On a hot Tuesday afternoon, I helped the local community dentist. Well, I use “helped” loosely. During the 2 1/2 hours I was there, she did not have any patients, so I just stapled a stack of papers and chatted with the Filipino dentist serving in the Cuatro neighborhood, offering free services in the name of Jesus, supported by the local church ministry. After a couple hours, I had a sudden urge to leave. 
I said farewell and headed on the brief walk home through Cuatro.
Filipino squatter communities like Cuatro have a small town feel. People hang out in the streets, talking to their neighbors or just sitting outside their homes in silence. And everyone notices me since I’m not Filipino. All the kids love giving me Hi-5’s and saying “hello”; many of the men & women also greet me.
Walking briskly to our house, I rounded corners, traveling over hills and between cardboard houses. I said “Hello!” to all the smiling faces. One little boy looked at me with big brown eyes, exclaiming without hesitation, “Hello! I have a toothache!” Only God knew that this was a toothache from heaven!
I stopped in my tracks and stared at him for a few seconds. I had never met this boy before. He pressed a piece of ice against his cheek, which was turning red from the cold; he obviously had been icing his mouth for a while. He wasn’t looking for a handout or even sympathy. There’s no logical reason why he told me that he had a toothache. And there’s no possible way he would have known I was coming from my first day at the dentist office, a 4-minute walk and several bends and turns away. Many people in the community do not even know about the dentist, or avoid the dentist except in emergencies, which is why her primary task is pulling teeth.
Finding out his name, 
I asked the 11-year old Michael if I could meet his mother so I could help with his toothache. He was shy, so he ran off. His friends took me to his house. Michael’s mother “Ate” Lucy as I call her (“Ate” being the Tagalog language for “sister,” a respectful address to an older women) had never heard about this local dentist, much less that it would be free! With two other of her children and a bunch of neighborhood kids in tote, Micheal, Ate Lucy and I headed off to the dentist.
After introducing Ate Lucy to Dr. Gina (the dentist), I played with the other kids outside while Michael and his mom were ushered inside the one-chair dentist office/room. About a half hour later, Michael and his mother emerged from the room, all in smiles. He felt a little better. Fortunately, he only needed a good cleaning around the tooth and some other minor treatments. I prayed for Michael’s tooth, for total healing and praising God that His timing is perfect over the whole situation!
While we were standing there, Ate Lucy also mentioned that neither she nor her husband Henry was employed. Henry’s arthritis was inflamed; finding a job seemed impossible. But I know that the God with perfect timing is All Powerful! So I prayed with Ate Lucy and Michael prayed right outside the dentist’s office for healing and a job for Henry.
On the way home, I invited Ate Lucy 
to the women’s community Bible study at the church that night. Ate Lucy came!! I was ecstatic! She thanked me profusely for ‘helping’ her and Michael. I kept telling her it’s God that gets all the credit. His timing and ways are
perfect. I was just glad He let me be a part of the equation so I could meet Ate Lucy and Michael. And by that evening, just a few hours after I met this mother and son, God completely healed Michael. Also Ate Lucy asked if she could bring Michael to the studies. Since then, this young boy has faithfully come, walking to
and from the church with me each night of the study, filled with
excitement to hear more true stories from the Bible.
Join me in thanking God for His perfect timing and His sovereignty! Who else knew that a toothache could be such a blessing? Please pray that my dear friends Michael and Ate Lucy will truly know and grow in the Lord, each day seeking after God. Also pray with me that God will continuously provide for their physical needs.
