Of Barefoot Dentists... And Rich Young Rulers

By Viv Grigg

He came for a visit. To give some money. And he stayed. For two years now he has lived in this slum. He repaired childrens' teeth.

He came to give a gift to a woman named Prateep. She had begun a kindergarten for the children of the slum. The children with the rotting teeth.

Dentists cost a lot of money. 300 Baht per tooth to be exact. And these children eat a lot of sugar.

Prateep had developed a school from her kindergarten. It was illegal because of course squatters are illegal. They don't exist. Legally that is. But their teeth hurt.

When she won the Magsaysay award the officials made her legal and assisted. And so were added some day care centres. And she was able to organize the people to help them get rights to the land on which they were living - at least for twenty years. That's an amazing feat.

But their teeth still hurt.

So when a dentist came to give a gift ...

He is Burmese. But it is a Thai slum - and very large at that. Thousands upon thousands of families living in plywood and galvanized iron huts over the stagnant swampy waters of Bangkok.

His round face concentrates intently over a small lathe. On his table lie a dozen dentures.

His name in English is Vivian. That's my name too so there is a certain kinship. His real name is Thaung Lim.

Over in his dentist chair sits a squatter enjoying his trip to the dentist - the joy of getting front teeth. Two lads look over his shoulder as he grinds a new denture to shape on the makeshift table. He pours water out of the bottle into the makeshift sink with a joking, "We don't have the proper equipment - just make do with what we have" - the words of a man who understands what it means to love the poor - "The drill is made from an old sewing machine motor - made it myself"

"My parents were rich. I was able to study. I was selected by British dental surgeon to be one of a handful he trained. He was very gifted. But he also trained us in how to use local materials - nothing could be imported. Now my parents grow flowers as Burma is a socialist country. There are no places for capitalists."

He holds the new denture in front of him with pleasure. Contentment, joy, meaning are a skilled a craftsman's joy. Then he stands and shapes another mould. There are many that want help.

It is late at night.

He stops to talk. Seven years of training dental technicians is not wasted. He dips a scalpal into a dark bottle, paints his mould. Perhaps over these next months he can train a number of the slum workers. They don't need to be educated just gifted with their hands and with a desire to learn. When it's set up he'll move on and start something new.

"How do you support yourself?"

"The foundation gives me Bt1000/mo for living expenses...

(Here lies the heart of workers among the poor - they desire nothing for themselves beyond their survival needs. They have no plans for mansions or for security (in the sense that many view security). The stability and security is in deeper things for which all sacrifices are needed. They make no provisions for old age. And perhaps they are foolish in such, but only such sacrifices (which they do not even call sacrifices) are sufficient for fruit to come from their lives. What is needed is men and women secure in a God who will provide. This is the alternative to fixed resources).

"... and the children's families pay for the cost of the dentures as they are able. That's the issue: Dentists charge Bt300 to make a tooth. It costs Bt35 at the most. Perhaps I can work with the rich at times and earn enough money to help the poor more."

"The people have very bad teeth because they eat a lot of sugar. The dentists extract many teeth. I want to fight against that but I have to be careful. In Thailand for 200, 300 Bt a man can be hired to kill you.

"Miss Prateep fought for some of the squatters to be relocated. She is also in a dangerous position. She was able to get land for the squatters to be relocated onto which they can be secure in for 20 years.

"Perhaps I can meet the King and talk with him. He may be able to help in solving this problem. The Minister of Health, wrote a letter for me so I could get my visa. They wanted me so they got the visa.

"I can also make artificial eyes. Here's an example: it is very complex. You have to build it up layer by layer painting the different colors, the veins, the pupil. I can also make fingers.

"This is what I want to do. I want to pass on these skills. I don't want to keep them for myself, I want to use them, pass them on."

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And the creator looks on a creative Buddhist lover of the poor. Like another rich young ruler I suspect he loves him dearly. Elsewhere he looks upon a  thousand easy-going middle-class, careless Christians. They read his words about the poor but will not go. And they ask for his love.

Are you not shamed, outdone by this barefoot dentist? What other motivation do you need to go and walk with him into the needs of the poor?

"And the rich young ruler went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions."

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© Viv Grigg & Urban Leadership Foundationand other materials © by various contributors & Urban Leadership Foundation,  for The Encarnacao Training Commission.  Last modified: July 2010