Day 5, November 12th, 2026
Peter Apel
It has been heartwarming to see returning volunteers and patients as well as the building momentum of the team and the sustainability and durability of the mission with growth in the increasing rolls of the volunteers taking on the development and care of the team and the patients. This development is the materialization of hope I have for the team. Seeing that actualized has been a special source of joy for me.
Franny Apel
A sentiment that has stuck with me was shared by the hospital medical director when he said you give patients hope that is permanent. It made an impression that hope can endure a lifetime.
Sahil Vohra
I’m really glad to have this opportunity again and I am thankful for my wife and daughter to be able to do this. I’m glad we were able to impact many people on this trip positively.
Ted Peters
I saw a group of very generous people giving back lovingly and joyfully.
Sarah Rieger
It feels like home to be back again. Each team brings uniqueness. We all got into health care for the same reasons and I love to see everyone working so cohesively.
Betsy Worthley
What an incredibly humbling and rewarding week in Guatemala. I leave with a heart full of gratitude, a renewed sense of purpose, and a deeper appreciation of the gifts God has given me.
I have always believed we are called to use the gifts God gives us for something bigger than ourselves. Having the opportunity to use these skills to improve the quality of life of those less fortunate and help patients return to the everyday activities we often take for granted has been such a blessing. It is a reminder that medicine is about more than surgery, it is about people’s compassion, hope and making a difference.
I am especially grateful for the incredible team who gave their time, talents and hearts to the mission. We left our own families behind this week to care for other families and I don’t take that sacrifice lightly. It was a privilege to serve alongside people who share the same heart for helping others.
Mathew 25 40 reminds us “truly i tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”
I hope we made a difference in the lives of those we served but I know they made a difference in ours. What a blessing to use the gifts God has given us to be his hands and feet.
Ron Barnes
Having been 9 times this year, what’s so exciting is that it renews and regenerates and it’s overwhelming. Each team has its beautiful people. You would think it gets old, but it never does. Faith and practice has such an amazing practice and has a ministry that is so easy to serve.
Cesar Bravo
It’s been a phenomenal week seeing the team work together and seeing the fellows excel. Its been a privilege to be here.
Matt Adsit
I think we have made a big impact on the people in Guatemala but they have also made an impact on us. It’s been amazing to offer a service for these people that they normally would not be able to access.
Val Mateiciuc
I’m very thankful for the opportunity to serve the people in Guatemala. We have all worked so well together. Getting to see the patients even though there is a language barrier we still have a common understanding.
Bayli Price
This week has been nothing short of amazing. We were able to help an incredible amount of patients with skills that seem so simple to us in our everyday lives. Each time that I have come, I am reminded not to take even the simplest things for granted. I am grateful for this opportunity, and even more grateful for the team (and now friends) that came together to make this week successful.
Paul Pisklak
This week in Guatemala was deeply meaningful. We helped restore not only hand function, but also independence, hope and the ability to work and care for loved ones. Witnessing patients’ relief and gratitude reminded me of the profound impact of this work. I’m deeply grateful for the dedicated team and the trust we shared with those we served.
Kerri Fitzgerald
It was a wonderful experience. I was expecting something completely different. The accommodations were wonderful. I was very impressed how well we all worked together. I believe God’s presence was here with us.
Kristi Culver
Being my first medical mission I went with the intention of using my nursing skills to help others, but I quickly realized that I would be taking home far more than I could ever give. We all share the same basic needs: compassion, dignity, kindness, and hope. Although we didn’t always share the same language, we shared a common purpose. Every member of the team came together with the same goal of providing safe, compassionate care to people who might otherwise have limited access to the surgical services they desperately needed. And I feel so blessed to be a part of that.
Eyleen Coates
This week in Guatemala has been so much more than a mission trip for me. It has touched my heart in ways I didn’t expect. Being Latina, there is a special connection I feel with the people here. Our language, culture, roots, and the little things that remind me of where I come from make this experience feel even more personal. I feel like I can connect with them in a way that goes beyond words. I came here wanting to serve and give, but God has reminded me that sometimes we receive so much more than we give. I’m leaving with a full heart, beautiful memories, and gratitude for every person I’ve had the privilege of meeting. Guatemala will always have a special place in my heart.
Rosemarie
This experience taught me how clear communication is very important, but everyday went better than I expected . As a scrub tech I worry about instrumentation that I need in every case but the word of God says… dont worry for everything coz God provides… having little knowledge of the language was able to communicate with the instrument people and find what i need…
I’ve learned to stop worrying cuz He Provides…
Lara Bailey
I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to return to Guatemala for my third mission trip with Faith in Practice.
Serving others brings me a sense of healing that is difficult to put into words. I come hoping to make a difference in the lives of our patients, but every time, they make a difference in mine.
Ryan Benson
Lastly, as I reflect on this past week, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to be here and be a small part of something so much bigger than myself.
This trip has looked a little different for me. I’ve spent more time in the background, stepping back and watching the incredible work happening around me. I’ve had the privilege of watching the surgeons, nurses, anesthesia team, and the entire staff pour their hearts into caring for each patient who walks through these doors. Watching Dr. Apel, Dr. Bravo, and Dr. Vohra do what they do has been such a blessing. The dedication, compassion, and gifts God has given each of them are evident in the work they do. The nurses and anesthesia team have been nothing short of amazing, and it has been a gift to witness everyone come together with one common purpose.
One of the things that has stayed with me most is the look on a patient’s face when they are given hope. Seeing the children and their families, knowing that the work being done here will change the course of their lives, is something that is difficult to put into words. These are more than surgeries. They are opportunities for children to have a different future, for families to see possibilities they may have never thought were within reach, and for people to experience the love of God through the hands and hearts of others.
But I have also been reminded that God’s work on this trip goes far beyond the operating room. I have watched people give up precious time with their own families and children, step away from their everyday lives, and travel here simply to serve others. Every person on this team has made sacrifices to be here, and every single one brings something special to this mission. Sometimes we see the physical healing happening right in front of us, but I believe there is so much more happening that we cannot see. God is working in the hearts of the patients, their families, the team members, and even those of us who came here thinking we were the ones coming to serve.
The presence of God is far greater than what our eyes can see. It is in the hands that care for patients, the prayers whispered over families, the compassion shown in difficult moments, the friendships formed, and the hope restored. It is in the little moments just as much as the big ones.
Getting to be a part of this team and witness all that God is doing has truly been a gift. I may have spent more time watching from the background this year, but I have seen more than I could ever put into words. I hope that in some small way, a little piece of me has rubbed off on each person I’ve had the privilege of sharing this experience with, because I know that each of them has left a piece of themselves with me.
We come here to serve, but we leave having received so much more than we could ever give. I am thankful for every person, every patient, every family, and every opportunity God has placed in front of us this week. What a blessing it is to be part of His work, even when we cannot see the full picture of what He is doing.
-Ryan Benson Photographer and Blogger
