La Mitad Del Mundo

Loma Linda University (LLU) Dentistry Touches the Lives of Orphans and Prostitutes on the Equator

Pichincha volcano near Quito

Excitement was running high as our group of nine students and two faculty prepared to leave LLU for Los Angeles International Airport - but where was Allen? We need everyone here or we can’t leave - Oh, here he comes. Now we can go.

We got to the airport three hours ahead of departure, and with all the check-in and security lines, barely made our midnight flight southeastward to South America. With a stop in Guatemala City and a plane change in San Jose (Costa Rica), we arrived at our destination capital city of Quito, 10 h later (13 h later, less 3 h time change to Eastern Standard).

It is often thought that the center of the Western hemisphere and the Americas is somewhere in Central America, as the name would imply. Realizing that Ecuador means “equator” in Spanish, we are reminded that this South American coastal country lies on the equator. And south of Quito, 14 miles is a monument to “La Mitad del Mundo” (the half of the world) or the middle of the earth.

During Spring break, the LLU School of Dentistry sent this group of students and faculty to the equator, to the picture-perfect capital of Quito. The capital of Ecuador is arguably the most beautiful city in South America, being located in a large bowl of greenery 9350 feet above sea level, the second-highest capital in the world after La Paz. It boasts a wonderful springlike climate, though we were there during the wettest and coldest part of the year.

Mitad Del Mundo monument outside of Quito

View of Ecuador’s capital, Quito

One freshman, two sophomores, and six juniors left LAX March 15, 2002, for a week of dental mission service learning with some of the neediest of this country. Arrangements had been made by Gerardo Toledo, DDS (LLU School of Dentistry faculty and former missionary), coordinating with Adventist Development and Relief Agency and the Ecuadorian Union of Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA). Additional faculty support was gladly provided by me. Our goal was to visit an orphanage on the outskirts of Quito to take care of all the dental needs of the 52 orphaned children. We would then spend two more days in downtown Quito, at the Clinica Adventista, treating the mouths of a previously interviewed group of prostitutes. These people of extreme need who would likely never otherwise see a dentist were the target groups.

Ecuador is an intriguing country, with a population of nearly 13 million, and about the size of the state of Nevada. It is one of several neighboring countries with strong indigenous Indian influence, mostly Quichua (Kichwa). It has many mountains formed by volcanoes, some of which are still active, and the farmlands extend far up the side of these tapered inclines, making Ecuador known as the “Switzerland of South America.” Surprisingly, the currency is the U.S. dollar. Our stay in Quito was made much easier by the Ecuadorian Union of SDA, which provided airport transfers and lodging in the guest rooms of the Union office not far from the airport.

After getting acquainted with Union personnel and seeing a little of downtown, doing a little shopping at Otavalo a couple of hours from Quito, and visiting the equator at “La Mitad del Mundo,” we headed for the orphanage, “Fundación Aliñambi” (Good Way Foundation), to live with these beautiful children for two days, and eliminate all dental problems in their mouths.

Dr. Fritz assisting Allen Job

Aliñambi orphanage is an unusual and interesting place. Its children, orphaned by unwanting, imprisoned, or street-living parents, are housed in family-style homes with similar age groups. An “auntie” lives with them as a caretaker and counselor, and about 14-16 children of the same gender live together in each “home.” Ages 3-16 live, work, study, and pray there, and after the age limit of 17, they leave with a technical skill learned, prepared for an ordered life, and ready to find employment. They are taught cooking, housekeeping, neatness, and discipline. Rising daily at 6 a.m., making beds, sweeping and mopping, cooking and doing dishes, are all routine for all ages. School for grades 1-7 is conducted in the a.m., and Colegio of 3 technical grades is in the p.m. All who are 12-16 work in one of the industries on the campus, such as woodshop, farming, Alipan (good bread) bakery, and sewing. All of this is under the direction of a fatherly, caring man, a retired attorney named Lorenzo Jumbo Quezada, and it is impressive to see him in action. The training of these young lives involves, in this priority: spiritual, educational, responsibility, and work ethic. During these two days, we tackled all dental needs of the 52 children who live at this orphanage, as well as many of the children who also attend classes at the Aliñami school, from homes in the community of the surrounding area.

Orphans who live and study at Fundación Aliñambi orphanage

After only two days, relationships had quickly built, which we found difficult to leave behind. The children sang for us, gifts were exchanged, they hugged and kissed us, and through tears (theirs and ours) were begging us not to leave. It was a very difficult thing to get in our cars and head back to Quito. But we needed to move operations to the Clinica Adventista in Quito, where we took all the equipment and set up temporary operatories, before retiring at our Union office “home” that night.

The Clinica Adventista is situated in downtown Quito and is a bright light of medical work in the second-largest city in the country. It is organized as a policlinica (policlinic or multiclinic) style practice, and 12 specialties are offered. In addition, they have 20 beds available for inpatient care, of which 10 are occupied at the time of our visit.

Panoramic view of Quito

Our goal in Quito was to attend to the dental needs of a neglected segment of society, who are abused and rejected by society on a daily basis. The organization “Asociación Pro Defensa de La Mujer,” represents a large group of 450 prostitutes and defends their rights. Dr. Toledo had done the research for his master’s thesis with the help of this organization and interviews with some of the member ladies.

Downtown Quito

Hence, we wanted to provide dental services and provide an unusual experience of service learning for all. The Clinica Adventista provided support these two days in the form of the dental department operatory, as well as extra space to set up temporary operatories. A very positive jolt was given to these women as they were shown love and kindness with nothing expected in return, and dentistry was performed in a gentle, caring way. I truly believe that during this one-time contact with people never expecting such generosity and giving, Christ’s love was reflected to them in a special way by each student. “In as much as you have done it unto the least of these; you have done it unto Me.” LLU showed these women how to feel the warm love of God, probably how Mary Magdalene felt with Christ, and it was a very fulfilling experience.

One of these days, after working, we were invited down for a tour of the radio station behind the Clinica. A live, on-air interview of both faculty members proceeded, wherein we were able to tell the reason for our work in Ecuador, and what is different about dental education at LLU. For Dr. Toledo, this was quite natural, as Spanish is his first language; however, for me, the tense moment of speaking in Spanish to a radio audience was accomplished with much trepidation and several errors. But the message was beamed to a big chunk of the country, and there is now a little more understanding about LLU in Ecuador.

After the strain of difficult dentistry in complicated circumstances, we headed south, to go apart for a while, to reflect on all that had happened, to find some rest for the weary. Passing down the “Avenue of the Volcanoes,” formed by two parallel volcanic mountain ranges, it contains some of the country’s wildest scenery, most beautiful panoramas, and nine of its 10 highest peaks. Passing the famous snow-capped volcano mountain, Cotopaxi, we arrived in Baños. Here, the small, quaint town is surrounded by jungle-like mountains on either side, one of which is a volcano, heating water for the hot pools. This hot water coming from Tungurahua volcano was soothing to our sore necks and tired backs. As we shared our experiences and feelings right there in that delicious warm pool that Friday night, God seemed so near to us, smiling down with satisfaction at what had been accomplished, and the many who had been reached by His love by way of the dental fingers of LLU. God prompted our eleven members to spend their Spring break in this service-learning activity, and he also touched each one of us with divine warmth in each heart and soul.

Los Baños, Ecuador, about 4 hour drive from Quito with hot baths of volcanic water

Famed Cotopaxi volcano

Dental student group from Loma Linda University

Ronald E. Fritz, DDS, MPH

Loma Linda University, 1972