Day Five (our third day of surgeries) began as always with coffee, breakfast, and a time for devotional…all before 6:30am. In our reading from Ephesians, we were reminded to be thankful because many do not have close to what we have…comforting us as the team starts another long day at the Obras.
As the surgeons made their rounds in the recovery ward, we met up with our new friends Zoila and Angel, among others. One young man greeted us with a big smile, thanking us for taking the dime-sized rock (not a typo) out of his nose that had prevented him from breathing as long as he remembered…well over ten years!
It was a different kind of exhaustion for the team as the day went on, since they knew they were more than halfway complete with surgeries, but needing to maintain focus on what remained. In a way, the exhaustion seemed more like elation, as the gravity of completing 37 more surgeries started to hit everyone.
Some may have hit a wall after lunch but they broke through, maybe because that’s who they are, but it seemed more like it was because they remembered the greater purpose of this trip and of this mission.
Our friend Evelyn arrived for her surgery today also, reminding us several times that when she recovers, she wants to volunteer for either Faith in Practice or the Obras, aiming to give back what she can. She also thanked us for remembering her, which was touching since we couldn’t see how we could possibly forget anyone who offered to serve before they were provided for.
Another day down, one more day of surgeries to go, a million memories that will last forever.
Erin Joseph Machac, Blogger
