Harry Potter

Jean, a boy we dubbed Harry Potter because of the sweatshirt he wore to the Operation Smile screening process, was just coming up the hill to his house as we pulled up. He looks great with his new smile. The healing will get better with time, but even after only 3 months he looks good. After his grandmother scrubbed him clean from water in a plastic tub, he was ready to pose for photos. Then we had him show us one of the chores he does to help his family. He collects greens to feed the young pig they keep next to their dairy cow.

Eugenie

Eugenie, a girl once abandoned, abused and thrown away...is now a happy girl with a home and friends. She proudly wears her Operation Smile T-Shirt and can't stop beaming. Her house is perched on the side of a steep hill carved into terraces for growing bananas and other crops. At over 5,000 feet I quite lost my breath as I walked over the hills on a meandering path to her home. Her neighbors were there rejoicing in her new face and now promising future. It was so nice to see her and to know that she now has friends to play with and share the joys of life. So different from the past life she led on the streets.

Eugenie told me, "My life before my cleft lip surgery was bad, I don't even want to think about it any more. But now I have friends. To those who put their efforts together to fix my lips, I want to thank you. May God give you a special blessing. May God protect you in all your journey and in your every day activities.

At Habimana's House

Happy Habimana. We returned today and spent time with Habimana, his family and his friends.

This boy ran to hug us as we arrived. So full of love. His house had been transformed since yesterday. A new "africa cloth" hung in the doorway. A wooden couch and stools were in front. And Habimana was washed and in clean clothes. All of this is because the community has seen what Operation Smile has done in the life of this little boy. The neighbors loaned the cloth , the furniture and the clothes. There was a jubulant air about the place.

Mom and Habimana spoke to us about the changes that have taken place in their lives. Once outcast, now accepted. They now have hopes and dreams where none were possible before.

Habimana and his new best friends strolled down the narrow footpath, confident and happy. They were off to play a game of soccer. The ball a simple one - made of rags.

Habimana told me, "Before you came to Rwanda people used to call me "Cleft boy" and they would tease me. That made me sad. I did not go to school because the other kids made fun of me. I just stayed at home alone. But then you chose me for surgery. You fixed my lip. And now my life has changed. Now I have friends. I am looking forward to going to school. I am happy and now people call me by my name - Habimana - not Cleft Boy anymore. Thank you for all you did for me."

In Rwanda for Operation Smile

This is Day One of our return trip to Rwanda. First stop the airport to see if Peter Stuckings baggage had arrived yet. When he got to Rwanda this morning from Nairobi his bag did not.

We were lucky, it came. Bag in hand it was time to track down Habimana, a little boy who had received surgery a few months ago. We found the neigborhood of mud brick homes and dirt paths on the side of a hill. And after a few missed turns we arrived at Habimana's house. The door was unlocked so we knew his mother couldn't be far away. Sure enough in a few moments we were surrounded by villagers and through the crowd came Habimana with his new smile.

We talked with him and his mother, took some photos and video and hung out in the late afternoon sun. They are still stuggling each day for food and shelter, but so happy with the results of the surgery. No more taunting and teasing. Habimana is looking forward to attending school in the fall.

We will return tomorrow for more taping and photos. He and his mother walked us up the hill to our taxi. They will be waiting in the morning.

It fills your heart to see a boy like Habimana actually changed by a relatively simple surgery that he could never have afforded in his life.

With World Vision in El Savador

With Laura Papetti, KREM TV anchor, in El Salvador for World Vision. She did a great job relating to the children and their families, some of the poorest of the poor. Spokane, Washington should be proud of her.

What a good day. Hot, humid, but good. We went to a very successful World Vision ADP in an area that has been rated one of the poorest in the country of El Salvador. The majority of families here live on as little as $25 a month. They are farmers and pottery makers...great black clay pottery. The people are humble and warm. The country is not. We are traveling with two armed guards.

We visited a children's class and then a Kid's Club across the cobbled road to see children learning, singing and sharing. Things they never had a chance to do before World Vision came to their assistance.

Lynne and Harrison drove me to the airport this morning. We had just been there last night when Harrison returned from law school for a summer intern program. I checked in and was at the gate in plenty of time. Just the way I like it.

The only thing I didn't like about Continental's flight to Houston and on to El Salvador is that they now have Direct TV for in flight entertainment. So to get anything, TV, movies, audio you have to pay $6. Other than that the flights were fine, comfortable and on time.

Now, it is 10pm in El Salvador and 80 degrees! I'm overnighting at the airport Quality Inn and then tomorrow we head for San Miguel and the World Vision ADP's.

Gary Dowd was the only one who didn't get his baggage. It should arrive at our hotel tomorrow night. So, for now, it is off to bed, rise early for our trip up country.

Oh, Harrison and Lynne reported that they walked a bunch of dogs at the shelter today and then took my favorites, Baxter, Coco and Hercules to the dog park. I think Harrison really enjoyed helping out.

Off to El Salvador for World Vision

Tomorrow, bright and early, I head for the airport on another TV assignment for World Vision. This time I'll be with veteran producer/writer/traveler Gary Dowd and Steve Quant from World Vision. Also joining us will be KREM TV's Laura Papetti who will be sharing her experiences as she meets children in need and those who have been helped through World Vision Child Sponsorship.


Before coming to KREM 2 Laura lived in Anchorage, AK and worked at the NBC affiliate KTUU. She helped create award winning projects while traveling extensively throughout the state and anchoring a business focused show. She started her journalism career in Missoula, MT where she covered the capture of the Unabomber and the militia movement and served as an anchor. In 2000 she got married and moved to Spokane where she lives with her husband and young daughter.

Contact Laura at lpapetti@krem.com.