…is often in the preparedness of both the medical personnel and non-medical volunteers who join with the host Rotary club in the name of Rotaplast.
The Club Rotario Pereira Perla del Otύn (PRC) hosts a mission every year. We non-medical volunteers from District 7430 are privileged to be in Pereira for a twelve day mission. PRC met us at the airport in the late evening with welcome signs, many tropical flowers and many willing members to carry and load our luggage and medical boxes. They provided bus transportation with a ten-man police escort. This police escort will last 24/7. Safety and security are a priority and community service of the police commander.
The next day, PRC set the stage for the intake process, operating room set-up, and carried countless chairs and tables. There were 25 Rotarians and 15 student interpreters from bilingual schools who all were a part of day 1. Each day 10 Rotary members and 10-15 auxiliary women worked along side us. After all, we are an English speaking team with one interpreter, partnering with a Spanish Rotary club and hospital. This can't work without interpreters and local Rotary club support.
If it looked like one of the team needed help, the PRC was there. They were there with snacks, drinks, lunch, and more snacks. They were serving juice on trays to the waiting families, including sandwiches. They served, lifted, ran errands, hugged, sang, and advised. It's hard work preparing and hosting a mission.
See tomorrow's post for more information about our hosts. PRC has the "primo" formula!
We are only on day three, but know we will have served the families in this area with experienced, compassionate doctors and medical personnel along with PRC and D7430 volunteers. No task is too small or too big for all of us. There is always a way to create another smile.