Sabaidee From Laos (Click on photos to enlarge)

Arrival lunch in Laos with Thailand on the other side of the Mekong River.

Visiting a district hospital...slated for a modern replacement...you'll agree none too soon.

Delivery Room

Checking out the patient room.

Lunch outside the comfort zone...but tasty.

Amy presents a gift to Assistant Director of orphanage with capacity for 400 orphans.

With some of the orphan girls.

A room shared by 14 girls...cracks in the floors with pigs under the structure.

Kitchen...

More of our Laos adventure later...Saturday morning we left our hotel at 6 a.m. and returned at almost 11 p.m.

Last Day in Vietnam...For a Little While (Click on photo to enlarge)

Elderly residents had a big time in an outdoor balloon activity. One man who "never" comes out of his room, did to check out all the fun. Susan is passing out treats to the participants...People all over the world love chocolate.

Amy and Thau writing as leadership team develops strategic plan.

The description of "feast" for this luncheon hosted for us at SS 3 was barely adequate.  We were honored by their hospitality.

Certificates were presented to all the attendees of both nursing and leadership training. The hug Joleann is receiving tells the story of bonding that transcended cultural and language barriers.

We ended the day with a wonderful meal at Tan's new place...His wife put out a great meal. We were honored to be the first team hosted by them in their new apartment. Tan is a great friend, personally as well as professionally.

Indelibly imprinted on all of our hearts is the story of Be, one of the older orphans at SS 3. She was taken at a young age by a "very bad man" who made her beg. In order to be a more pitiful looking and effective beggar, he put cigarrettes out on her face to scar her and blinded her in her right eye. The government stops supporting her in one more year when she turns 18...she has not been allowed to go to school. She wanted to have pictures taken with us...we are smiling through tears...

DOLISA and SS 3 (Click on photos to enlarge)

Our team had a great meeting with officials from DOLISA, discussing plans for SS3 and care for the elderly in Vietnam.

A visit to Minh Son's house/gallery. Joleann and Amy couldn't resist and some of his paintings will shortly be shipped Texas.

Toddlers enjoy new toys.

Joleann and Susan training nursing staff with translator of course. Their handouts had all been translated into Vietnamese by our GVI partners.

SS 3 leadership, while getting out of their comforts zones, enjoyed Amy's Leadership Development training.

Kids everywhere love bubbles.

New clothes being distributed.

Guessing these were held while sleeping later...

Medical supplies awaiting distribution and use.

Susan works/trains on a patient with contractions.

 

The gift that keeps on giving...

Vietnam Weekend (Click on photos to enlarge)

Amy, Joleann, and Susan prepare to enter the "Hanoi Hilton" prison museum Saturday morning. Not exactly an uplifting way to start the weekend but important to visit.

Scenes enroute to Ha Long Bay Sunday morning...farming the old fashioned way and baby napping on motorbike.

A four course meal enjoyed aboard our tour boat...Great food a little outside some comfort zones. Kenny peeled his own shrimp and Maya tried the fresh squid...Steve eats anything.

Village on the water in Ha Long Bay.

Steve gives our guide a break from the oars...we all breathed a sigh of relief when she regained control.

Life on the water...click to enlarge and see the baby...

Kenny, Amy, Steve and Mayah with the Fighting Chicks in the background.

 

Monday we go to DOLISA (government agency responsible for elderly and orphans), Minh Son's (famous artist) house, and introductory meeting to SS3. It will be a busy and great day as we begin the work we came to do.

Hanoi Bound

Volunteers Susan, Mayah, Steve, Amy, Joleann and Vilat meet with SE Asia Healthcare Partners Board prior to May 18 trip to Vietnam and Laos.

Vilat and Greg (First Choice Medical Supply) inspect medical supplies graciously donated for our work with orphans and frail elderly. The five large bags we filled didn't even make a dent. Greg and his crew were so nice and weighed the bags so we wouldn't exceed the weight limits.  Tuesday a few of the supplies will be distributed to SS3, halfway around the world. What a blessing!