Mission to Cambodia 2013
from Natalie Heflin

Today I lived the dream to which most Belmont students aspire. I walked into a crowded room of people clapping for me as I was preparing to use my skills. Okay, I’m not as cool as I am making myself sound, so I’ll be honest: Today was the day we went to the local nursing school to teach around 150 students that have been in the program for 6 months some basic nursing skills-including SBAR (nurse to doctor communication), pain assessments, and catheter insertion.

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Mission to Cambodia 2013
from Taylor Bonds

Once again we started the day with a refreshing run/walk and then ended up eating soup for breakfast and it was so yummy! After breakfast it was my group’s turn to embark on the adventure of touring Phonm Penh.  We started the day with some shopping in the Russian market and it was quite the experience considering the selection of goods is unreal!

For those of you that know me well, this is probably the last place you would ever want to come with me considering it takes me at least 10 minutes to decide what drink to order at Starbucks. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2013
from Emily Jones

My first full day in Phnom Penh consisted of many excited and heart wrenching moments. The sun wasn’t even up when some of us gathered together for a morning run through the city. The liveliness of the Cambodians early in the morning was such an intriguing site to see. After passing the Independence Monument we made our way down a road that ran by the river. During our run we enjoyed the vivacious music that various groups of Cambodians were dancing too. Most of the dancing was similar to what we would think of as zumba in the United States, while some groups we ran past participated in dancing that was more peaceful – like pilates or yoga. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2013
from Bridget Deering

For our first full day in Cambodia, my group went to help build a home for a family in need with the social work team from the hospital. Even though we were very tired from the previous day of traveling, it was a very rewarding experience. The new house was going up behind the family’s current house so we were able to see their current living conditions. I think it was a little shocking for all of us to see the room that a 10-person family had been living. The walls of the house were made tarp fragments. It made me feel almost guilty for some of the things I want and complain about at home when some people have homes made of tarps. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2013
from Brittany Ward

The School of Nursing is again sponsoring a student mission trip to Cambodia this May and students and faculty are posting about their experiences.  Keep watch here over the next two weeks for new posts!

Today our group was assigned to go work on the service project we are doing here in Cambodia. The Sihanouk Hospital has a team that specifically goes on Home Visits. All the families that this team helps are people who suffer from HIV/AIDS. Today we had a leader with us named T who had been at the hospital since 1998 working with this home care team. He stated that he currently has 400 people who he and his team serve.  They try to make it out and see each family once or twice a week in order to make sure they are doing okay and they are receiving medications.

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Mission to Cambodia 2013
Brittany Woods

The School of Nursing is again sponsoring a student mission trip to Cambodia this May and students and faculty are posting about their experiences.  Keep watch here over the next two weeks for new posts!

Today was our first day was our first day to go out into Cambodia, and my group was going to the Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope. The group consists of 7 girls and it is led by Mrs. Taplin and Mrs. Blank. For those of us who have never been to Cambodia before we were very excited to see what this hospital was like and to interact with the people, and for the returners, they were excited to get back and reunite with some familiar faces and begin helping.

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Mission to Cambodia 2013
from Julie Bonds

10 days ago, running 26.2 miles seemed impossible as I tried to tell my feet to keep going step after step after step; but some how, some way I made it through the intense 26.2 miles and the finish line brought so much overwhelming joy and hope for things to come.

Today was one of those days where I needed to grasp onto the joy and hope of crossing the finish line to get through the morning of intense heat, physical labor, and immeasurable gratitude.

The day started with an alarm clock set for 5:15 am, which never went off considering the anticipation of setting foot in Cambodia for the first time woke me up at 5 ready to meet the running group at 5:30 am. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2013
from Taylor Bonds

After crossing day after day on my calendar with my dark green pen, the early morning of May 5th has finally arrived and you can now find me sitting in a damp seat cushion on top of a folded magazine because who knows what the “dampness” could be! Immediately, my mind started to race about what this trip will be like? What the culture will be like? How many children I will fall in love with? If I will want to come back? And, selfishly I wonder what a Cambodian birthday will be like! The whole night last night I watched the clock on my computer go minute by minute so I decided the best problem solver was to stay up all night hoping that I will sleep the entire 14 hours and 32 minutes to South Korea from Dallas!… I guess we will see if my hypothesis is correct in about 3 hours! Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Erin Pettepher and Audrey Robinson

Wow! This trip has been such a blessing for each and every one of us. We have had amazing opportunities to see and receive the love from God’s children here, as well as opportunities to share that same love. Our last full day in Cambodia was packed with fun activities. We started our day out with visiting Phnom Penh Church of Christ. Both of us got the chance to sing with the church. And when we say sing, we mean standing up on stage, with the microphone ON, singing our little hearts out. Both of our families can attest that we should not be leading worship, but we know that God does not ask for a pretty sound but a joyful sound. And boy were we JOYFUL! It was so amazing to hear the songs sung in English and Khmer and all the while knowing that God understood it all. Big thanks for Tyler for truly leading worship as well as encouraging us to sing higher and louder than we probably should have. Words cannot describe how thankful we are for being able to meet our brothers and sisters in the church across the world. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Tyler Moser

Today was one of my favorite days in Cambodia. I went to the Goldstone school for my last time, to help out with some painting projects that they had. I arrived late because of a communication break down (common place in Cambodia). I got to work as soon as  I could because I only had a a few hours to paint three walls with a single, 4 inch brush.

After lunch at “My Burger”, which was as close to Five Guys as they have on Cambodia, I got some much needed R&R. But the best part of the day was still to come. Erin, Audrey, and I all went to the church office to practice music for Sunday service. The practice lasted about 2 hours, and was awesome. The music was uplifting, and praising God with Christians from all across the world is one of the coolest things that I have done on this trip. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Becca Pippin

This morning, we traveled about an hour to Tangkhiev Village to visit their mobile clinic. Twice a week, a doctor and a couple nurses go there to see patients and give the people medications they need. Many deaths are caused by people taking fake medicine, so the education provided by these healthcare workers is as valuable as the medication they give.

Cassie had a quick pharmacology lesson (pictured right) and helped fill prescriptions. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Cassie Wright

Today we went to the killing fields outside of Phnom Pehn. It was one of the hardest things to make myself do. Many of us did not want to go after Tuol Sleng and seeing how the people of this country were tortured, but we went anyway. I was shocked at how beautiful of a place the killing fields were despite the ugly horrors that were committed here. We were guided by audio tour headphones that gave a description of every stop along a path that went through the field. The path guided you along where the Cambodians would have been taken. The first stop was at the truck stop where blindfolded Cambodians would be taken off the truck and accounted for. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Susan Taplin

We are writing this blog from the group to let you know about a young woman we met in Battambang province.  Her name is Chhor Wan. She is 14 years old. She was a patient at the Handa Emergency Hospital which we visited while we were there.

This is her story: Chhor Wan has been living with her grandmother since she was five years old. Her parents divorced and her mother left her in her grandmother’s care. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Amelia Brown

Today our group split up and did different things. Most of the group helped with nursing check offs at the hospital. Once a year the nurses are  required to take an oral exam where they must produce the steps to basic procedures used in the hospital. The goal is to explain the steps in English. Our group was therefore quite useful in administering the check offs. Apparently the check offs were largely a success since most people passed!  These nurses left the hospital today feeling relieved and reassured in their skills.

Cameray and I went on HIV home visits today. We accompanied a social worker, Chhavelith,  to the countryside to check on HIV families that are waiting to move into new homes built by habitat for humanity.  The first couple we visited lived in a one room hut made from wooden posts with tarps as the roof and walls. The woman not only has the HIV virus, but also just finished treatment for TB. The tarp serving as the ceiling had a hole in it and was leaking. Since it is the rainy season in Cambodia, this couple was consistently wet.  They were still extremely cheerful because they are expecting to have a house built for them in a couple of months. Cameray and I decided that we wanted to get this couple a tarp so they could be dry their last few months living there. After we visited two more HIV families in this village, we rode 45 minutes back to the city. Once we got back, we went to the market and bought a tarp for the first couple we met. We assumed the couple wouldn’t receive the tarp for a few days, whenever Chhavelith went back for another visit.  Chhavelith called the couple and told them we bought the tarp. They were ecstatic and said they’d ride a bike in to pick it up today. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Elizabeth Vorholt

Today we got the opportunity to step outside the hospital and into the homes of some patients of Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope. Cassie, Becca, Emily, and I tagged along with two members of the Home Based Care team, who regularly visit patients living with HIV and AIDS to check in on their progress. This morning, we visited three families within walking distance of the hospital in Phnom Penh. We ventured down alleyways and up pitched black concrete spiral staircases to enter the homes, and got a real glimpse into life in the city. These families live together in one room, which they rent for $25 per month. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Susan Taplin & Emily Morse

Greetings from Cambodia.  Emily and I want to extend a special thank you to all of the parents, families, boyfriends, etc who have entrusted your young women and one man into our care.  These young people are incredible.  Their hearts and minds are beautiful, growing, and giving to each other as well as Cambodia.  Every day we are impressed with the depth of thought and emotion that is evident in all.  We feel very blessed to be able to share in their lives.  The trip is going very well with very few hiccups along the way.  We have been having morning devotionals almost every day and I believe the presence of God is alive and well within this group…protecting, teaching and guiding with the holy spirit.  Two of the students have led the devotionals to date and we love to learn from them and see their perspectives of God. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Emily Graehler

We have been learning about the horrific history of Cambodia for several months now.  However, for me, today was when reality truly sunk in.  It was not until I walked into the buildings at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.  My emotions were rocked as faces of hundreds if not thousands of people stared back at me.  These were the images of every single victim who was killed in the prison at Tuol Sleng.  Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Catherine McMullan

Sunday morning we packed up our things and prepared for the long bus ride from Battambang back to Phnom Penh, but before we left we had the privilege of going to church at Kevin and Anna’s house. In order for this blog to make sense, you should know that I have really been struggling this trip with seeing so much hurt and not being able to do anything about it. I have been on similar trips to Honduras in the past, but my heart has never been as heavy as it has been at some points during this trip. Sunday morning was one of those points. I don’t know why but I woke up that morning incredibly burdened and feeling hopeless, like nothing I could ever do could have even a small impact in anyone’s life. Going to church and seeing the love and inexplicable joy in the faces of people we had met during our time in Battambang was exactly what I needed. Instantly my spirit was lifted and I had peace. Seeing people who are in the middle of such hardships have such contagious joy gave me hope and reassurance that God is definitely still in control.  It also gave me a fresh perspective. I walked in feeling so burdened, but within minutes the love of the Lord that shone through the people in the church completely changed my heart and lifted my spirit. I thought about it on the bus ride home and what a difference the tangible love of God can make for not just me, but every patient I come into contact with.

Of course six hours is a long time to be on a bus. Naturally we were all a little delirious towards the end (see video).  Enjoy! 🙂

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Erin Pettefer

After spending some time with the children of the church, a few of us thought we should share this with our friends and families back home! This is what we are having the joy of experiencing! God is so GOOD!

The video is linked below!

Mission to Cambodia 2012
Erin Pettefer

Wow! What an amazing day today has been. We started our day off with an early breakfast and a tuk tuk ride to Emergency Hospital in Battambang. After receiving a tour and learning about several patients on rounds, we split into three groups. One group went to the operating room, one group went to ward A (men), and one group went to ward C (women and children). To our surprise everyone received the opportunity to work in each area, and we all got to sit in on two surgeries! Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Audrey Robinson

Letting go of my plan has always been something that God is teaching me…slowly. One thing that I believe about Jesus that always blows my mind is that He is always working and teaching His children to be more like Him in and through EVERYTHING. Yet again, all the way across the world, I find myself being taught, with love and patience, to let go of myself and empty me of me.  How amazing is that? The God of the universe has chosen to teach me and loves to because He knows I need to let go of all in order to be completely overwhelmed by Him.  Cambodia, the people here, this team, being across the world—God has given each of us here an opportunity to let go and lay down it all and trust He is a great God and is working even when we cannot see.  Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”. My prayer for this trip and this group of amazing people is that we continue to offer our bodies where He has placed us now as sacrifices to Jesus.  Letting go of our plans and rising up through the power of the Holy Spirit and shining the light of Christ to this lost and seeking country.

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Becca Pippen

When we arrived in Battambang today, I was looking forward to a relaxing day lounging by the pool.

What I got was even better. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Emily Graehler

This day has been one of my favorites thus far.  We started the day off extra early around 5:00am in order to make it to Ankor Wat in time to watch the sunrise.  Sitting and watching the sunrise provided some quiet time to relax and truly enjoy the experience.  Although it was cloudy, the sun still shone through, allowing some great pictures to be taken by all of the tourists. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2012
from Tyler Moser

So far Cambodia has been amazing. No words can describe all of the things that we have seen, done, or felt during this crazy trip. For me, Cambodia was an opportunity to travel one last time before graduating college. I have always loved to travel, and when Southeast Asia was mentioned, I was like “Sure, why not? It can’t be that bad, and I love Thai food, so at least the cuisine should be fine.”  However,  what Cambodia is, is quite different from what I had imagined or even seen on television, in magazines, etc. The people are truly special, minus the haggling and bartering, I have enjoyed every second of my Asian adventure.

When I originally signed up to be on this trip I was told that I would be the only guy going, and that there were eleven girls. This obviously brought on mixed emotions that were brought upon by my own insecurities. But actually the ladies have been splendid, and there have been two brothers from the church her that have been hanging out with us for the bulk of the trip. So needless to say I’m not lonely, but I am learning a lot about women. 🙂 Continue reading →