Alumni Updates
continued
Tim Tatum experiences Honduras mission trip
Tim Tatum, pre-dentistry ’76, attended the University of Alabama School
of Dentistry and graduated in 1979. A native of Opelika, Ala., Tatum joined
his family’s hometown practice, Drs. Tatum and Tatum, which was started by
his grandfather and has been in operation for nearly 100 years. In addition
to continuing the family tradition of practicing dentistry in Opelika, a new
family tradition was begun six years ago when his daughter introduced him to
volunteering his time in Honduras at Orphanage Emmanuel.
Orphanage Emmanuel was founded by David and Lydia Martinez after
they felt called by God to sell everything they owned, move to Honduras and
begin a new life caring for unwanted and abandoned children. Since it opened
in 1989, Orphanage Emmanuel continues to grow and currently hosts about
600 children, most of whom have been victims of mental, physical, or sexual
abuse. Located on 1,000 acres of land, the orphanage provides mountains, fresh
air, and lots of space in which the children can grow and heal physically and
spiritually.
“My daughter, Katie, went to Orphanage Emmanuel with the First Baptist
Church of Opelika when she was a freshman at Auburn.” recalled Tatum. “She
later talked me into going as well, and I took my son, Matt, with me to act as
my dental assistant. The trip had a
really big impact. My wife, Sara Jane,
and I now lead a team from our home
church, First United Methodist of
Opelika, each year.”
Tatum said the experience puts
things in perspective as he observed
children who have nothing share
everything – clothes, food, and toys.
Despite the evident lack, the kids are
happy and they praise God all the
time.
At his office in Opelika, Tatum
does very little in the way of pediatric
Tim with son, Matt, assisting him.
dentistry.
“Pediatric dentistry is all I do in Honduras. I see a lot of abscessed teeth,
but the kids never complain about the dental procedures. Because of their
backgrounds, the kids, unfortunately, know what pain is, and they always
look forward to seeing me. Except once – last summer when I arrived, the
orphanage had just received 60 new children. On the first day I was there, 12
chil