MOST mission count-down, February 3, 2011 We are on count-down to our departure on February 10th for the 2011 MOST (Miles of Smiles Team) mission to Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Iowa MOST is a Rotary District 6000 initiative, which provides surgical repair for cleft lip and palate to individuals living in the western highlands of Guatemala. Guatemala…
Read MoreWhy Guatemala? Why Huehuetenango? The answers start with Rotary International and two of it’s objectives: to encourage and foster the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; to foster the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of individuals united in the ideal of service. “Acquaintance as an opportunity” is…
Read MoreYesterday afternoon we arrived in Antigua, and are staying at a very nice hotel. It is a welcome respite after a week of long, yet rewarding days. Some of the group are going zip lining today, others are hiking a volcano, others are going to attempt to play golf, and others are touring a small…
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Steve Aquilino is a Prostodontist at the College of Dentistry, and is one of two dentists on this mission. “I became involved in Iowa Most through Bill LaVelle, my mentor at the University of Iowa from 1982 on. Four years ago I went to Huahuetenango with Bill and it was my first mission trip. I…
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Ayman is one of two pediatricians on this misison. This is his first year, and he responded to an email put out by John Canady, telling about the MOST trip. Ayman was on a medical mission to Nigeria 16 years ago, and wanted to be part of one again. He has so enjoyed experiencing the…
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Mindy is a Post-op Recovery nurse at the Universityof Iowa Hospitals and Clinics , but on this mission she worked on the Pediatric floor in post-op. She was recruited by Pat Wehrle 4 years ago to be a part of this mission, and knew instantly she wanted to be a part of this team. The…
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Kris is a medical student at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and is one of two scholarship recipients from the MOST mission. He has wanted to go on a Medical mission since he was in college. He wanted to be part of a team, and witness all that is involved in making something…
Read MoreI became involved in Iowa MOST since 2006 through my local Rotary club. I was involved on the first mission as a recovery room assistant, and I had no medical experience prior to that. On the next mission I got involved in supples, and became increasingly involved in the organization in 2008, 2009, and 2010.…
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Lucia de Leon is an invaluable member of this Iowa MOST mission. She has been a Rotarian in Quetzaltenango for 35 years, and has volnteered her time during this mission by acting as translator between the medical staff and the families of the patients. She and her other Rotary members have also provided much needed…
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Last year was the first mission trip for Diane. She too was encouraged to be a part of the Iowa MOST mission by Pat Wehrle, her co-worker at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Diane was anxious to be a part of Iowa MOST. She had already been on one medical mission through the…
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