The Golden Rule
“Do unto others what you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12)
The Golden Rule calls us to reflect the love God has given us onto others. Faith in Practice lives out this calling every day, bringing that love to the people of Guatemala. The love is already there, placed in all of us by God, the only thing left is to share it and for it to be received.
Our last day at Obras Hospital felt like the final knot in a suture, securing everything that had been done leading up to and throughout the week and then bringing the trip to a beautiful close with a team dinner to reflect on the amazing experiences we each had. Patients we met on triage day, who we had been searching for all week, finally came full circle. The individuals we spoke with at Casa de Fe and in the waiting rooms were now receiving the care they had been hoping and praying for. All it took was one quetzal (one Guatemalan dollar) and the determination to make the journey to Antigua.
Everyone, and I truly mean everyone, played a role in this mission.
Our incredible physicians:
Dr. Bucky Farrow, Dr. David Crotzer, Dr. Rebecca McCrery, Dr. Sarah Pergande, and Dr. Andrew Trainer
The anesthesia team:
Dr. Brent Andersen and CRNAs Tom Kellogg, Noeline Ndwanjye, and Sundei Patagoc
The PACU nurses:
Carolyn Branch, Jeanine LeBleu, Daniel Neidrof, and Freenea Stewart
The OR nurses:
Dania Allen, Kathryn Farrar, Juan Ojeda, Rosemary Pinkard, and Lisa Schoba
The scrub techs:
Cristal Diaz, Jessica Herrera, and Martha Lozano
Our beloved pharmacist, Ron Barnes
Our translators, Kevin O’Brien and so many others across the teams
Even those at home who have taken time to donate, support, or found inspiration to sign up for future trips were all part of this work.
This week was a reminder that love is not just something we feel, it is something we do. And when we choose to act on that love, even in the smallest ways, it has the power to change lives, both theirs and ours. And in the end, while we came here to serve, we leave having been changed, carrying the patients’ stories, their strength, and their gratitude with us long after this week was over.
Tori Schenkelberg – Team Blogger, Farrow Team 896
Personal note:
I am so grateful for the opportunity Faith in Practice has given me as a student. Every person on this team is a natural educator, eager to teach and intentional in making sure both Grant Andersen (another student) and I understood each step of every procedure. They didn’t just show us what to do, but explained why they did it, taking the time to guide us through even the fundamentals. On top of that, our translators taught us so much about a culture and language we have all grown very fond of.
There will also be patient and volunteer stories coming out this weekend, so be sure to come back and read these powerful stories and see how they all connect back to Faith in Practice.
