Day 1
Today was arrival day. Before today I had little appreciation for how geographically dispersed Team Boutros is. From Los Angeles/Sacramento/San Francisco, California to Tucson to Atlanta to Pittsburgh to New Jersey to New York to West Texas to Bogota, Colombia, crew members joined Houstonian teammates on the journey to Antigua.
For me this journey is emotional. My father served on nineteen FIP Guatemala mission trips. They were life changing for him. As they were for the colleagues he worked alongside and most importantly for thousands of Guatemalans who received life changing medical care. His last trip was with team Boutros last April, a mere two months before his body decided his time in this earth was done. And as my dad wished, his ashes will be left in this place, which is so special and dear to his heart. Trip number 20 for him is the final one and this is now his final resting place.
I didn’t even make onto the airplane before a team member told me that my father taught her how to administer an IV when she was just 13 years old and she has been coming back ever since. I know he mentored and supported so many colleagues and friends and that the fruits of those labors will flow to the people of Guatemala for many years to come.
I have only been here for a matter of hours and I am getting a much clearer picture of what my father found so rewarding and inspiring about this important work. I am looking forward to having my eyes further opened to the great service that this talented team will accomplish in the coming days and the lives that will be forever changed.
Matt Malinsky
photographer/blogger
