by Grace Chrisco, Nursing Team

Hello!  I can’t believe we have finished our 5th day of clinic and our 10th day in Cambodia. By now we are all very comfortable with one another and it truly feels like we are not just a team but a family, too. Whenever we sit down for a meal our chit chat and laughter fills the room. At times, it doesn’t quite feel like we are halfway around the world. 

This morning a few of us got up to workout by the pool while others slept in and rested to prepare for another day of clinic. By 0730 we all met in the hotel cafe for breakfast. As per usual, breakfast consisted of rice, a staple to all Cambodian meals. The hotel did their best to accommodate our American palates by providing scrambled eggs, french fries, donuts and delicious fresh fruit. After refueling, we got into vans and set off for a new remote village where we would be setting up shop. Twenty five minutes of bumpy car ride and a few car sick people later, we finally made it to the village.

Upon arrival, there were many people waiting to seek medical care. There were also dogs, chickens and cattle roaming around the area. This was an interesting twist to the farm like feel of the land we had to work with for our clinic setup. Everyday, at a different location we have to find a new way to set up our clinic. By now we have a solid system in setting up and in no time we began seeing patients.

There were patients of all different ages from less than a year old to 100 years old. It’s interesting the different cultures of each village. Yesterday we went to a village that was very boisterous and outgoing with kids running amuck. But just 15 kilometer away, the people of today’s village were very calm, and even-tempered. Many expressed their gratitude toward us as we provided care and medicine for them that they cannot otherwise obtain for themselves. 

The Cambodian people are kind. Today, there were  little girls who cut up jack fruit and offered it to our team. These people who have so little, found it in their hearts to give back to us. Such a small act of kindness left a big impression on my heart. 

It always amazes our team how resilient the Cambodian people are. We have seen kids come in with high fevers from strep throat, pneumonia, and ear infections but are still playing and smiling just as any normal healthy child would. 

As the day progressed, clouds covered the sky which brought in a cool breeze. This was an answer to prayer as the past few days had been extremely hot. Upwards of 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity makes quite a sweaty situation. No matter how much water you drink your body still craves more. It makes us all more thankful for the endless supply of water provided for us as many of these Cambodian people can’t afford clean water for themselves. 

Seeing the simplicity of life here really puts life at home into perspective. As we continue to serve the Cambodian’s physical needs they are serving our spiritual and emotional needs more than we ever imagined. We are only halfway through the trip and our hearts are already overfilled. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in our last 10 days. 

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