A Memory

Earlier in January one of our weekly challenges was to remember things we had accomplished. I shared one of my achievements that I like to remember.

Today, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite service opportunities! While in high school, I was a part of my high school's chapter of the nation wide non-profit organization Operation Smile. In short, the organization goes into 3rd world countries around the world and gives free surgeries to primarily children, but also adults, with facial deformities. Due to the disfigurement and severity of some of their deformities, they are often shunned from their communities and unable to get adequate nutrition.

As a sophomore I was in the presidency as treasurer. The next year I was asked to be vice president, and then my senior year I was put in as president. It was challenging, but so worth it! I found so much joy in encouraging fellow high school students to make a difference. Because they CAN! I loved it when my people in our club would realize just how much they can do to help raise money for such a worthy cause. 

My senior year, I had the opportunity to go on a medical mission with a team of over 50 doctors, nurses, dentists, and child psychologists to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. There was one other high school student there with me. Our job was to educate the parents on hygiene, burn care, dehydration and nutrition. Often those things are overlooked or parents are unaware how to care of their kids in the way, which often results in the facial deformities getting infected or worse over time.

It was an experience I will never forget! I loved being there, being with the kids, teaching the parents, and being a part of something so much bigger than myself!

Even though I would love to go back and serve more people in other countries in need, I know that while I am home, I still need to look out for others and their needs. And I look forward to that as well!

~What's your favorite service memory?
~Ever been on a service "mission" of sorts?