When I retired from teaching, I bought a piece of art to celebrate my 36 years of teaching children to learn to read. A small metal statue of an African woman with a book in her hand. Little did I know that statue would come to life after retirement.

I am honored to travel to Africa in May with @operation_of_hope on a medical mission to Zimbabwe. I volunteer not as medical support, but putting my teaching talents to use organizing crafts, singing, reading aloud, and helping to build a library to leave after the mission is gone. Lucky for me, I will be traveling with my bestie from high school, Julie Guide, and her daughter, Jessica Stewart.

Operation of Hope provides free, life-saving facial surgeries to children in desperate need. The families travel from small villages, sometimes selling their goats to afford the trip. They stay at the hospital at no cost to them to get the care they need.

But we need your help to make the mission possible. Your donation will go directly toward medical supplies, travel, care, and books to start a library that can be used year after year.

I personally know the family that started this nonprofit organization, and it has been changing lives for 36 years. That's a lot of smiles! Please check out their website and if you need a good, happy cry, read the story of a 14-year-old boy named Blessing, after he found a landmine in a field. Have a Kleenex handy.

Please consider donating to this life-changing surgical care in developing countries around the world. Every contribution will make a difference and help a child smile.