Today we are settling in to a new location and preparing for our latest adventure after caring for 376 patients in Can Tho.After a day and a half of rest, we traveled 1.5 hours on a speed boat.....yes a speed boat and then 11.5 hours on a BUS to get to Ca Mau. Brenda slept about 8 hours of that......lucky dog. In our heads we were preparing for a village, but SURPRISE!!! It is a middle size town with electricity, stores and all matters of civilization. The clinic where we will be seeing patients, though is out in a rural area about 30 minutes from our hotel. We will be seeing the poorest of the poor and are trying to brace each other up as we go into yet another unknown situation. Bill Bina has us organized and ready to go. Gayle Bina keeps us all engaged and in touch with ourselves and each other. Thank God for such effective leaders. This team has shown such compassion and has treated so many people with dignity and respect. We are READY. We are so proud of them and the love for each other is growing every day. I think many of us (mainly me) thought we would lose some excess pounds during the trip or go hungry. The food has been so good and such quantity, no problems with weight loss. They must think Americans REALLY EAT!! You will also be proud to know that we have all mastered using chopsticks. In this area, they do not even understand what a fork is....so we have adapted.....not going to go hungry for sure!!
We shared our funniest stories tonight before dinner. Vian and Helen described this pink lizard that Vian had captured in the bathroom. Helen SWEARS that it was a foot long and chased her:) Is that an Alabama story or WHAT??? Shane and I had a very similar shopping experience. He was looking for a pair of shoes large enough. They took a look at his feet and just shook their heads. I was looking for another pair of shorts since it is so hot here. Needless to say, they looked at me and shook their heads:)
Privacy and modesty are VERY important to Naomi and Kim. It is very important to NOT be visible from the door to their room since there is an inch wide crack that you can see through. Mastering the bathrooms has been a challenge to us all but especially for Stephanie and Alex.....every time we get together there has been something involving FLOODING. And Bob thinks for some reason he needs a SHOWER curtain to take a shower. Katie and I both have to be careful when coming OUT of the public bathrooms to have everything neatly tucked in.
We have all been warned about insects and have been very diligent in trying to prevent getting bites. So Lauren SLEPT with a mosquito net OVER HER FACE and was still the only one that got a big old bite...on her FACE!! Now how did that critter get under there??
Kevin is the hero of the hour in coming to the rescue when things go creak in the night. Maybe he should help Sarah and Helen figure out how to turn off the chandelier lights in their room. It has been so funny trying to figure out the switches and knobs for EVERYTHING. Shane, Kyle,Bob, Kevin, and Jacob have all attracted attention with the hair on their arms and legs. Evidently Vietnamese men do not have this characteristic. And Jacob and Kevin with BLONDE hair!! LOOK OUT.
During our last week many of us had the opportunity to experience part of the Asian culture including massage. Katie Beth, Sarah, and Helen paved the way for this unique experience.
While some of these little details may sound cryptic, make notes and ask about them when you talk to your family member. The purpose of today's blog is to let you know that as we are doing good for others, we are trying to be good to ourselves and each other. We have cried together, yes saved lives.....but we laugh hard and loud and are busily taking care of each other. Hopefully we will be organized and give more frequent updates....yes we the teachers have ASSIGNED the students to blog.....so STAY TUNED.
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