The morning devotional comes early, but it is an excellent start to the day. Breakfast quickly follows, as it will every day. We will repeat this pattern all week. As the team leader, Dr. Farrow leads the morning devotionals. Each year he chooses a theme and reminds us of God’s words. How do you describe a man who chooses to celebrate his birthday every year away from his family, serving the less fortunate in Guatemala? Selfless? Honorable? Giving? Of course, he is all those things. He is also a skilled surgeon, one we admire and feel comfortable with. He has assembled a fantastic team. He has recruited other skilled surgeons to work alongside him, providing care in their specialties, a qualified anesthesia team, an efficient surgical team from circulators to scrub technicians to a physician assistant, a pharmacist, extraordinary PACU nurses, and translators. We will all keep coming back for him. His selflessness is infectious.
As much as this trip means to Dr. Farrow, it is equally meaningful for the rest of us. Guatemala is a beautiful country with lush vegetation and active volcanoes. Fresh mangosteens picked right off the tree will be devoured within minutes, and the abundance of food will not be untouched. As wonderful as these things are, we will not miss poverty, houses made from sheet metal, clothes hanging on the lines, and children running on muddy streets with bare feet. We will notice the differences in our countries and the dichotomy of our own lives with theirs. It is what brings us back year after year. This realization will shatter and gratify our souls in ways we never expected. We have been given blessings over and over by the Guatemalan people throughout the day, but the real blessing is to use our skills to serve and give to those less fortunate than ourselves. It is what we are called to do, and we will obey.
Amy Blok, DNP, CRNA
