Recently Trinity Dental Clinic has become a learning lab, where Liberians shadow SIM missionaries Frieda Schmidt and Keith Chapman as they work. The goal is to train Liberians to become the country’s future dental professionals who model Jesus Christ’s love.

“You don’t have to speak the Gospel. You don’t have to go preaching loud and long,” said Frieda Schmidt. “Just show them the love of Christ.”

Every day Schmidt, a dental therapist, and Chapman, a dentist, teach Liberian dental assistants through practical, hands-on training. This training includes learning how to educate patients about tooth decay, post-tooth extraction care, and the importance of coming to the clinic as soon as they become aware of a tooth complication.

“The assistants repeatedly hear what we say and add it to their sphere of dental knowledge, which then enables them to teach others,” Schmidt explained. "Among other things, they learn about effective infection control and treating patients with dignity and gentleness.” Schmidt also teaches three oral hygiene instructors who will eventually be able to teach dental health in Liberia’s schools, churches and future clinics.

In the future, portable dental units will make it possible to visit villages to perform simple cleanings and extractions, with the option of transporting patients to Trinity when a patient’s needs are more critical. And there are plans for a more central satellite clinic that will meet the needs of patients who find it difficult to travel the ten miles to the main clinic on the outskirts of Monrovia.

Schmidt also dreams of a dental school that will train Liberians to become dental therapists who spread the Gospel to remote parts of the country by modeling Christ’s love.

Liberia’s protracted civil war disrupted the education of many Liberians and caused professional educators to flee the country. Today, Liberians are in desperate need of good training, but they don’t have many options.

“We have to prevent what happened before,” Schmidt said. “There’s so much ground lost.” The missionary dental school will build a strong foundation of Liberians committed to Christ and to rebuilding their country by staying in Liberia and pursuing dental careers. Long after Schmidt and Chapman are gone, Trinity will remain a Liberian-managed clinic.

In the meantime, Trinity Dental Clinic is in great need of volunteers. Would you or someone you know consider donating time and skills to train and work alongside the staff? Visit Trinity Dental Clinicfor more information.

*Note: This article was originally published in Serving In Mission Together, issue 127.