So, surgery was interesting and no one fainted...including me!

Each day starts with breakfast at 6:30, then a morning meeting and surgery  at 8am. The girls were able to view a cleft lip repair. They had followed a couple of kids since screening, so it was great to see them through the whole process.

Jovan had cleft palate repair. We first met Jovan and his buddy, Dino on screening day. They were always together and eager to join in all the games we brought.....frisbee, beach ball , and they even joined a yoga class led by the writer on our mission, Julia Plevin. She is writing about our mission for the Op Smile blog that will come out in March.
Jovan and Dino did great with their surgeries and Dino went home after one day because he had a cleft lip. Jovan went home after two days, since he had cleft palate surgery, and it takes a little more time in post-op.

The girls and I visited a school sponsored by the mission who is our partner here in the Philippines, Church of Christ of the Philippines. We visited their mission on the ocean banks of the city which was very poor. However, the people were so nice and the kids happy to have us visit their school and they even did a little dance for us.
We went to a high school later in the afternoon to tell them about Op Smile clubs for students. They were interested in starting a club and joining Op Smile next year when they come back to Davao.

 The girls and I suited up to watch a surgery...That's the plastic surgeons making rabbit ears behind us!

 Tamar, a plastic surgeon, from Egypt.

 Julia Plevin leading us in a yoga class. Jovan is in the front with the balloon. Even a few moms joined the fun.

 Dino and Jovan..best buddies

 Jovan is in the playroom before going to the operating room. He did just great!

 We visited 3 schools today to give presentations about health care of your teeth and body. The kids really liked all the toothbrushes we gave away, too.

 Good kids that really listened, aren't they beautiful.

 This boy came in off the street to see what was going on and listened to the entire thing. We had an interpreter with us and that made all the difference. His name is Joel and he has a little boy, so he was able to talk to the little kids on their level and really made us all laugh.

 This was the taxi cab line for the neighborhood. No motorized vehicles, but tricycles. It really was kind of peaceful and quiet....a world away.