The first day of surgery is always a great day.  The patients and their parents are ready and the medical team is excited.  It has been a priveledge for me to represent Operation Smile as part of the Magee family.  Today I was asked to part of the mission blessing at the hospital and what I witnessed brought tears to my eyes.  Gather in the four hallways up the crossway were all of our volunteer medical team in their scrubs.  The priest in white was in the middle with Gene Altieri, President of the Operation Smile Panama and several students and their mothers.  The priest blessed the team and the health and safety of all of the children of Operation Smile this week.  Honestly, the picture from above should be submitted to National Geographic.  Special beyond words.

We have been amongst several different tribal people in Panama.  This is the Kuna Yala tribe from a  province near Panama City.  The dress is beautiful and they wear the legging like wear and bracelets everyday. 

Will has played ALOT of soccer!  The kids love playing as much as he does.  The weather is very hot and humid (hence the shirtless wonder) but it does not seem to stop any of them.  We have such a huge student group with us now that every child is busy with something!  Some of the highlights today were Red Light Green Light, Hot Potato, Parachute game, and of course, a good game of balloon chase.  The shelter is in a Fairgrounds that is used only one month out of the year, so there is plenty of space to run and play.  We do tend to stay under shelter tho to stay out of the hot sun

 How cute is this kid!  And his smile is even more contagious!  We met up with him today - he is actually here with us because he has an extra digit on each foot.  Tomorrow he will have these digits removed.  When we first saw him we were like, "He can't have a cleft palate because he does not look like he has a problem eating!"  To top it off, he is a happy kid and loved by all.  Will is in the picture with his new friend Juan Diego, High School Junior at Pan American school in Panama City.  Diego keeps everyone laughing!

Will also helped Meredith and Zoe with their health and safety presentations today.  This one was on the good things you should eat.

Tommy and Caitlin... the beads to make necklaces and bracelets were a hit!  We sat for about two hours, boys and girls until they were all gone.  Of course the mothers wanted a piece of it too!  It was a great way to wind down the day before the next busload left for the hospital and the others ate dinner.

I love these people.  Somewhat reserved, this is the Ngabe-Bugle people.  Another tribal group.  These two sat next to me for awhile beading so they warmed up to us and I got smiles from both.  Their dress is very colorful and the mommies very young..  They are married at 13 or 14 and have babies right away.  Something very foreign to us, but this is their culture.

This little dude made Will a bracelet to match his.  Will is quickly becoming a fun friend to many of the young boys and it has been fun to watch him come into his own.  At the end of the day, we have 36 kids who have received surgery and everyone seems to be doing great.  We will see the basic lips and revisions when we return to the shelter in the morning, as many of them were already discharged.  We welcome my father tomorrow and we have a big welcome planned at the shelter.  Hope Dad enjoys!  It will be special to have him here with us!  Buenos Noches!