Initial Impressions

[May 15- 17, 2017]

After 29 hours of travelling, I finally made it to my destination! I literally cannot thank all that prayed for the travelling enough, I was filled with peace amidst bumpy plane rides and was able to sleep for a lot of the trip. I met up with a physician and one of the family members that I'm staying with shortly after getting off the plane and was quickly escorted to get my visa and then...into the blazing sun.

Finally arriving!

It's hard to describe the environment you step into when you exit the airport. You're hit with smells that you just can't escape, a place where honking is the signalling method and where street lines have zero meaning. The streets are crowded with mopeds, cars, bikes, people walking and autos. I was reminded of when I was in India, although luckily this time the level of heat and number of people seemed to be less intense. Those smells though, they're the same.



After driving 2 hours on country roads we reached out destination.  I was greeted by two american missionaries staying only one more day before departing. I found a huge sense of comfort having a taste of North America to help transition me here, also they spoke real good texan english,

Mangosteen. My new favourite fruit. SO GOOD I CAN'T EVEN.

First task?

Put stuff in room.

Second task?

Teach english class on basic body parts to a crowd of eager village children. They travel from far and wide each day to come and learn, after their schooling or workday. The eagerness to learn is amazing and the privilege of an education is something that you can't ignore. Schooling is not mandatory for children here, it is up to the parents whether they attend or work during the day. Restaurants, the streets, manual labour sites- they're filled with children working so hard, missing out on an education for the reality that that's likely what will help put some food on the table. What an amazing thing it is to be able to have an education and to now help, even a little, these children gain one.



Before all the medical work begins, the hosts wanted to take me to some sites. Namely, a mass genocide museum and a mass grave known as the "Killing Fields". Cannot describe the feelings surrounding visiting a place that was a torture chamber only 40 years ago with someone who's father was actually a prisoner there. the mass graves still had bones scattered around and piles upon piles of bones displayed in the monument. What the human heart with sin inside is capable of is incredible. Thank you Jesus for your redeeming love.

And now?

Literally just got inside from my first medical clinic. I.e. I was in charge of seeing the people, young and old. that came to the clinic. The native doctor was my pharmacist and I had a translator which was amazinggg but wow, what a weird feeling. I have never quite had this role before. What a humbling and exciting opportunity to a part of giving healthcare to people that are so far removed from an urban center where things are so readily available. TB. Alcohol induced cardiomyopathy. Gastroenteritis. Osteoarthritis. Fatigue and musculoskeletal related injuries secondary to extreme manual labour that is simply the way it is here. Rice fields won't be planted or harvested, sand won't be exhumed from rivers for bricks (which they then make) for buildings (which they then make) without human effort. What a hard working people- I don't know anything about this kind of work ethic.

My set up.

Tomorrow we journey to remote villages equipped with our medications, minor surgical gear and even a donated echo machine.

Prayer Points:

1. Health. Please pray against illness in general, it's really easy to get sick here with little (travellers diarrhea) and big (TB) things. Also, being gluten free is not an option here. Celiac disease is virtually non-existent here and there is bread and soya sauce everywhere. I cannot escape it and pretty much have to eat it in my three meals a day if I'm going to eat at all. I'm already experiencing GI upset and will probably have this for the remainder of the trip. Please pray that it will be manageable and not grow to be worse.

2. Safety in travel to the villages tomorrow/overnight.

3. For peace of mind. Since visiting the sites related to genocide, I have been struggling with thoughts of fear. To be reminded of the capabilities of humankind to hate one another made me suddenly aware that one day I might be at the end of that hatred. The genocide was directed at educated, religious and really anyone with any skills, and although this country is at peace, there are some nagging thoughts saying, "maybe it will happen again" when I'm here. Please pray for spiritual protection.

4. I feel extremely under-prepared for the tasks that have been and are going to be assigned to me. Teaching english, running clinics- these are things I have never been entrusted with before and although I'm excited, I need grace to do these things well and as best as my training allows.