Wednesday May 8th in Chiapas – BEST DAY SO FAR!!!!

Today I have felt the most “healthy & had such good energy” of any day I have been here. I has not been sick but as I mentioned in an earlier post I had some random nausea etc. most every day & yesterday felt my stomach “rumbling” a lot last night so instead of dinner I just had liquid protein but even with that I had diarrhea twice (Sorry I know that is TMI but remember this is really my journal). I decided to proactively start Cipro (for traveler’s diarrhea) but knew that everyone who has been getting sick has been VERY sick nothing mild at all – hence all the needed IV hydration. But I was also very distinctly reminded that I have MANY people at home praying for me & this team & I know they are praying for my health specifically. I was also reminded of the blessing that Doug gave me in Heber before I flew out of SLC and as I said my prayers before I went to bed I knew I would be sustained in my health & exercised my own faith…I slept well (as well as I could on my HARD bed) and did not have any other issues all night & when I woke up this morning I felt fine & truly as I titled this post had great energy, felt good & know I am being blessed in my health.

When we got to the hospital Estela the other PACU nurse went with me to the Farmacia to get the medicines 7 different prescriptions for the sweet grandma & her grandson. I noticed that the prescriptions were dated Mach 1^st…… I can’t imagine not being able to get some fairly basic medicines    (steroids, Vitamin C, Stomach meds, creams & eardrops) for 2+ months. The Farmacia across from the hospital had all but one med they will get for me tomorrow & not enough of the steroids for a month’s course. It was 685 pesos today or about $40 USA – yet another reminder of how blessed we are.   

We had VIP Visitors who arrived from LA today – she is the President/CEO if Amazon studios? I know Amazon has music but had no idea they had studio productions??? Anyway, she had a son with a cleft so they are long time Op Smile Supporters (like for the last 15 years) Her daughter Georgia was here & it was Georgia’s 3^rd mission. She is a senior in high school & has an identical twin sister & both are going to brown University next year. It was fun to visit with them. They also help to organize the Op Smile event held in Park City each year. They will follow patients tomorrow in surgery. it was VERY chaotic when they came into the PACU today – REAL LIFE…but they were super nice!

We had a pretty good on time start today & got our first patient back at 9:30. Many of these children have underlying respiratory problems especially the ones from the outlying indigenous communities where they have wood burning fires in their “homes” for cooking, so the children are constantly exposed to smoke. My first patient Olivia was one of those & I needed to give her a few breathing treatments & she was not a happy girl…she too had cute pigtails but so far 3/3 with pigtails have had problems so my research suggests that pigtails =  problems!

I did go to pre/post this morning before we got started & saw some of the cuties scheduled for today. I also saw a patient on our “crash bed” & knew we didn’t have any unstable patients last night so I asked about that child – Geronimo was his name & they said he had gotten gastro (diarrhea & vomiting) & I didn’t think anything of it. Then at about 1 pm there was a very tearful mama at the patient passing area where the kids come into surgery & it was Geronimo’s mom – so sad they had traveled 6 hours to get here & now her baby won’t have surgery because he is sick. If he improves they would consider letting him have surgery Friday. But to this mom she had made this tremendous effort to be here & get him surgery & now she would need to possibly wait another year.  My heart broke for her.

One of my afternoon patients was a mission first for me….a 5 year old girl who was to have a palate repair BUT her tonsils were so big that they were worried if they closed her palate she would not be able to breathe. So she ended up with a tonsillectomy (performed by a plastic surgeon), had 7 bad teeth extracted, her palate repaired & ear tubes put in…suffice it to say that sweet little girl Iris was pretty miserable as she woke up after surgery but overall did well all things considered.

At 3 I went to take my break up on the 10x10 roof/patio where they also serve the parents meals. On the roof I met the mom of Lucia. I spoke to her in my Spanglish & she said I spoke Spanish well (LOL) We chatted quite a while & she told me Lucia had gone into surgery 40 minutes ago so I told her after surgery she would come to me & I would help take care of her. She was so sweet & thanked me & hugged me – such simple moments like that fill my heart. So at 5 pm I helped care for Lucia after her palate repair 😊

It was another rainy afternoon – you can “smell the rain” even in the PACU with open windows in the area. The day went by quickly & at 5:30 pm we only had 5 patients remaining – 3 lips & 2 palates. We send Domy home as she was not feeling well & then we offered for Estela to go but she was waiting for friends in the OR so I didn’t need to be asked twice & left at 7 pm. I got back to the hotel, showered & got myself organized for tomorrow then went to the lobby at 8:30 to meet the missionaries & give them the medicines I had gotten. We also talked about the grandmas broken arm & being unsure of how that is treated in Mexico? We decided I would try to get her a brace tomorrow at the Farmacia to immobilize it. I also offered to take them out to dinner which NEVER happens here because the people simply don’t have the means to do that. Elder Palomar is the District Leader & knew the area & Elder Schmitz has only been here for a week today. We went just over from the pedestrian walkway & went to a little restaurant where for $8 American they each got a combo – burger, fries & wings…I only had sparkling water! It was fun to talk to them. Elder Palomar is from Mexico & has a twin brother & a mother. It has always just been the 3 of them. The 2 boys joined the church when they were 13 & then their mother joined the church a year later. She is currently the Relief Society President in their home branch or ward. He & his brother made a plan that his brother would go on a mission first then when he got back Elder Palomar would go  -that way one of them was always there to take care of their mother – during this mother’s day week that truly touched my heart. They are great young men & are here to serve the Lord. They have 3 other companions of sisters in their district & were going to have a District meeting on Friday so I gave them some money & told them to go have a "District Dinner" from people in California who appreciate their service. They were hesitant to accept it but I insisted & told them those 6 sisters need a good meal too & I couldn't take everyone out tonight & they agreed. They walked me back to my hotel & now I am just about ready for bed…I can’t believe it was already our surgery “Hump Day”. 24 more surgeries were done today – changing lives one smile at a time and my life is changed in so many ways by the different people whose paths cross mine on these missions. Part of my reason for coming on this last minute mission was personal as much as it was to serve & I am getting the perspective I need more & more each day 😊

Tuesday May 6th – Surgery Day #2 & the Team is falling fast!!!!

So at breakfast Kristina the Program Coordinator said that the only 3 international volunteers not sick are me, Estella & Donna – which makes me nervous because the odds are against me! Plus several of the Mexican volunteers from Chiapas & from other states in Mexico are also getting sick – I guess it is the Chiapas Revenge!!! I slept well last night although it really does feel like I am sleeping on a piece of wood? But 7 ½ hours of sleep was wonderful. Essentially, I have my own room since Brittany is a night nurse so when I get back I play music on my phone, shower, journal/blog then go to bed 😊

While I am not sick I do wake up each morning with my stomach rumbling a little – I am not sure if it is nausea or hunger but I have a protein mix in water & some kind of a bar. The breakfast buffet at the hotel is…”interesting” tamales, chilaquiles (sp?), rice, beans, & scrambled eggs with chorizo & salsas & some breads. For right now I will stick with what I have brought, although I did eat a mini banana this morning.

Katrin & I went up to the Pre/Post area before we went to the PACU (since we become sterile once we cross the magic bench). There were some cute patients for today & they are all staying in one large room with mattresses on the floor because that is how they would sleep in their homes…so it’s really to make them more comfortable in the hospital setting.

Our first 3 patients were all team members – Marlin a pre/post nurse who needed an IV & Elena an Anesthesiologist from Spain – we make a great IV cocktail with Zofran to help with nausea & Zantac an antacid & gave them 2 liters each. I also did blood pressure re-checks on the 2 ladies with hypertension & one of the surgeons came in because he tore a calf muscle a week ago & had a lot of swelling. This afternoon Federico one of the students from Monterrey Mexico has also been sick so he too got the IV cocktail. Kristina PC said she would add “Team Nurse” to my PACU namebadge.

We got our first patient at 9:50 – I expected it would be earlier but I guess there were issues sterilizing all the instruments over night so they had to do some flash sterilization. At 11 am we only had seen 4 patietns so we had 21 to go…until 2 were canceled because the kids were sick & one was a no-show. It is always heartbreaking when they have to be canceled because unless they get better in the next 2 days their opportunity for surgery isn’t until next year ☹

I had lots of cute little girls today – Angela who was 18 months, had cute ponytails & reminded me of Kensie (but is a lot smaller!) She only wanted to be held post op so I just sat on the bed & held her for an hour as she woke up from surgery…I figured that is what her mom would do & really I LOVED IT!!!! It said on their chart they took several buses & lived 8 hours away. I asked Kristina if we could help them get more direct transportation than vans, open bed trucks etc so she is going to let me do that for Angela & her mom who are staying in the shelter – her dad left when Angela was born with a cleft lip. I really thought of Kya having to take a journey like that with Kensie by herself for 8 hours & there was no way that I could not try to help.

Jenny was my next patient & she was 2 ½ having a cleft palate repair – she was a bit fussy & crazy & needed meds to reset her brain so she could wake up happier. I held her for about an hour too. Her parents brought her on 10 hours of travel from Tabasco Mexico. Her mom is 21 & her dad is 22 & they are both here but very worried about dad being away from work because every day missed is a day without income…they too are on my list to help with transportation etc. That seemed to be the theme today & I am so grateful that it will work out. I will just give the money to Brian the local Mexican PC & he will coordinate both of their travels.

By 2 pm we were halfway done with 12 patients finished so that was encouraging & I actually got to leave at 7:15 & was back at the hotel by 7:30 so this was a great night!!! Lunch is served from 2-5 pm outside & today there was a HUGE thunder & lightning storm with lots of rain & hail so the eating area was flooded & during that time we lost power for about 4 minutes which seemed like an eternity!!! During an hour of "down time" with few patients Estela who is fluent in Spanish went with me to the "Farmacia" across the street. So it turn out the text photos of the meds that were needed that I got from the missionaries was a bit "incorrect". So I text them & they dropped the actual papers off at my hotel & Estela will help me get the meds for them tomorrow. As a PS they told me that the mom also has a broken arm & they didn't know why she didn't say anything but they wondered if I could go by & see it...I am not sure when I could go there - maybe Friday if we have a half day but the bigger issue is I am not sure what I can do about it??? So I need to give that need to God & figure out what I am supposed to do.

 My roommate Brittany was not feeling well yesterday & got A LOT worse today – so much that she didn’t think she could get in a taxi to come to the hospital for an IV. SO we sent our IV cocktail & 3 other liters to the hotel & another night nurse started her IV. When I got home she was just finishing her 3^rd liter & I insisted she go ahead & take the 4^th liter. This stuff whatever it is is bad.

I had time to reflect today on this mission opportunity – Kristina the PC said – last minute needs are hard to fill & when she saw my name & my previous mission reviews??? It was a no brainer for her to take me for whatever time I could come. She didn’t know anything about all that’s been going on in my life & I didn’t need to tell her but how grateful I was that my “past performance” gave me this opportunity. And how fortunate I am that I can instantly love & serve these people & try in small ways to make their live a tiny bit easier for just a moment in time. Yes this is WAY DIFFERENT than taking a week off at the beach & watching the waves which I do love, it puts me in a different mindset. There is great poverty here in Chiapas & the peso is so devalued. Omar the man who has sold items at the hotel for 14 years had a slow day & my “deal her gave me” that I bought for 100 pesos made a difference to him – that is $5. As we left the hospital tonight all the patients for tomorrow were waiting in the lobby to be admitted to the pre-op area so we can be certain they don’t eat or drink. I looked in the faces of those parents & was SO HUMBLED at their circumstances not even knowing them or how far they traveled or anything else – I just saw them as precious children of God who live a much more difficult life than most people in the USA. As I said Missions “flip my brain”. Getting to bed early tonight Hooray!!!!  

Monday May 6th Surgery Day #1 20 Op Smile Patients & Lots of Team Patients

So at breakfast before we went to the hospital we found out that there were A LOT of team members sick – mostly with Montezumas Revenge – (vomiting & diarrhea). The 4 students from the student team & the Program Support person from OSI HQ didn’t even go with us to the hospital & the students are from Mexico???? The team doctor was handing out medicine like candy…. I felt a little queasy but I thought it was just because I haven’t been eating well so I had some liquid protein in water to start my day & that seemed to help – I am actually 100% committed to only eating the food I brought for now.

The first day is always a slow start – we left the hotel about 7 & got there about 7:15 but the first patient wasn’t on a table until 8:30 by the time we go thru all of our emergency training – which included the exit route in case there was an earthquake – that was a new one for me! The first patient in the recovery room was actually patient #1 the first child screened so that was sort of fun – he didn’t get to us in recovery until 10 am & his name was Lucas. A few things about a Mexico mission that I forgot…parents cannot come into the recovery room to be with their children, there is this “magic line & bench that divides the sterile from non sterile area in the operating room & recovery room area. The patients are passed across the line & bench & those of us in the OR or PACU cannot go on the non sterile side – even for the bathroom that is 20 feet away – we have to go thru the sterile side & enter thru there – but it is the same room??? Also in Mexico Op Smile does not send Cargo so we use all in-country supplies which can be a bit challenging – like the face masks & shoe covers.

In the Recovery Room (PACU) it’s Katrin ,me & Estela a PICU nurse from UCLA plus Domy a “Nurse in training” here at the hospital. At 11 the mission photographer came in to the PACU not feeling well 0 she had been sick yesterday. She was pretty pale so Tom the Team leader of Anesthesia put an IV in her & we gave her 2 liters of fluid. Less than an hour later one of the Pre-Post Nurses came in in tears – she was miserable so she too got an IV & 2 liters of fluid & both rested in 2 of our 4 PACU beds for about 90 min each. In the mean time we had patients coming in but were managing it. Then around 1 pm the Medical records volunteer had a headache, burst a blood vessel beneath here eye & had a Blood Pressure of 182/90 – not good. I always tell people that I don’t do “Big Patients” but really I had no choice. The team doctor called a friend of his & we ended up getting her some oral blood pressure medicine & watching her for a couple of hours. Then the Speech Therapist came in with almost the same things headache, high blood pressure & a blood vessel burst in her eye. It was CRAZY!!! I made up handwritten charts for them so I could see their BP & meds etc. I really felt like I was running an urgent care 😊

This afternoon they did “Combo Repairs” meaning both lips & palate repaired on 2 older boys 18 & 19 years old who were brothers. For whatever reason their mom never let them have surgery but now they were old enough to consent themselves & came together to have surgery. It was super cool & when I showed the 18 year old his “new face” on my I phone photo screen he gave me a thumbs up & HUGE grin!!! They were both 3 hour surgeries. By 2:30 we only had 9 of 20 patients completed bit we got a rush & by 5:30 we only had 5 patients left. Somewhere in there was a lull & I am pretty sure I nodded off for 30 minutes. The next 3 patients came out in a steady flow….Guero who was the 230^th patient screened & was fortunate to have surgery today on Monday. He had 8 older siblings & was the only one with a cleft & I am sure this family would LOVE his new smile. Karin was also one of the last patients she was 8 months old & had cute little pigtails. Then we had a HUGE stall for the last 2 patients…tonight was my night to be on call so at 7 we sent Estela & Domy home & Katrin stayed for the last 2 patients with me but the last one would not wake up from the anesthesia, so I sent Katrin home & then I finished at 9. It was a long day but not exhausting & my call night is done!!! I do miss not having the parents come in because the moments when a mom or dad sees their child with a repair is magical. All in all it was a successful day #1 – tomorrow will be busier – we have 25 patients & 13 are palate repairs :/

On another note the missionaries’ text me the info re the fungal medicine so I am going to try & get that taken care of tomorrow for that sweet mama & her son. I am off to bed!!! Good Night

Sunday in Chiapas May 5th 2019

Happy Cinco de Mayo to my friends & family in the US…because they don’t celebrate it here in Mexico??? After getting to bed about midnight & thinking I set my alarm for 8 am (I didn’t) I woke up at 8:30 after a pretty good nights sleep – the bed is pretty hard but clearly I did get some sleep! Brittany went with 4 others to go on a river boat ride & I got myself ready for church – on google maps it was a 5 min drive or 15 min walk. I got a taxi on the way there. Omar who sells gifts outside the hotel helped me with the taxi 9 I showed him where I wanted to go “a la Iglesia” & he said Los Mormones Iglesia??? So he directed the taxi right there. Apparently one of the senior couples have talked to him & bought items from him – small world!
The church building there is small – I attended the San Cristobal de las casas Branch or District – they had about 45 in attendance when the service started at 10 am & maybe 60 by the time it was over. Everything was in Spanish of course including the hymns which we sang acapela – they do not have anyone who plays the piano. Just sitting in that tiny branch I had such an awareness that God our Heavenly Father loves ALL of His children and what diverse circumstances we are all born into & how blessed are we in many parts of the world where there is more abundance. I watched many members  get tithing envelopes and some put in 50-100 pesos (About $2.50-$5.00) I was reminded of the widows mite & how great their faithful contributions are.  

It was testimony meeting & I could understand much of what was said…Jesus Christ lives, He is my Savior, brother, prophet & friend. SO MANY of the children (los ninos) went up & there was not a pause in between from the start to the finish of the meeting in those who wanted to go up & share their faith & testimonies.  The 2 missionaries in the branch were elder Schmitz from Colorado who has been out for 6 months but in Chiapas only 2 weeks & Elder Palomar who is from another state in Mexico. Brother Perez met me at the church & after the worship meeting we went into a room to meet with some of the people there who had some unique needs. Andrea is a young girl who is 21 – her family lives in a tiny village 20 km away & they are the only members in that village. Their family consists of her mom, an aunt, a sister & 2 brothers. Her father died many years ago & they joined the church 18 years ago & have been faithful followers of Christ. Andrea wanted to serve a mission & just got her mission call last Sunday to go to Columbia on May 29^th in 4 weeks!!!!!  Her mother is so happy for her but assumed she would serve somewhere in Mexico & now the cost of her required shots & passport was something they did not have. She was worried that perhaps they would have to ask if Andrea could serve in Mexico but Andrea said she was “called to Columbia & God will get her there”. There are people in the branch to help her with clothing but the actual fees for shots & a passport & visa were about 4800 pesos or $250 American. I told Andrea & her family that I felt very confident one of the reasons I was in Chiapas was to give her those sacred funds from some very kind & generous church members in California who know she is their sister & want to help her serve the Lord. I really could not say that without crying….. They typically just have home church in their indigenous village where they live but they traveled today to this  branch because Brother Perez told them their prayers are being answered. It is so very humbling to be a tiny cog in this eternal wheel of lives intersecting. I took some photos with them I will post on social media. During our tearful farewell I told Andreas mom that we all have “mothers hearts” & as mothers we will help each other with our children.

After that Bro. Perez brought in members of this branch – the first was a mom Elena & her son Victor – both with bad skin infections – either fungus or MRSA I am not sure – for 3 months they have had prescriptions for 4 week courses of oral & topical medications for both of them but did not have the money to get them filled…they are supposed to be $100 US which seems like a lot but who knows. The missionaries are going to bring me the names of the medicines so that I can go to a “farmacia” & get them what they need. I may be out of touch with healthcare in the US & perhaps there are needs like this….but it seemed so unreal that there is no healthcare infrastructure whatsoever & absolutely no resources for them & so many here just have their illnesses untreated. They seem to be able to get to a doctor but cannot then afford the treatment.

The final person who came in was Carlos who is 18 years old, and lives with his grandmother & was VERY enthusiastic about getting ready to turn in his mission papers but first he needs to go to the dentist & possibly have dental work….I shared with him the generosity of others in California who would love to help him get that taken care of so he can prepare to serve the Lord – he was just such a nice young man!!!  Bro. Perez is going to stay in touch with me this week so we can get it figured out. I was SO SO HUMBLED to be able to help these faithful people & hear their stories – I am so blessed to be the conduit of others generosity & goodness.

I asked about taking a taxi back or walking & they assured me I was safe to walk to I enjoyed my 20 min walk back & had time to reflect on these small miracles that were starting my week here in Chiapas. At the hotel I changed clothes & decided to walk on the “pedestrian” street near our hotel” there are many small restaurants, lots of chocolate & coffee shops and a variety of local crafts. The biggest seller seems to be the young boys selling umbrellas because although my weather app showed thunderstorms each day the intensity is CRAZY…from about 2-7 each day the skies open & there is thunder & it ours rain. Needless to say I purchased an umbrella so I could continue my explorations. It is really a lovely little town.

My friend Katrin had planned for us to go get massages today before the start of surgery week but unfortunately, she (& a few others) are sick…all they can figure is maybe the herbs in their drinks were not properly washed??? Poor girl she was miserable. So instead of that plan for she 7 I Brittany & I went & had our $20 hot stone massages…it was WONDERFUL!

Tonight, was the “Pre Surgery Meeting” – they have scheduled 119 patients for the week. As is always the case everyone on the team is very nice – many are from Mexico & I know it will be a great week for everyone & just what I needed for me 😊 I am grateful for these experiences & feel so blessed!

Travel Day SLC to Chiapas via Mexico City

So this if the first time in 15 missions that I did not bring an overstuffed 52 pound suitcase or 2!!!      I actually “packed light” with a 35 pound carry on & probably a 25 pound backpack. The no checked luggage was WONDERFUL!!!!! I decided a lot of what I sometimes bring for the kids I could get in country as I understood the needs.

The flight from SLC to Mexico City was easy – one movie & some reading & a snack & we were there. It was all uneventful until we landed & I grabbed my cell phone that had been plugged in & on airplane mode I thought BUT had somehow decided to update itself on the gogo wireless…at least to the point where you have to log on & it has a “few more steps” that of course require wifi that I of course didn’t have when I landed. I breezed thru immigration – I had been shown how to complete everything on line & printed it out so that was a breeze but after immigration you have to go back thru security with your next boarding pass…the electronic one that was on my phone I couldn’t activate!!!! One of the ladies just outside of immigration tried to help me with my phone but there is no internet in the area she did help me get a paper boarding pass so that I could get to the gate area….bless her heart. In the terminal I assumed I could get on wifi but that was wrong – I tried 3 different restaurants or bars with wifi & none would get my phone activated.  At this point I was desperate realizing that I would be landing in Chiapas with no way to call or contact anyone if I needed to….no whatsapp, no calling, no texting – YIKES!!!! But I decided to not “borrow trouble” something I tell others.

The Tuxtla airport was TINY it had gates for 4 planes but we were the only plane there….aside from one very old plane off in a grassy field. They did have a jet bridge though & some places I have been have not had that. It was pouring rain when we landed & hot so think sauna like conditions. AND….once I got outside the luggage area (that I didn’t need to stop at 😊 ) there was a young man with an Op Smile sign & my name…so it all worked out without a phone!!!

My driver was Edgar who was 26 & has lived hi entire life in San Cristobal – he drove a beat up car I have never heard of or seen on the roads on the US….but I was okay with that. He spoke only Spanish & my Spanglish was very rusty from the last time I used it over a year ago….I REALLY need to learn Spanish 0 that Rosetta Stone still in the box is not helping me -I need an immersion class or something!!!  The drive from the airport to San Cristobal was about 90 min – mostly because the speed limit was 90 Km/hr & the car only went about 60 km/hr. We drove on a 2 lane paved road that wound thru the mountains – I din not expect that at all. Edgar drove very close to the right side of the road so that all the other cars could pass him. Our conversation was probably at a kindergarten level based on my Spanglish but I found out he has one older brother, his mom died of breast cancer when her was 12 & his father is not in the picture so it has been him & his brother raising each other.

He talked about San Cristobal with a sweet reverence saying he loves it there it is “muy tranquil” & muy bonita”. They do burn trash here like in other countries so we saw that a few times along the drive. He was super nice. There were not many places where people seemed to live along the way – a few small “shanty towns” but no real infrastructure. San Cristobal is a larger city with a large church in the main town square & cobblestone narrow streets with a colonial feel to it – much like some of the other South American countries I have been in.  I got to the hotel & mission #1 was to see if I could get my phone to wor – within 5 min I was on the hotel wifi & my phone set up completed – HOORAY!!! Brittany the darling girl from Denver who was my Morocco roommate is my roommate here so that is really fun. I got settled in & when I scanned my emails I saw that Brother Perez from my church had emailed me back & has some very specific needs of church members here – I immediately teared up & realized – I am on the Lords errand. Perhaps I thought this mission trip was for me to get my self rejuvenated but really I am here for many other purposes still to unfold. I am going to church tomorrow & will met Brother Perez. Brittany came back – they have screened 300 children & we will do 110 surgeries this week. A group were going to a local place for dinner so I joined them.  Katrin my dear sweet friend was out with another group so we connected & walked back to the hotel together. She comes on this mission every year so she is my official “guide & leader”. Brittany & I talked & got caught up & now it is almost midnight & time for bed. I am SO GRATEFUL to be here & see how this week unfolds for me, the children & families here in Chiapas & the local member of my church. There is a master plan of that I am sure but I don’t know what it is…I do know I am supposed to be on this mission for perhaps MANY reasons & I am BLESSED. Good Night from San Cristobal de las Casas Chiapas

Mission #15 with Operation Smile San Cristobal, Chiapas Mexico Here I Come - via 2 days in Utah :)

This really makes no sense on one hand & on the other it makes perfect sense....These past 4 months have brought with it many challenges & heartache...with some blessings & tender mercies strewn among it all...it started in January with Kimmi losing her beloved dog Damu & 3 weeks later she was in an accident that totaled her car & it was miraculous she walked away. February brought happy times welcoming our new grandbaby & time in Spokane, then 2 days after I returned my oldest brother had a health emergency in Arizona & I immediately flew there for a week & have been back a few times. My dear sweet 95 year old mom has some needs here, we have been unsuccessful (until today) in securing help with the much needed construction at Kimmi’s “cabin”, & my work at CHOC is often intense but this has been quite the "winter" with a crazy census & a myriad of other things 😊 . All of these items have been balls I have been juggling – trying not to drop any of them too often but cumulatively they became a giant snowbll that seemed intent on rolling over me. 😊. I hit a bit of a bump in my personal road Friday April 19th causing me to reflect on what I need & how to refill my cup so that I can continue to the things I have “said yes to”…family, friends, work, church, home etc. 

Monday April 22nd I was tearful at work which rarely happens – I mentioned to my boss that “maybe I need a leave or something”; she is very supportive & said “whatever you need”. The problem was I didn’t know what I needed – time at home?, more time in AZ?, go work at Kimmi’s, try to get “caught up” at work (never possible) but I knew I needed something. Maybe time in Utah – I needed to be “away” from my current “day to day norms”, staying home I would feel guilty I wasn’t at work or with my mom, or helping in Frazier Park, going back to AZ wasn’t the answer –  I needed to help there by getting sustainable structure & support in place but not have it be me personally other than visits for needs as they arrive. I had planned to attend Women’s Conference in Utah this week – maybe I should stay there for a week – I just needed time away to process & get perspective …

  

Back track to that Friday April 19th when I had a bit of a meltdown....that afternoon I got an email about a “last minute need for a recovery room nurse for an Op Smile Mission in Chiapas Mexico May 2-11”. I replied thank you for thinking of me & that in fact I had hoped for a mission in April but it was clear to me my March & April mission was in Arizona with family…and that I might have actually put my name on the Chiapas mission list but my son in law was graduating on May 3^rd so even if I could go which I was unsure of I would have to miss patient screening & wouldn’t be available until May 4^th. I closed with wishing them well on the mission & was sure they would get responses from other Recovery Room nurses & didn’t think again about it.

Monday night April 22nd post all my thoughts at work I got a call from the Mission Coordinator saying that they had people volunteer for that spot, but they wanted to offer the spot to me even if I needed to arrive 2 days late & missed screening. That made no sense to me? Essentially, she offered me a 5 day mission – unheard of? The Program Coordinator reviewed PACU nurses available & she would love for me to be on the team….that was a call I didn’t expect.

Doug & I talked that night about the challenges of missions & would I return more tired & depleted? Plus I have 3 weeks off from work already scheduled in May/June/July – what would my boss say?  I found out that the other Recovery Room nurse was a dear friedn of mine Katrin & she goes to that mission site almost every year so I called her asking if it is an “arduous” site. She said they have a great in country infrastructure – maybe one late night but wonderful people & a wonderful site & she would take the lead on the Recovery Room. I pondered & prayed about what to do, looked at flights leaving SLC & returning to LAX & did they even make sense? On Wednesday April 24th  I introduced the idea of a Mission trip to my boss – it is during Nurses Week & there are lots of fun events at CHOC I would normally support that week but she again said “whatever you need”. I looked at getting all my meetings & responsibilities covered at work – for an extended stay in Utah or Mexico. What was I supposed to do….they gave me until yesterday to decide & said no pressure if it’s not right for me to go on the mission. This past weekend I went to Murietta for some time wiht another dear friend & took a walk & decided I was supposed to go on this mission & that it truly is “the gift” of time” I need. Today I found ut that my darling roomate from my last Moroco Misison is also on this mission - again such a blesing!

Missions truly “flip my brain”. I see others in such humble circumstances & recognize that while I & everyone has struggles here they are 1^st world problems. Also while I go to serve others I am always the one who is blessed by the opportunity. So tomorrow afternoon I will fly to SLC for a day of BYU Women’s Conference on Thursday, on Friday we will celebrate Aaron’s college graduation & on Saturday I will take a flight from SLC to Mexico. There is a church nearby with a 10 am service that I will attend on Sunday & I have reached out to church leaders there to see if there might be other ways I can connect & serve church members while I am there. Of course my mainfocus is on being a Recovery Room Nurse for the children in Chiapas that our team will help with life changing surgeries.  Again…it may not make sense but I am seeing everything “fall into place” & believe that this unusual mission opportunity is really an answer to my prayers & what my heart, mind & soul need right now.

MANY friends plus family have supported me so much these past months & I have felt that even in the depths of the challenges I was lifted by many. This was an unplanned & to some makes no sense but it is where I am supposed to be so off I go....grateful for the opportunity. as always I would appreciate all the positiv thoughts & prayers youn might feel inclined to offer in the next 10 days while I am gone - both for me & my immediate & exended family & for this team of people I will soon emeet in Mexico! I am blessed & grateful....

Final Post from Tangier - a faith filled miracle experience I want to remember

My mission blog is really a journal for me and is often personal & this entry is just that. I am happy to allow others to read it but PLEASE know this is NOT about me & the good I was able to do here - this story & experience is about a loving heavenly father who loves all of his children of all ethnicities, religions, and circumstances and how He answers prayers & works miracles in everyones lives for good.

Let me first put this story into context. I am blessed with wonderful people in my life who when I go on missions selflessly, quietly and confidentially give me "sacred funds" and tell me to use it to meet the needs that I see when I am on my missions - there is no criteria & no plan. In some instances I am able to reach out to local church leaders & ask them about needs in other instances I ask the Op Smile coordinators & other times I am led to or placed in situations where the need is apparent to me after I meet someone.

Here in Tangier on the first screening day I met Khadija (I thought it was Khady) and her mom & was instantly drawn to them, spoke to them a bit as the mom spoke English a little, drew her blood, took a photo with Khadija & the mom took a photo of my nametag. I heard later that they were from Senegal & had a difficult time getting here. I even looked up Senegal on my phone & a 5 hour trip from another country in West Africa seemed reasonable to me (my geography skills are pathetic).

I was told they were staying at the shelter & thought of them when with these funds we bought blankets & heaters for the shelter; but then I was in the midst of the chaos & long hours of the mission. Fast forward 5 days to Wed night - I am on call & at the hospital unitl 11 pm. I was given the next day's surgery schedule & was so excited to see Khadija's name on the schedule. Late that night as I was going back & forth with the next to the last patient on the stairs between the OR & pre op I "ran into" Khadijas mom & we talked about her surgery the next day & I said I would be there. I continued to feel like I needed to help them & had talked to someone about a 2 hour train vs the 5 hour bus for them to get home & her mom mentioned that & I thought it was good & didn't want her to know I may have had any part of that assistance & I was just excited they were getting surgery & transportation home (or so I thought).

Thursday was a hectic day but the one time I went into child life for no more than 5 min Khadija & her mom were there - we talked & hugged & took a photo. Khadija had surgery late that day & I saw her in PACU as promised & kept her mom up to date when the surgery was going long & again felt in my heart & spirit so strongly that I needed to help them - but I thought I had & I was...but there was this nagging feeling I still hadn't done all I needed to do for them but I was busy & pushed that thought aside...

Friday night as we sat down at the final dinner/party Abigail sat be me...(she is the student who was sick that I took care of). She said that Ambra the Program Coordinator asked her & Caroline the other student to get a few patient stories to send back to Op Smile. The students had also bonded with Khadija - she & her mom were so loely & warm & truly their spirits I think drew people to them & the students had interacted with her often & become her "friends". So on arrival at dinner Abigail starts to share her story & it was Kahdija & this is what she told me....

Khadija who is 14 & her mom traveled here form Senegal...another African country. It was a 5 hour FLIGHT from Senegal to Casablanca & then the 5 hour difficult bus ride from Casablanca to Tangier (I had totally missed out on the flight part). It has been a difficult life for Khadija - at school every time a teacher would ask her a question because of the cleft palate & nasal deformity she has difficulty speaking & the other kids her whole life had made fun of her & laughed at her - she has had no friend her entire life except her sister. Her mom heard about Op Smile & over a long time saved enough money (about $500 US) to get herself & Khadija here but she did not have any money to get back & was not sure who or when they would get back to Senegal yet she was praising God & so thankful for Op Smile saying that without them this would have never happened because it was a complicated case. She said that her entire family and friends in her town have been praying for Khadija & for all of the volunteers & the entire team and that God is good to them....

I FINALLY knew what I needed to do - I needed to get them flights home...I looked on Kayak & flights for Sunday were about $250 each person, I knew that the fast train to Casablanca was about $50 per person as I thought that was already taken care of but it wasn't the mom when she told me that she would get help to get home was simply expressing her faith to me. I got up from the table in the middle of the party & went to Madame (head of Op Smile Morocco & told her the situation & my desire to help (she is who coordinated the heaters).She said we would do it in the morning....after all this huge party was going on, it was loud & she essentially was the hostess. So many things went thru my mind. Mostly that sometimes God tries to work thru you but you don't get the right message.

I felt like I was given a second chance to do one of the things I was sent here to do...clearly I wasn't listening with precision when God was trying to guide me the first time, I could imagine this council of angels in heaven saying "we sent Nancy Kraus there that thru her generous friends we could answer this faithful mother & families prayers  & Nancy caught on & connected with them on the first day - that was perfect but somewhere along the way she got a little off track & thought she was done when she hadn't done what was needed. She was seeing them & helping them thru the surgery but she missed the bigger part so we need reinforcements to get these people home...send in Abigail to help her they already have connections Abigail & Nancy & Abigail & Khadija. And that s how God finally got my attention :) The Operation Smile team had no idea about her or her situation or her "story" with 289 patients screened & 180 surgeries it is hard to find one need when theyr are often so many - it's that needle in the haystack unless you wont find unless you are directed to it - the Op Smile team was grateful we found out & wanted to help this patient.

If you think of the hundreds of steps that took place for all of this to happen - there are no coincidences....this family coming to this mission, generosity from friends that was significant, Abigail on the mission. Me meeting Khadija at screening, Abigail getting sick & I cared for her, the other times I "ran into" Khadija & her mom, Abigail choosing them to "interview", Abigail sitting next to me at dinner among 100 people at a party, Abigail sharing that story....this is a well orchestrated plan by a loving father in heaven to bring all of this together to care for Khadija & answer a mothers & families prayers thru others - which I believe is often how prayers are answered thru the hands & hearts of others on earth.

This was all I could think about the entire LONG party & after the party I confirmed with Madame the plan to go to the hospital & find them at the post op check (they were still staying there overnight) & offer the assistance. When I told Abigail & Caroline & Brittan the plan they wanted to come to & Abigail was such a big piece of this I wanted her to come for sure. SO as we got back to the hotel at 1:30 am thinking this was out morning to sleep in before our flight none of that mattered & we all planned to meet in the lobby at 7:45 to go & find them & do this :) My heart was bursting.

So this morning I went to the ATM to get Moroccan money & then the 5 of us went (including Pete the student sponsor) and Nour the local Program Coordinator was out interpreter as she spoke French. We found Khadijas mom, found an empty room & brought her in & reiterated the story above - which I did thru MANY TEARS...I told her that it was clear to me God was answering her prayers thru us & it was such an honor to be a part of her miracle. We made sure she had the money for the flights & for the fast train. The students & Brittany all gave her extra money for food & unplanned needs All in the room were tearful & she expressed much gratitude, hugged each of us tightly - told me thank you for listening to God & being my angel...and then we walked back to the hotel, quietly at first with some reverence for the experience we all just shared in - then talking more about how it all lined up....miraculously.

So I can go home feeling that I truly did ALL I was supposed to do here...I have finished my mission in Morocco & am ready to go home - feeling humbled, blessed, grateful & definitely a better person that I was when I came 2 weeks ago. I always pray to do what I am supposed to do wherever I am  & I am grateful to be one of the many instruments in God's hands that made this happen & thankful that He finds a way to work with my imperfect self & repeats Himself & finds a way to communicate to me when I don't always "get it" the first time.

I am headed to the airport now...ready to leave the country & people that have forever changed me