Dr. Joel Rude believes he was given a gift in his life, and he intends to share it with others.

The 38-year-old Rude, a dentist with a practice in Maple Valley, traveled to El Paraiso in Guatamala along with three other dentist and a medical team. The group provided dental and medical care to the people in the village in February.

The team spent five days in the village and saw more than 250 people. The mission was organized by the Hands of Love ministry based out of Spokane.

“We had six chairs and four dentists,” Rude said. “The need was so great and we were going full tilt.”

Rude said all who came in received a worm pill along with restoration work and fillings.

“They don’t have preventive care,” Rude said. “They have no toothbrushes except what we bring. There are no sealants and no fluoride.”

He said the average care for each adult was three extractions and one filling.

“One 14-year-old boy came in and said he needed seven teeth out,” Rude said. “He was right.”

Rude said the village is mostly an agricultural community, but there is plenty of refined sugar, which is causing much of the dental problems.

“For some people we are the only dentist they will see in their lifetime,” Rude said.

Rude’s connection to Guatemala began when he and his wife, Julie, adopted their 2-year-old son, Abram, who was from Guatemala. They also have two daughters from their marriage, Stina, 3 years old and 2-year-old Ivah.

“I was excited to give back to a country that had given us so much,” Rude said.

He said the trip gave him the opportunity to help people in Guatemala and experience a different part of the world.

“I’d never seen tarantulas the size of saucers,” Rude said.

After working 10-hour days, Rude found the mission was a time to give and receive.

“I feel blessed to be in a position to give back,” Rude said. “It was a life changing experience. You think you are going to change these people, and you find out in a short period of time you are the one who changes.”