Patient screening complete, surgery week begins tomorrow

As soon as Caroline gave this little boy a toy car, he stopped crying...man was his mom happy

a life about to be changed...

Coloring became "serious business" during the long waits

During the mission, you see the same kids every day. Carlos never stops smiling

Juan Carlos is an expert technician, and a clown with 1000 tricks. Before you plug in any equipment, he has to inspect it to make sure it doesn't overload the circuits and bring everything electrical down

This is the "end of the line," and some of the best plastic surgeons you can find, along with our international coordinator Sarah taking a break

The food ladies said their goal is to make sure all of the volunteers gain 10 pounds by the end of the mission-do you like pizza, pastries, and does any one know what dulce de leche is?

Operation Smile, or Operación Sonrisa in Spanish, provides those patients and their families who traveled from afar a shelter just outside the hospital until their surgeries are complete

We were told this is Operation Smile's 17th year in Honduras. This new clinic will serve as the headquarters when the international teams aren't in town, and provide ongoing weekly surgeries and follow up for years to come

Grace & Sameera-juniors in high school & Caroline-5th grade...Op Smile makes it clear that the future of the program depends on its youth involvement

Caroline with Gigi & Gustavo (back row) whose parents are Op Smile Honduras supporters and who have a love for Op Smile kids - they ask their parents if they can miss school to come help!

Op Smile missions are hard work, but a lot of fun too. The volunteers went up to the mountains over the weekend for some R & R between screening and surgery weeks 

Caroline opened her mind to a lot of things this trip, even playing portero (goalie)

The volunteer team had a little rest over the weekend, and now it's time to get back to work. We look forward to watching some of the most talented medical professionals, with the biggest hearts, from around the world, change 124+ lives over the next 5 days. We'll be in touch...