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Memories of the San Marcos Dental School Project

By Dallas E. Murdoch, DDS

In life we have windows of opportunity that come and then are gone. At the meeting of the LDS Academy of Dentists in August 2000, mention was made by Gerald Summerhays of an upcoming project at the San Marcos Dental School in Lima, Peru, needing volunteers. I recognized it as a window of opportunity and the Spirit said "go." Later, as team leader, I felt the promptings of the Spirit as decisions were made concerning airline schedules, hotel accommodations, room assignments, donated dental supplies, and a myriad of other challenges. The Lord wanted this mission to succeed.

We have all been taught that the day may come when we will live the law of consecration, where we will contribute all that the Lord has blessed us with in the building of His kingdom. Our group lived this law during the project, and we all felt an increase in spirituality because of it. As an example, on the day we arrived in Lima, we assembled in the MTC for sacrament meeting. The group looked to me for guidance, and I said, "Who in our group is presently serving as a bishop?" Several hands went up, and Bishop Scott Danley from Heber City was asked to take charge of the service. He quickly made assignments for the music, sacrament, speakers, and prayers.

Perhaps the most memorable of our experiences was the day-to-day work in the clinic. To see and feel the gratitude of the patients for the service we rendered was overwhelming. We were truly performing a Christlike service, doing something for others that they could not do for themselves. The students who assisted us were eager to learn and exhibited a sincere desire to improve their own skills. Our group passed out a number of copies of the Book of Mormon and made referrals to the missionaries. They were a sweet, humble, teachable group, obvious descendants of Father Lehi and heirs to all of the promised blessings.

Another of the great blessings of our trip was associating with Elder Rick and Sister Alma Meyers, who are serving an 18-month mission for the Church. Along with being on the faculty of the dental school, Brother Meyers is also a counselor in the MTC presidency. He and Sister Meyers, who is a native of Guatemala, speak fluent Spanish. To see the example and spirit they bring to their assignment was truly uplifting. They were our team leaders during the project and went the extra mile for each of us. Their organizational skills were a great help in keeping us on track and accomplishing our objectives.

The last day of our project, we worked until noon, as the school was having a program in the afternoon to celebrate the 57th year since its founding. The staff in diagnosis would identify the needs of each patient and place their treatment plan and health history on a chart. They would also indicate which areas of the mouth had been anesthetized. The patient would then come upstairs, carrying his/her patient bib, anesthetic syringe, and chart. These three items were placed on a table in our clinic. When we were ready for a new patient, we would pick up the three items, call for the patient, and escort him/her to our operatory. However, as I picked up the chart for my last patient, I noticed the staff had scheduled extractions, root canal treatments, fillings, and crowns in all four quadrants, and all were anesthetized and ready to be worked on. I thought, "What do those people in diagnosis expect of us? There is no way I can do all this work in the short amount of time available." I immediately started to look for Rick Meyers to see if he knew what was going on. In my frustration, I turned the chart over and looked at the name of the patient. Then instantly, I knew I had been royally had. The name on the chart was "Gordon Christensen." When the crew in diagnosis found out what had happened, they all gave a loud cheer.

The 57th anniversary program of the dental school was very special. As a surprise to all of us, they gave each of our group a certificate of appreciation and a special gift. It was obvious they appreciated our efforts. Afterward, we joined with the faculty and students for a lovely meal and program featuring music and dancing. It was a day we will all remember.

The next morning nine of the group flew to Cuzco, a city in central Peru at 11,440 feet. This was a very important city in Incan history that had been conquered by the Spanish, so we were able to see the magnificent Incan construction and the Spanish cathedrals that followed. On Sunday, we took a four-hour train ride to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu. This place has a special spirit, as it was possibly a temple city for the Inca. We
all marveled at their intricate handiwork.

The next morning we flew back to Lima. After shopping and visiting museums in Lima, we assembled at Rick and Alma's apartment for a final testimony meeting. It was a rich spiritual experience in which we all had the opportunity to express our feelings. Alma commented that the students at the dental school that day asked her if we were all brothers and sisters or if we knew each other before we came on this trip. She explained to them, "We did not know each other before our trip, but we are brothers and sisters in the gospel and that is why we were so close to each other." As we left for the airport, we knew that the rich memories and spiritual experiences we had shared would be with us for the rest of our lives.

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