Mamacita
April 3, 2000 5:55 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

There are misunderstandings. The language barrier causes problems and cultural differences come into play. Elva Williamson knows that left unchecked, these conflicts can undermine a mission and that's where she can help.

Elva was born in Ecuador and is a native Spanish speaker. Her language skills are a great help with Operation Rainbow missions in Latin countries. "Sometimes, I'm needed to help translate," she said. She also can help smooth out misunderstandings that come from different cultures working together. Communication and explanation cures many of the problems, she said. In addition to her international experience, Elva has great organizational and people skills she learned when she was a department manager. Her coworkers know the petite nurse as "Mamacita".

She is a staff nurse at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston and is thankful her employer has been so supportive of her work with Operation Rainbow. Williamson and recovery room nurse Frances Garza, who also works at the hospital, were given paid time off to travel on this mission. The hospital credits missions as continuing education.

Her caring nature and understanding ways can help other mission members appreciate the opportunities such a trip offers. She said that first timers on a mission need to know that difficult things will happen while putting personal troubles aside. The purpose of the mission, said Mamacita, is to help the kids.

The sounds of the OR -- Medical and Cultural Exchange
April 3, 2000 1:14 AM Barcelona, Venezuela

Walking down the hall of the operating suite at Razetti Hospital, the sounds of each operating room are a unique blend of instruments of many kinds. Mixed with the expected sounds of patient monitors and the hiss of oxygen and anesthesia machines are the sounds of music. [. . . read more . . . ]

Bobby Satcher and D'Juanna White Satcher
April 2, 2000 6:14 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

Many mission volunteers give up a week of vacation with their families to travel with Operation Rainbow. Two doctors however, have been able to make a commitment to the Venezuela mission while still spending time with their spouse. [. . . read more . . . ]

First Cases - Healing in Venezuela
April 1, 2000 6:03 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

In many of the surgical cases, Operation Rainbow doctors are working side by side with Venezuelan medical residents and doctors, helping them lean new skills and improve techniques learned during their education. [. . . read more . . . ]

First Looks - Assessing the need
April 1, 2000 9:20 AM Barcelona, Venezuela

The hallway in the basement of Dr. Luz Razetti hospital erupted into applause as the team of 20 volunteers from Operation Rainbow made their way to a small room which doubled as reception hall and assessment room. Waiting for the team were potential surgical patients and their families. The expectant looks from each expressed the hope that the visiting doctors, nurses, and lay volunteers would provide change in their lives by repairing the deformities and birth defects.
[. . . read more . . . ]

Delivering the instruments of change
March 31, 2000 6:44 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

Operation Rainbow's mission to Venezuela hit the ground at 8:54 PM Thursday local time, arriving at Simon Bolivar airport in Caracas. The team then transferred to a military C130 for a short flight to Barcelona, on the northern coast of Venezuela. [. . . read more . . . ]

The Universal Language of Caring
F.R. "Fritz" Nordengren - Project Producer

Welcome and thank you for taking time in your life to share the stories contained in this site. What you are reading is the result of work begun in August, 1999 in Armenia. During the mission there, the idea for this site was born.

Now, though the cooperation of the project sponsors, and my fellow producer Tom Burton, we are able to bring our work and the work of Operation Rainbow to you via the web.

This web site gives you, the reader, a chance to participate in a mission to heal children in Venezuela. While you may not be able to attend in person, what you will read here are the thoughts, reactions, and observations of the events, as they unfold. Once or twice each day, the project participants will publish new stories, photographs, and interviews with the team members, patients, and families making this project possible.

The people who you will meet and get to know come from a variety of backgrounds, nations, and families, yet all share a common language . . . the language of caring. We look forward to having you with us March 31, - April 8, 2000.