Breathe in love… breathe out fear
Breathe in peace… breathe out shame
Breathe in joy… breathe out anxiety
That is how each of us on the team began our Monday morning. In this devotion led by Dr. Farrow, we cleared our minds so we could fully see the love, joy, and peace already present around us.
Each operating room was filled with excitement and anticipation to serve. The patients waited patiently, many carrying understandable nervousness, yet comforted by the knowledge that this team is here to provide only care, safety, and compassion. For some, these surgeries have been delayed for years, procedures for prolapse, a bladder stone the size of a golf ball, gallstones, and fibroids that have created daily obstacles in their lives.
I find immense courage in these patients. They place their trust in every volunteer guiding them toward healing. These are medical providers they do not see annually, people they may have just met, yet they offer their full faith. For many, the timeline is remarkable: triage on Sunday, followed by a life-changing surgery on Monday. A 24-hour turnaround that requires incredible bravery.
I hope everyone reading this can feel the deep emotional connection built with patients in such a short time and understand the genuine heart and soul of this medical team. Kevin, one of our devoted translators, took time to sit with patients’ families as they anxiously waited for their loved ones. In those moments, it became clear that this experience is not just about trusting our providers, it is about trusting strangers. Trusting people from a different country to listen to their life stories, to hold their fears, and to honor their hopes.
When we let go of fear, we begin to see the quiet courage in others, and within ourselves. We are all filled with love; the world is waiting for us to let it shine.
With love and gratitude,
Tori Schenkelberg – Team Blogger, Farrow Team 896
