What motivates a Rotarian to go on an international trip? What is the inspiration? For that matter, what inspires a medical team member to participate in a week long clinic far away from home?
An informal interview of a Rotarian and a medical team member on the Faces of Hope trip led me to the answer.
Linda Gold is a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose. Her first international
trip was to Ghana. Coincidentally, Jerra Rowland was also on that trip. Linda's first time with Faces of Hope (FOH) was in 2007 and except for one year when she was unable to make it, she has returned year after year. Linda feels that FOH is the epitome of the joys and benefits of international service.
Her reasoning is that the FOH team sees approximately 60 to 100 patients during the week and as a consequence, is able to make a large impact. A one hour surgery has the ability to change a life. The team participants get to see the before and after of a surgery and the impact it can make. An added bonus for Linda is that Antigua is a lovely city, Guatemala a beautiful country, and the inhabitants warm and friendly.
Nanette Benedict is a dentist from Scotts Valley. She first started doing medical missions to Mexico in 1981 with Flying Doctors. She continued until she decided to start a family.
As Nanette's children grew older she decided that Flying Doctors would be a great vacation for the whole family. She felt that it was important for her kids to understand how privileged they were by seeing the way other people live. She knew it was the right thing when her son Jacob said, "This the kind of vacation we should be doing - helping people and having a good time doing it."
The connection with FOH is Fred and Jan Tomlinson, husband and wife surgeon and nurse duo, whom she knew from her Flying Doctor days. They are two of the original medical team members with FOH. Nanette ran into Fred in Guatemala last year while on a Flying Doctor's trip and he encouraged her to visit the FOH clinic and to consider it for this year.
Nanette thought it would be a good trip for the whole family and she turned out to be right. It was a stretch for her professionally to see patients with cleft lip and palate. Her son Devin is currently in dental school and was able to assist her during the FOH trip. She was also impressed by how wonderful and professional the entire Faces of Hope team is.
The top photo is of Nanette's family - Nanette, husband Jeff, daughter Brigette and sons Jacob and Devin.
An informal interview of a Rotarian and a medical team member on the Faces of Hope trip led me to the answer.
Linda Gold is a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose. Her first international
trip was to Ghana. Coincidentally, Jerra Rowland was also on that trip. Linda's first time with Faces of Hope (FOH) was in 2007 and except for one year when she was unable to make it, she has returned year after year. Linda feels that FOH is the epitome of the joys and benefits of international service.
Her reasoning is that the FOH team sees approximately 60 to 100 patients during the week and as a consequence, is able to make a large impact. A one hour surgery has the ability to change a life. The team participants get to see the before and after of a surgery and the impact it can make. An added bonus for Linda is that Antigua is a lovely city, Guatemala a beautiful country, and the inhabitants warm and friendly.
Nanette Benedict is a dentist from Scotts Valley. She first started doing medical missions to Mexico in 1981 with Flying Doctors. She continued until she decided to start a family.
As Nanette's children grew older she decided that Flying Doctors would be a great vacation for the whole family. She felt that it was important for her kids to understand how privileged they were by seeing the way other people live. She knew it was the right thing when her son Jacob said, "This the kind of vacation we should be doing - helping people and having a good time doing it."
The connection with FOH is Fred and Jan Tomlinson, husband and wife surgeon and nurse duo, whom she knew from her Flying Doctor days. They are two of the original medical team members with FOH. Nanette ran into Fred in Guatemala last year while on a Flying Doctor's trip and he encouraged her to visit the FOH clinic and to consider it for this year.
Nanette thought it would be a good trip for the whole family and she turned out to be right. It was a stretch for her professionally to see patients with cleft lip and palate. Her son Devin is currently in dental school and was able to assist her during the FOH trip. She was also impressed by how wonderful and professional the entire Faces of Hope team is.
The top photo is of Nanette's family - Nanette, husband Jeff, daughter Brigette and sons Jacob and Devin.
Great background and information, thanks for all the sharing. I have really been enjoying following your trip.
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