Upon arriving to the airport to fly to David, we were met with an Airforce Cargo plane as our carrier. The back opened up for our luggage just as it would to let parachuters jump out.  pretty crazy. Will looked at me like, really?  Hey, if it is free, you don't buck it.  The Airforce flew all of the Operation Smile Team in groups to our mission city.  Our one hour ride was loud and a bit bumpy at landing, but quite the experience!

 We woke up ready for a great morning today.  The day before surgery starts is always a bit slow for the patients, so the student team prepared a party to take place at the shelter.  What a production!  Toys and clothes and goodies all donated to give to the children.  Here is will helping some of the college kids on our team prepare the goodie bags.  It is hot here and very humid, but we all worked away eager to have the children join us.  The students brought massive speakers as the Panamanian LOVE dancing and music - the children were all singing and dancing - very adorable..  We also had a children's dance group perform for the patients which they all seemed to enjoy.  It is hard to put ourselves in these parents and their children's shoes, but many of them may not have ever seen a performance like this before.  We have heard stories about a mother carrying her baby walking for four hours to the hospital. Others from the mountain tribe called Nobe come from nine hours away.  OpSmile arranges for bus pickups thoughout the country side so they can all get here.  An incredible logistical operation.

 The Operation Smile team has 220 kids on the schedule this week.  That is ALOT.  They will have seven OR tables going at once.  Tomorrow has a schedule of 40 children.  I am sure the kids are quite anxious about what tomorrow will bring, but rest assured, the Operation Smile team is ready to give them the greatest of care.  Below is our student team and wow! are we having fun with them.  They love to laugh and dance and work so well together.  Many of them are from different schools in Panama City, but all from high school clubs that help us with Operation Smile.  They will be long lasting friends this week.  I think Will and I will have a hard time saying goodbye too.

 This is one little girl from todays party that everyone loves!  Natasha.  She is full of life and has been around Operation Smile for many years.  You could see how excited she was to see our team.  She has probably had a couple of surgeries on her bilateral lip and palate.  This time she is back for a revision of her lip to make it look even better.  These kids are lucky in Panama because we have an orthodontist who gives them all free care.  This is not the case in many of our countries because we have too many children from so far away.  Since Panama is a small country, they are able to treat these kids with orthodontics.  Many of the kids were very shy so we worked hard to bring them out of their shell and participate in the fun.  One boy was hiding behind a pole the whole time and had to be 9 or 10.  I am going to get Will to find him tomorrow to engage him a bit.  He needs a friend!

 We spent the end of our day at the Altieri's beautiful home on the Pacific Ocean.  Mr. Altieri is the President of our Operation Smile Board in Panama and has been helping us for 21 years!  He and his wife were so gracious and everyone got a little rest before the big week of work begins.  Will was easily able to play in a game of sand soccer with many of the students and medical team.  With black sand covering his body at the end, the Pacific was a welcoming rinse!  Todd, the Altieris say a big hello to you!  I updated them on all of your wonderful success with the girls and your company!  Signing off now.  Will post again tomorrow with some pictures of the beautiful children of Panama!