Marceline and Jacqueline

Today was our last full day in Rwanda this time around. We set out just after daybreak to find Marceline, a girl who had had surgery on her cleft lip back in March. Her cleft was a pretty severe one. A hug hole in the middle of her face with teeth all heaved and shoved around. So when we saw her walking up the hill toward us we were curious to see what her new face would be like. The closer she got the better we could see that a miracle had taken place. There was now a new more confident girl. We enjoyed the fact that she was wearing the hospital gown that she had worn during her surgery. She wears it now as a badge of honor. A constant reminder of her new beginning.

Marceline lives with her father, mother, brothers and sisters in a small one room mud house, crumbling in the hot sun.

The whole community came out to greet us with songs, smiles and hearty handshakes.

Marceline sat on a bench in front of her house and told me, "Before I got my lip fixed, my life was miserable. After I got surgery I was very happy. Especially when my name was called when they were selecting the ones who would get surgery.

Now I am very happy. I now am able to drink using a straw. Other kids have been telling me that now I look beautiful, and this makes me feel so good in my heart.

May God bless whoever contributed to get my lips fixed. All of you and doctors who fixed my lips I thank you so much.



We gave our goodbyes and went down the red dusty road and cow track to find Jacqueline, another of the girls we had followed through surgery. By phone in another town her uncle gave us directions. And miracle of miracles, we arrived at Jacqueline's house. We were greeted warmly by Jacqueline and her tall statuesque mother.

Jacqueline is in P3 grade at school. She, too is tall and beautiful. And the surgery has given her an almost perfect smile. With much singing and waving we left Jacqueline to make our journey back to Kigali before nightfall. And so our trip through Rwanda is coming to an end. We have visited with four of our TV kids and two bonus kids as well.

Through their stories, warm embraces and smiles we have learned first hand what a tremendous difference Operation Smile makes in the lives of children and their families.