplied me with six very good handpieces.

We also did an oral hygiene project with our Learning Center to teach the students brushing techniques. We dispensed a toothbrush and toothpaste plus gave the advanced students a ticket to have their teeth professionally cleaned.

I also teach orthodontics at the dental school and have done so since last March. I lecture on Thursday mornings and then attend clinic the rest of the day. There are four main clinics around the city where I go to instruct and help with orthodontic procedures. It has been very satisfying and helpful to teach in these clinics. The next missionary orthodontist will have many patients waiting for him to carry on their treatment and help in these clinics.

We have been richly blessed with opportunities that have come from who knows where, and now we are in great demand. If anyone back home thinks there is not a need for an orthodontist in a Third World country, they are wrong, because so much can be done to help with so many dental problems. We have loved our mission. We had a very slow start, but things have opened up and the Lord has blessed us with opportunities that He knew we needed and would be of help to others.

We still go out many nights with the elders onnight appointments - that is one of the greatest parts of our mission- but it does cut into our time.

It has been a super time here in Cambodia - it is going to be very hard to leave because we have loved and been loved by these wonderful people. The rubber does meet the road out here in the mission field and the blessings come along with it. We are very happy and know that our time here has been well spent. We will return very tired, but that is
how we want it to be.

Elder Ralph Francis

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