DAY FIVE – The Work Beneath the Work
This morning began with birdsong at the guesthouse. Then again at the open atrium outside the Obras cafeteria. The devotional offered this morning was a quiet moment to center ourselves. It was about generous hearts and the practice of gratitude. One line in particular stayed with me: “Be aware of who you are with, and what you are doing.”
We are over halfway through the week now. And we feel it.
The energy that carried us through the first few days has softened. Eyes are heavier. Yawns are tucked discreetly behind masks, but you can still read their eyes. Even the most practiced surgeons are feeling it in their hands—tendons tightening after a string of five cases in a day – for three days straight. The supply shelves are thinning. Instruments are borrowed between ORs. Staff are quietly starting to make lists of what we’ll need to restock for next year, and what we’ll want to bring that we hadn’t thought of before.
And yet, the gratitude remains. In the hallways and recovery rooms, we hear it in spontaneous comments: “I’m so happy to be here.” “I’m so thankful to be doing this work.” It’s become a kind of quiet refrain for some…a mantra for others.
Each day brings new rhythms and reminders. This morning, Jorge Andre de Aquila Barrillas, a bright-eyed three-year-old with special needs, walked himself proudly back to the OR for his dental procedure. No hesitation, no fear. Just that mix of innocence and bravery that levels everyone in the room. Jorge was here last year, and many remembered him. This time, he came in for extractions and fillings—a case handled with care and patience by Dr. Brian Summers, who specializes in special needs dentistry.
Dr. Summers took his time, making sure everything was just right before Jorge was sent off to recovery. The post-op team, already known for treating each patient with tender attention, lit up when Jorge arrived. He was a champ, through and through. His mother was allowed in to be with him as he woke up, her presence like a soft light in the room.
Surgeries today were similar to the rest of the week which included everything from laparoscopic cholecystectomies to umbilical and inguinal hernioplasties to pediatric dental care. The work continues, even as we begin to reflect more deeply.
After hours, some of us have started venturing into the quiet pockets of Antigua. Between the last suture and dinner, there’s just enough time to wander the puzzle of streets…it helps us slow down. Helps us return to that sense of awareness: Who we are. Who we’re with. What we’re doing.
As the week edges forward, we’re not just thinking about surgeries or logistics. We’re thinking about impact. About how a single procedure ripples out into a family, a community, a life. And we’re asking ourselves what we’ve learned. Who we’re grateful for. And how we can carry this posture of humble service beyond this week, into the rest of our lives.
Brian Jensen, Team Blogger
