The motto for this trip, which is posted on the door to our “Mission Control” is the phrase, Blessed are the flexible, for they shall never be bent out of shape.” Adherence to this motto was certainly important today.

This was a wonderful day of surgery and recovery. The children all left the operating room with their futures bright. Their moms were all aglow, each enjoying showing off the beautiful new faces of their little ones.

But flexibility was important, because schedules for the next few days were changing. For example, one gentleman who was scheduled for dental work didn’t show up because he could not afford the bus fare. Another family canceled the child’s procedure because due to hospital policy, no more than four people per patient are allowed in the room, and this meant grandma could not come along.

The language barrier is always there, because many of these people speak the Mayan dialect, which necessitated two translations. And directions and explanations get lost in the translation. But this group of professionals handles challenges very well, and tomorrow brings another bright and sunny day. Catherine Lane