Thursday, February 20, 2025
Our team’s custom on the last surgical day is to share impressions of the trip. We especially enjoy hearing from those experiencing Faith in Practice for the first time.
Kathy – Following last year’s trip, I asked myself, “What am I doing with my life?” I felt a spark that resulted in giving my life to God. Both me and my daughter were baptized, and I am now engaged! I have found my purpose.
Eric – Thank you, everyone, for coming. Your service has been heartwarming and has inspired me to do more.
Fefe – “Sign me up forever!” I have found meaning in “those who wait,” seeing that we are someone’s answer to prayer, and I have experienced so much love and kindness here.
Jim – It is so rewarding to see young people stepping up. As older team members retire, we know there will be volunteers to take our place. Please take home what we do, share how incredibly rewarding it is, and encourage others to volunteer.
Daryl – Because I have been filling in in the pharmacy, I haven’t had a lot of patient contact. I have had the opportunity, though, to get to know others on the team in a personal way, which has meant a lot.
Katie – This is my first year, and I have already told my family I want to return. I was fearful about my role (as a scrub tech) and that I wouldn’t know what to do, but I never felt alone or unsupported. I love the staff here – I even made them dance with me!
Kelly B – This is my first trip here with Rick (husband), and I just want to say how thankful I am for what you’re doing.
Dani – Serving here brings us back to why we do what we do. Here we only take care of patients, instead of dealing with the other distractions we have at home (administrative, insurance, etc.)
Val – This is my first time, and I was told to expect the unexpected. What has been so unexpected is how happy and thankful the patients are. We are a blessing to them, and they are a blessing to us. We fill the hole in our hearts when we help someone in Jesus’ name. I had no idea how much of an impact we can have.
Procedures:
Joaquin, 24 years old, is originally from Argentina but now lives in Antigua where he works as a bartender. He cut his right hand on a glass at work. Although it was a small cut in length, it severed his flexor tendon and digital nerves of his thumb, rendering him unable to hold a glass or other objects. Dr. Apel’s team redirected a flexor tendon from his middle finger to his thumb and performed nerve grafting on both sides of the thumb. His brain will have to relearn how to move his fingers, but eventually he will have full use of the thumb again.
In speaking with Ingrid, we learned that her husband, Jose, is here for shoulder surgery with Dr. Stehly. Jose is a truck driver that hauls heavy equipment, and he injured his biceps tendon and rotator cuff loading and unloading cargo. He is undergoing a tendon repair and possible rotator cuff repair.
Jose also needs knee replacement surgery and is on a 2-3 year waiting list. He has been unable to work for almost 3 years because he cannot operate the pedals and shift controls of a truck with an injured arm and knees.
Ingrid had an x-ray last week and she also requires a knee replacement of her left knee. She asked to be put on a waiting list but was turned down because there are 1600 people ahead of her, and it will be a 4-5 year wait. She said all she can do is endure the pain.
Ingrid is their only source of income. She sells chickens and dairy products. She expressed deep gratitude for the work we do and said that it is “true love.”
Our surgical teams this week performed 54 life-changing surgeries. We are thankful to God for this opportunity to be his instruments of healing. We encourage anyone who has a heart for missions work, especially in the medical field, to consider volunteering for Faith in Practice. It is not just life-changing for the patients but for us as well!
Therese Kiernan, Photojournalist
