When thank-you is not enough - So one of the things about ROTAPLAST is that if you aren't one of the medical professionals you have to pay for your own airfare.  Well I knew that I would be unable to pay the over $1000.00 for airfare, but I really wanted to make this mission, so I took a chance and asked some of the many wonderful people that I have in my life in hopes that I could get some to sponsor my trip and donate money for my airfare.  Food and lodging are covered but I was told that airfare would be about $1800.00.  I sent out an e-mail and facebook messages to my friends and the donations started rolling in.  In the end the total for my airfare was $1570.84.  Last night, someone handed me the final $50.00 in cash to pay for my airfare.  I am truly humbled by the kind, thoughtful and giving people in my life.  Thank-you seems so really insignificant, but it's really all that I have.  But what I can promise in return is this; I promise I will work hard each and everyone of my 15 days in Lima.  I will work hard to help these young children in need, I will work hard to make my fellow Rotarians proud, I will work hard because it is my way.  I hope to take my laptop with me and keep this blog updated everyday.  I will take plenty of pictures and give a presentation of my experience upon my return from Peru.  It is with great anticipation that I look forward to this trip. Thank-you to my dear friends, family and Rotarians for helping to make this mission a reality for me.

Rotaplast - So what is a Rotaplast?Rotaplast International is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization providing free reconstructive operations and treatment for children in need worldwide. We provide long-term solutions by funding and mentoring local physicians; launching public education projects; and advancing research. Through collaborative programs throughout the world, Rotaplast efforts expand far beyond surgical intervention and help foster international goodwill, peace and understanding.
The goal of Rotaplast International is to eliminate the incidence of untreated cleft lips and palates in children worldwide by the year 2025. 

Finally something worth talking about!  I have kind of become a facebook junky and allowed my blogger account sit and linger and be lonely.  But now I have something to talk about, something worthy of a blog, to be excited about!  I've said it before and I will say it again, I am horrible at keeping journals and to me that is all a blog is.. a journal.  So if I have nothing to put in a journal, nothing worthy of a diary, then I have nothing to put in a blog, until now.  This summer I joined Rotary International, I am a member of Southtowne Rotary in Eugene, Oregon.  I found out about this Rotary program called Rotaplast, "The goal of Rotaplast International is to eliminate the incidence of untreated cleft lips and palates in children worldwide by the year 2025".  So on 8 January 2012, I will get on an airplane and head to Lima, Peru to assist in a Rotaplast mission!  I was told from the very beginning that "this is not a vacation".  The hours are long, the conditions are less than optimal, but it will be the experience of a lifetime.  I tell you I can't wait for this next challenge in my life.  I can't wait to make a difference in the life others