It's hard to believe it is already Wednesday night.  We were up at 6am and on our way to the school called Saigon 2 by 7:30am.  Between the 3 of us nurses we saw 78 children and 23 adults.  Can't wait to share some of the cases with the nursing students.

                                     Ann, one of the missionaries was my translator for the morning.
                                                We were interviewing one of the students.

                                My roommate, Debbie was our intake & blood pressure person.
                         We used the electronic machines.  She is not a nurse, yet she did a great job.
                                      Next to her is Judy, one of the missionaries and a translator.
                                                  Her story as a Vietnam refugee is incredible.

                                               Met part of our team 4:30am Sunday morning
                                   Amy, Trinh, Libby, Debbie and me waiting for our 6am flight.

                                         Libby, Debbie and Amy still looking fresh, even though
                                        we are now on our flight to Korea for a 13 hour trip to Korea.
                                         It was a huge plane and it was full.

We arrived in Cambodia after 11pm (10am Minn. time)  They are 13 hour ahead of Minn.  This is now Monday night.  We were in bed at 12mn, in an air conditioned room. Then up at 6am to get ready for a full day of children's physicals.
The sights, sounds and people of  Cambodia is unbelievable. So is the temperature.  It was in the 90's today.

 
                        Frank, our only male, Amy and Libby decided to ride the coolest way!


We arrived to the small church to find out that the electricity was not working.  Not that there was air conditioning, because it is open air, but the fans weren't working!  I drank 5 bottles of water to keep hydrated.



We did physicals on some 50 children and also saw adults with different health concerns.
The thing that hit me the most was the amount of children with tooth decay and teeth missing.  They have a poor nutritional diet and they eat lots of drinks with sugar in them.  They were also small in size. A 12 year old looked like a 8 year old.

                                                    Karin listening to a child's heart sounds.

It will be an early 6am start tomorrow, Wednesday, with an even fuller day than today.  So goodnight until next blog

The suitcases are packed.

Our trip to Cambodia is just 4 days away as we prepare to leave early Sunday morning, Feb. 26th.  It's hard to believe.  Time passes quickly when there is much to do.  

Our team of 7 started packing 3 weeks ago, filling 10 suitcases with medical supplies, medicine, chewable vitamins and toothbrushes.  My suitcases now weigh 40#'s and 25#'s respectively.  We have a limit of up to 50#'s so I have a ways to go.    

Our carry-on bags and backpacks have to carry most of our clothes and snacks (I have peanut butter and of course some hard chocolate!) and any medicine we need.  That's just in case a suitcase gets lost or arrives late, which is always a possibility.

Sorting toothbrushes(L to R: Amy, Libby, Debbie, and Kathy, a friend of our leader, Trinh.)

With the time growing closer I am spending more time contemplating my time with the children and praying for  them. I think about  my faith story that I will be sharing with the churches we will attend.  How at the age of 10, I asked Jesus to come into my heart and life to live through me.  Then the dream was formed that someday I would serve Him by serving others in His name, far away.  That time is now. God is faithful.

 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13