Packing for Mexico

It is just under twelve hours until I leave Austin Bergstrom International Airport for my second Operation Smile medical mission to San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico. Naturally, I am not actually packed yet. Isn't it a far more productive use of my time to listen to Forrest Gump in the background while writing my first post for the blog?

For those of you who don't know, the few who I've shamelessly begged to read the blog who haven't heard me talk about Operation Smile, few and far between, Operation Smile is an international non-profit organization that goes to developing countries to repair cleft lips, cleft palates, and burns. It is a one of a kind organization which gives students like me an incredibly rare opportunity to participate in a medical mission. I am so thankful for the opportunity.

My mission to San Cristobal de las Casas is the third mission to the area, and in five surgery days, the team will be repairing cleft lips and palates. My role on the mission is be the journalist. I am responsible for writing stories and keeping updates on the mission as a whole.

Most of the team is not getting to San Cristobal until Wednesday, however, I am leaving two days before the mission begins because I have the opportunity to go on a home visit. This is one aspect of the mission that I never expected to be a part of. I am so excited for this chance, where we'll be visiting the home of a girl who received surgery during the first mission trip to San Cristobal. It is here where we'll get to see the true happy ending, after she's had the opportunity to go back to school and have a really normal life.

11 hours left and counting!