The highlight for every patient...

is to finally get their dentures. Since almost all of the patients have terrible teeth, dentures are made for them in order for them to have a full set of teeth, to feel more confident about themselves, and to possibly apply to a job. Today specifically, this one woman was simply ecstatic to receive her dentures, explaining to us that she can now eat normally and finally look good in order to apply for a job that she was unable to do without any teeth. After completing over 150 volunteer hours at the HHH dental clinic, I feel that I have done much more than just help extract teeth or make composite fillings. This experience has really helped me feel much stronger in my Christian faith. Talking with all of the homeless patients has taught me many valuable lessons that I will cherish long after my volunteer work.

-Duc Lam

The more time I spend...

at the Healthcare for the Homeless Houston, the more familiar I am with all of the other volunteers, dental assistants, dentists, and homeless patients.  I get the chance to make new memories with new friends and really get to know the patients really well.  Today, I saw Mark again at the clinic, one of the homeless patients that I had met who comes to the clinic frequently on the days that I volunteer. Mark and I would talk every time we would see each other, bonding over subjects such as sports and camping.  We had alot in common, and I always enjoyed his company, creating friendships in unexpected places. The workers and I have also become good friends as we would joke around at the clinic. This morning I called one of the workers to let her know that I was going to come in a little late.  She joked and said that I owe her a box of Halloween candy or she wont open the door for me. I am very glad that I was able to make good friends at HHH, not only with the workers but also the patients. I trust my friends and family and learned how important having a good relationship with others really is. Whether it is your spouse, family, friends, or God, I believe that maintaining a good relationship, caring, and being there for the ones you love is the most important thing.

-Duc Lam

Today I met someone...

that really changed my perspective on the way I view life. The day was proceeding normally, and everyone was busy with different patients, cleaning up rooms, or assisting the dentist. When this African American woman walked into the clinic, I escorted her to one of the rooms to sit down in the dental chair, and she just started to tear up. After many questions, I realized that this woman had been through a lot and could not hold in her tears. She told me that she had recently lost her daughter in a car accident and her husband to a bullet. I was completely surprised and did not know how to respond to such a tragic incident. What was I suppose to say? How was I suppose to respond? She had lost everything that was important to her, and I did my best to console her. Thinking back, I learned a great deal of compassion and sympathy for someone I never even knew. Life is too short to divide our love for anything other than God or our family.

 -Duc Lam

When talking to...

most of the homeless patients, we would cover many topics from the weather and sports to politics and their personal lives. Furthermore, I felt that, as Houstonians, we could easily relate to each other through the events that have happened in Houston over the years. For example, this one man and I were sharing stories about hurricane Ike, illustrating to each other the extent of the damage that was done during that time. I told him that my grandparents’ house was completely flooded and that the clean up process was very tedious and extensive. However, he proceeded to tell me his experience during the hurricane from the perspective of a homeless person. I was astonished to hear that he lived through hurricane level winds with nothing but a tent and a sleeping bag, making me feel embarrassed and shameful that I had been complaining about the cleanup process while he had been struggling to survive. He thanked God the night of the hurricane while I took everything for granted. I was able to learn an important lesson about thankfulness during a fifteen minute talk with the patient, and I believe it was well worth it.

-Duc Lam

There was one thing...

that surprised and bothered me today. There were a few patients today that were rude and expected complete and speedy service as if we were a fast food joint instead of a free dental clinic with patient overflow. These select patients were not grateful at all for the volunteer work that any of us were providing and expected no less than the quickest service even though we were backed up with many patients waiting to be seen. This made me feel unappreciated. However, I realized that I am not volunteering for positive feedback, but rather in order to do good for people who are less fortunate than I am, allowing me to learn and understand the original reason why I enjoy volunteering in the first place.

-Duc Lam

After about one month....

of volunteering at Healthcare for the Homeless Houston, I realized that I was completely comfortable working at the dental clinic. I knew where everything was located, I developed a friendship with all of the other volunteers and workers, and I enjoyed talking to the patients before I assisted the dentist in the various procedures that I know like the back of my hand. However, I began to feel like my volunteer services were insignificant and that I was not able to help the homeless patients in their larger and more important problems. When some of the patients truly thanked us for our help, however, it helped me realize that just being there for them, talking with them, and understanding their situation makes a world of difference, allowing them to feel accepted even if they are in a difficult situation and learning that even the smallest kind gesture may mean the world to someone else.

-Duc Lam

Since the first day...

of volunteering, I noticed that the majority of the patients that step in the dental clinic are African American. This made me think about the racial statistics of homeless people in Houston, and I realize that the black population dominates the homeless community. Many of these patients feel like they were forced into their current situation that snowballed until it got even worse. There was one 22 year old black man who was kicked out of his house by his dad when he was just sixteen, trying to get a job at various places in order to pay for food and shelter. After a while, jobs became so scarce that he resorted to buying and selling cocaine in order to pay for what he needed, and he ended up a cocaine addict. Now he is in a faith-based drug rehabilitation center, and when he came to the clinic, every single one of his 25 teeth were so decayed due to drugs that they all need extracting. Talking with someone who is around my age in this type of situation is eye opening, knowing that he was living the hard life at such a young age only to be saved through his devotion to his faith. Learning to never give up is key to moving forward, and at such a young age, he managed to roll with the punches and always work hard. You can learn more when you talk to someone who has less.

-Duc Lam