Beautiful Smiles

I’d like to share with you an experience that occurred when I was returning from my WJOS Bolivia mission, an experience that reminded me that sometimes positive things can occur in rather negative situations.
After an all-night flight from Santa Cruz, Bolivia I was more than ready to get back home to Memphis. My mission experience in Bolivia had been incredible in every way but I was ready to return home.

Upon landing in Miami I found myself standing in a long U.S.Customs line, dreading the long wait & the less-than-pleasant Customs agents ahead. As I proceeded through the line an agent motioned for me to place my bags on the bench between us. He seemed to have an especially gruff, all-business attitude. As he began inspecting my first bag he asked the usual questions: “Where have you been? How long were you there? What was the purpose of your visit?” When I responded to the last question & he heard the name Operation Smile he looked up at me & said “I’ve heard of that group - tell me about them”. An immediate change in his attitude was evident & he actually became warm & engaging in his manner.

For the next several minutes he wanted to know all about Operation Smile, asking a number of questions about how our team worked together, types of surgeries performed, follow-up care, mission sites, etc . His entire personality underwent a most positive transformation as he became even more involved in this discussion!

His last question, however, was the most telling - “How do you doctors get compensation for this work you do?”

I simply replied : “Smiles. Beautiful Smiles on the faces of these precious children & their families as we complete our work.”

He looked into my face with a look I shall never forget & this tough guy’s voice began to crack as he said “God bless you & God bless Operation Smile.”

- Dan H Shell III, MD, Operation Smile volunteer