International Outreach

The Power of Touch

2011-01-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

Our time here in India is coming to a close and it's time to reflect on the work we've done at the hospital. When I travel with Heart Touch to other countries, it is always an amazing reminder that the language of touch is universal. Even when we reach cultural taboos that we need to be sensitive of (like not touching the top of someone's head in Cambodia, or opposite genders touching in India), once we show what we are here for, the power of touch breaks down all of the barriers.

Our last day here consisted of a mini Heart Touch Training for several doctors and nurses (this training usually takes place over a few days when it's done in the US, but we wanted to let them experience it in the time that we had). We got to watch them, as the day continued, open up to receiving touch and giving touch--even to those of the opposite gender. And at the end of the training, we were all enveloped in hugs from every single participant. This was incredibly unusual for us, since most of the doctors and nurses didn't even shake our hands during the trip (the exception to that was when a male doctor would great our male volunteer).

Shawnee starts the Heart Touch workshop.

I start the NICU presentation

Apparently, I am a very animated speaker. ha!

Shawnee demonstrates some compassionate touch techniques.

Eyes closed, ready for some interesting touch exercises.

Hopefully they will continue to use the tools we shared with them after we leave. And we now have enough of a foundation that when Heart Touch returns, they can train the hospital staff to be the trainers, so the education will continue and massage and compassionate touch will be regular part of the education at the hospital and a regular service that the patients receive.

Some of the Heart Touch volunteers with a few of the doctors who attended our workshop.

And I suppose this makes the constant headache I've had since arriving here worth it. ;)

Spreading the Heart Touch

2011-01-03T19:54:00.000-08:00

India. Oh, India. The land of heat, traffic, incessant honking, crazy driving, horrible smells, pushing and shoving, sitting around waiting, flashing of male genitals, head bobbing, and hostility toward white people. I will be honest: it's not my favorite place.

But luckily, being inside the AIMS hospital is like being in a different world altogether. It starts with the way we're treated by the doctors and nurses. They are all so eager to learn from us, and so incredibly kind and welcoming. Another difference is that in the hospital, we can sometimes bypass the cultural norms that make touch (especially touching someone of the opposite gender) an issue. This makes our work less constricting while we're here.

Most of the time, we just start our day with a loose idea of a schedule, which changes drastically throughout the day. We could be working in one department and then we are told that it's time to teach a class or go to another department. Since I have the most experience in the nicu, I've been able to spend most of my time with the babies, working with them and even showing some parents how to do massage with their little ones when they take them home from the hospital.

A couple of us have also spent a lot of time teaching! I wasn't really expecting to do so much of that (or any of that!) when we planned the trip, but this is India--you just go with the flow! We put together some powerpoints over the weekend and my teaching partner and I have worked together really well presenting! Again, the doctors and nurses are very receptive and eager to learn what we're teaching, which makes it easy. And as we finish one class, we step outside and are ushered off to (surprise!) teach another group. So we've had some long days of running around the hospital, working and teaching and spreading the Heart Touch message. It's absolutely exhausting, but it's amazing to think of the program we're starting here. We know that this is going to become part of the education that nurses receive here and will become just a regular part of what they do with their patients and how awesome is it to think that we are the group that is paving the way for that to happen?

India

2010-12-31T18:26:00.000-08:00

It took 48 hours of traveling to get here (including a very long layover in Singapore), but we finally arrived safe and sound in India. We got in late Wednesday night and made our way to the AIMS hospital on Thursday. We spent the day getting a tour of the hospital (it is incredibly massive!) and meeting different doctors. Then on Friday, we went back early in the morning and spent the day working. Another volunteer and I spent the first half of our day in the nnicu. The doctors and nurses there were very excited to have us and asked us to provide training classes for the nurses so that they could carry on with our massage work when we're gone. So this weekend will be spent putting together some slideshows and lesson plans for a class next week!

After the nnicu, we had lunch and then were taken to various ICUs to work on patients there. It turns out that a lot of the departments want their nurses to learn massage so that they can provide it to the patients, which is a good thing! It will help Heart Touch become a regular part of the hospital and add to the sustainability of the project, which is definitely a goal of ours.

It's been an exhausting week just getting here and working, but it's always rewarding to be appreciated. The parents of one of the babies I worked on approached me outside of the hospital to thank me. They were so sweet and I'm looking forward to seeing their little one again.

Unfortunately we can't take any pictures at the hospital, so I can't visually share the work we're doing with anyone the way I did when we were in Cambodia!

Babies!

2010-12-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

Well, in one week, I will be en route to India! I'm still recovering from the end of the semester, so the excitement hasn't quite hit me yet. But what I am incredibly excited about is the fact that I will get to volunteer in the NNICU while in India! It turns out that I'm the only one on the trip who has extensive (or any) experience in the nnicu, so I get to be the one who volunteers in that area. And for that, I'm very excited. I love being in the nnicu here at home and have missed it since starting school, so I will be very happy to get back there. I'm sure I'll rotate around to other areas of the hospital as well, but knowing that they are eager to have someone experienced with the babies in there makes me very happy!

Getting Closer....

2010-10-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

So my trip to India is a little over two months away now! I have been so busy with school that I almost keep forgetting that it's coming up. Of course, I have been aware enough (thank goodness!) to get all of my vaccinations, as well as a prescription for malaria meds, some Deet lotion and other assorted things I will need for my trip.

My fundraising is currently at about 61%, which is not quite to my goal, but it's still pretty good and I am just incredibly overwhelmed by each and every donation that comes my way. I know that times are really tough for everyone right now, so it's asking a lot to even ask for a little. I am extremely grateful for the support I have received from my friends and family so far!

Touching the Untouchables

2010-06-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally had our first meeting for Heart Touch International! Even though the trip is 6 months away, there is a lot of planning to do, which is why we start the meetings early. It was great to see a few of my old friends and wonderful to meet the rest of the group that will be going with us. It feels like we are going to have as wonderful of a group for this trip as we did for our Cambodia trip. And that is SO important when doing this work. You need just the right mix of seriousness and light-heartedness, along with understanding, comfort and the ability to know when to give each person either the space or the hug they need.

We also learned more about the hospital where we will be volunteering: AIMS Hospital. Amma created this hospital so that everyone in India would have access to advanced medical care, regardless of their income or place in society. As a result, the hospital is very advanced and will be VERY different from the hospitals we visited in Cambodia. But, the patients at the hospital will be very much the same: the poorest of the poor. Or, the "untouchables," as they are known. And that is completely in line with the mission of Heart Touch: Touching the Untouchables. Those who others are scared (for whatever reason) to touch and show love and compassion to, those are the ones we will step in for and touch. To show them that they are worthwhile, they are loved, and they do matter. It is always so much more than a simple touch. We will offer what we can and while it might not be advanced medical care, it is emotional care, and those two can, and should, go hand in hand.

(At work at the hospital in Cambodia)

Amma also has an orphanage that is a bit far from the hospital. So as of now, it looks like we will be spending most of our time at the hospital and not the orphanage. This is fine with me, as I'm happy to serve wherever I can. We will also have the opportunity to do "community outreach" and go into the more remote villages with hospital staff to do our work.

And so begins the planning! I have vaccinations to get, a visa to apply for, funds to raise, and so many other things to take care of. Good thing I have six months to do it all!

Meeting Time!

2010-06-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

I just received my schedule for the meetings we will have for our India trip. The reality of the trip is starting to kick in! I'm excited to have our first meeting and see some of my friends that I volunteered in Cambodia with, as well as meet the other people who will be going with us on this trip.

Unfortunately, along with the schedule, we received news that the cost of the trip is increasing. I am still planning on sharing a room with my friend Terry to keep our costs lower and I will just have to budget more (and hopefully get some more donations between now and December!) to make it happen. But if there's one thing my friends know about me, it's that I WILL make it happen!

For whatever reason, this is usually about the point where my excitement mixes in with some anxiety and nervousness about the trip. I will be spending my winter "break" from a rigorous academic program to travel to India and work very hard every day. I know that it will be physically and emotionally exhausting. I will miss my home and the comforts that come with it. What am I doing?! I could take the time and money spent on this trip and take a relaxing vacation instead! Or I could stay home and relax a bit while working and getting an income, since I certainly don't get paid time off in my job! But I'll push the pettiness aside and remind myself that the need of the people we are going to serve far outweighs any of this. And, as with my volunteer experiences in Cambodia, with hospice and in the NICCU: the beautiful experience that I will have during this trip will be MORE than worth any sacrifices I have to make to take the trip. There is just so much fulfillment that comes when you give of yourself.

Fundraising!

2010-04-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

And, my fundraising site is officially online:

Click here!

I have plenty of time between now and the trip to get closer to my goal and have heard from some friends who are planning on donating, but can't do it quite yet. And for that, I'm grateful! It's so true that every little bit helps and is appreciated, and if you know someone you feel might want to participate and help, please don't hesitate to send my site to them!

It's Official

2010-03-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

I just received confirmation from Heart Touch that I will be going on the December/January trip to India this year! I'm incredibly excited to be doing another international trip with this wonderful organization! I'm also thrilled that two of my fellow volunteers from the Cambodia trip will be going to India as well.

As soon as my firstgiving fund-raising page is set up, I will let everyone know. Honestly, I wasn't even going to bother with the fund-raising for this trip because it always feels a bit strange to ask for money. BUT, a few people have expressed that they would like to donate and previous contributors have told me that they really liked being able to feel like they were a part of the trip, even though they couldn't physically go with us. So, I will put it out there again. Any and all contributions are incredibly helpful and appreciated (even a few bucks helps!)!!! And I am completely committed to covering the cost for whatever funds I can't raise. The time and monetary sacrifices I make for this trip will surely be worth it, just like they were for Cambodia. :) And, as before, I plan on blogging the trip so that people can see what they helped to make happen.

Time Flies

2010-03-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

My how time flies! It's hard to believe that it's been over a year since my trip to Cambodia. Sadly I had to miss the trip this past year because I've been back in school. And I can say that my heart felt heavy with sadness when the other volunteers were over there with the kids. Of course, I was also thrilled that the kids were getting their attention, love and massages and loved getting status updates on them. The fact that they all knew immediately what the Heart Touch volunteers were there for and were demanding their massages right away was just heartwarming to hear.

Unfortunately, I will be in school during the next Cambodia trip as well. But I've heard that there might be a trip to India to do similar work during my winter break... I'll let you know what happens! :)

Profiles in Caring

2009-04-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

"Profiles in Caring" recently did an episode about the Heart Touch Project and I was asked to talk a little bit about our Cambodia trip. If you feel like checking it out, and seeing some of the other populations that us Heart Touch volunteers serve, here is a link to the episode (it seems to be taking an extremely long time to load, so you might want to let it do it's thing for a while before hitting "play")

Profiles in Caring: The Heart Touch Project

Heart Touch Video

2008-12-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here is a video from our trip. There might be some tweaking done to it before it's "finished," but I love it the way it is. :)

Cambodia in Photos

2008-11-26T22:40:00.000-08:00

NHCC headquarters: this is the chart of all the HIV+ children the organization takes care of. 127 (and counting) at the orphanage and over 800 throughout Cambodia. They feel it is important for children to be raised by their families if they have them, so they pay the children's expenses and provide medicine so that can happen.

THANK YOU, Bill Clinton (holding Basil), for providing these children with the medication they need to survive.

Basil before medication, nutrition and love.

Basil now: getting a ride from his "sister."

This little boy was always attached to his sister's side. Beautiful.

Shawnee: Heart Touch founder and inspirational woman holding one of the kids.

The first day. Some kids sat on the sidelines and watched, but by the end of the trip, they were requesting massages more than the others!

Group massaging

Love is joy.

Terry and Shre-paul.

Monique and her favorite girl.

Waiting to be picked up and held. He didn't have to wait long!

Lunchtime at the orphanage.

So much joy and love

We call him Mr. Serious, but we did get to see him having fun before we left. He received a lot of love, attention and massages from all of us.

This cutie is blind in one eye, but they got him in time to save his right eye.

To give is to receive!

Patrick's loving hands

Papa John with some of the kids.

An infant massage lesson at Happy Home: where the quilters' children attend daycare and where extremely sick babies stay while they get well enough to be transitioned to the orphanage.

Happy Home

Baby Christopher gets a bath.

One of the quilts made by the quilters.

A quilter holds her quilt. We brought them quilting books so they can make more than dogs, donkeys and elephants.

A warm goodbye from the quilters.

At the hospital.

The TB ward.

Monique massaging someone at the second hospital we went to. This hospital did not have any mattresses on the beds.

The pediatric ward at the hospital.

Working at the hospital

Terry massages a man in the TB ward.

At the hospital, after a looooooong day.

Physically, mentally and emotionally drained.

Our last day with our driver, Leap.

The Heart Touch crew

I am eternally grateful to the people who donated to help make this trip possible. Not only was the experience amazing and life-changing for me personally, but it brought a lot of joy to many different people. It also helped us to see where we are needed and what we can do in the future to create sustainability with our project and to expand it. We are not done yet!

Saying Goodbye

2008-11-24T05:16:00.000-08:00

The taxi to take us to the airport will arrive in 40 minutes. We have said many emotional goodbyes to everyone: from the kids to our tuk tuk drivers. Our last day at the orphanage included planting 8 trees (one for each volunteer on the trip) and then we had a little ceremony with the kids where we gave each one a bracelet to wear. I will always treasure mine.

Us with one of the Heart Touch trees.

This has been an amazing experience and I am looking forward to doing it again someday--whether that will be back here or somewhere else. And I will be keeping in touch with John & Kathy, especially since they are going to offer the opportunity to sponsor children very soon (a full sponsorship will be around $160/month, or you can sponsor part of the child's costs for $40/month). Besides, we still need to complete the sustainable massage project, so this is just the beginning of our relationship with them.

You can never hold just one kid here. It's simply not possible! And why would you want to?

I will post lots of photos when i get home. And that is all I can write for now, or I will be a sobbing mess on the airplane.

My most favorite boys.

The Power of Touch

2008-11-20T04:26:00.000-08:00

Sokhal: my favorite little guy at Happy Home

We were finally able to make a trip to see the quilters a few days ago (Kathy and John hire women who are HIV+ to make quilts that they sell). This idea came about when they started a daycare for HIV+ widows to drop off their children while they went to work. Well, when a woman dropped off her baby and came back two months later, they realized that they needed to make some changes. There is a stigma to hiring these women, making it difficult for them to find jobs, so Kathy and John created a place for them to work! And they provide the daycare for their children while they are at work.

A happy quilter

We picked up some quilts to take home with us to sell and also massaged all of the women. The first woman I worked on started tearing up and crying as I massaged her. And when I was done, she gave me 5 of the tightest hugs I've ever received and 3 kisses on the cheek. All of the women were so appreciative of the work we did with them. I think we were all tearing up before we left.

Massaging the quilters! We had a great time with these wonderful ladies.

After that, we went to a different hospital than we usually go to. We started in the TB ward and then went to the AIDS ward to massage people. We only had about an hour and there were 30 people, so we only had about 15 minutes for each of them. Sometimes when we go in with all of our supplies, we're eyed with a bit of uncertainty (and who can blame them? they don't know us!). I first asked one man if he wanted a massage and he said no, so I went to the woman in the bed next to him. He watched as I worked on her and then he was ready to get one himself. I love that. We took a little longer than we had planned to, and it's my fault. I just couldn't stand the thought of anyone there not getting a massage (if they wanted one) when everyone else got theirs. I didn't make everyone wait for too long, though!

Here I am: Working on a man in the TB ward

After that we went back to Happy Home (the daycare/transition house) and brought the kids a bunch of toys. It was amazing to see how well-received this new stimulus was! We also gave the caregivers there a massage lesson, so they can continue the work after we leave.

Life is always good when there's a baby in your arms!

And so goes another long day in Cambodia!

Project Sustainable Massage

2008-11-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

One of the homes at the orphanage

One of our goals when we came here was not just to provide compassionate touch for these kids while we are here, but to make sure they keep receiving it after we're gone. We planned on teaching their caregivers how to massage them, but quickly realized that their caregivers are just too busy cooking and taking care of the kids to do that. In fact, we've ended up massaging the caregivers while we're here. One great thing about the games we've taught is that they teach the kids massage so that they can actually massage each other. And what's even better is that we don't have to tell them to do it--they just naturally want to and start modeling our behavior, like in the photo below.

Future massage therapist at work!

Of course, being who we are, and knowing how much these kids LOVE getting their massages, that is just not enough for us. So now we are working on hiring a massage therapist for the orphanage. John & Kathy will find someone and we will train them in various modalities so they can work on the adults and the kids. We will also pay their salary and their living/food expenses at the orphanage (this works out to about $150/month). And we can continue training them when we return, and also implement this program in other orphanages around the world. When we approached John with the idea, he absolutely loved it, and actually went a step further in suggesting that we might turn it into a training for some of the kids too (AFTER they finish high school), so they can get jobs in town as massage therapists. Sounds good to us!

Naptime for the kids

It is so helpful to have these uplifting ideas and experiences while we're here because it can get extremely emotional. I actually had my tearful breakdown at the TB hospital yesterday and I was the last one of the group to have one. It can just be really heavy, hearing about children whose parents told them that they (the kid) gave their parents HIV, or kids whose parents died and when they were picked up at a relative's house by the orphanage, the relatives barely glanced their way as they left. Or the little girl who stopped taking her medication because she was told that nobody would ever love her, so she decided she would rather die. Then there are the kids who look years younger than they really are due to the fact that they failed to thrive in their early years (that's what happens when nobody touches a baby/child). And those are only a few of the stories. I just can't even think about them when I'm with the kids. I actually forget that they're HIV+ when I'm with them too. And that's definitely a good thing.

Penny and Patrick take a little break while the kids eat lunch.

Volunteering

2008-11-15T01:50:00.000-08:00

Í have had a few people read this blog and ask me how they can get involved in a global outreach like this. So, instead of answering many different times, I figured I would put the answer here. And, unfortunately, I don't know how much help my answer will be!

There are soooo many orphanages in Cambodia. In fact, on our first night here, we ran into a group from Australia who was visiting another orphanage near ours. The man who runs it is also from Australia and invited us to come by anytime. Hopefully we'll make it there before the end of the trip. So...if you are looking for an orphanage to volunteer with, just start looking! But definitely do your research because sadly, a lot of people just want the money and donations that come with having an orphanage and end up starving or depriving the kids and keeping the money. John & Kathy are actually supposed to get 16 kids from one of those places in the next week or so. But keep in mind that not all volunteering involves working directly with the kids (if that is what you are looking for).

As for my specific trip, I am here with Heart Touch Project. Heart Touch does about one international trip a year (previous trips included India and Thailand). But to become a volunteer with Heart Touch, you have to live in the Los Angeles area and be a certified/licensed massage therapist. Once you go through their training, you have to commit to one year of working with hospice clients (it is very helpful to have this previous experience before coming on a trip like this). You also have to take the Children's Program Training, so that you are trained to work with children and infants who have special needs. And on top of that, you should probably become a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (which 3 of us on this trip are). THEN you can apply for an international trip with Heart Touch. Things could change in the future, but that's how it works right now!

Massage...continued

2008-11-14T04:57:00.000-08:00

We've had some long, exhausting days at the orphanage, transition house (where some of the babies and little ones go to get medical help. Right now there is an adorable infant there who has full-blown AIDS) and the hospital. But the smiles we're greeted with keep us going.

Christopher. He has full-blown AIDS, but with medication and love, they're hoping to transition him to the orphanage soon.

Today when we showed up at the hospital, people who had received massages on other days and knew what we were there for rushed to their beds and laid down for their sessions right away. It was wonderful.

A hospital bed in the TB ward. The lucky people get a bed with a mattress. and the stay here can last from three to nine months.

And at the orphanage, while I was massaging one little guy who has seemed sad and withdrawn since we got here, another little boy came up behind me to practice his massage techniques on my back. And I am happy to report that he has got some seriously good skills! I'm also thrilled to report that my previously sad little guy was running around with a big grin on his face for the rest of the day and joined the others in playing with some games that we brought.

Another one of my favorite boys. You can't just have one favorite here!

So that's the latest. I'll try to write more when I'm not so exhausted.

And by the way, I am finding it very bizarre that the American dollar is so widely accepted here. They even write their prices in US $$. it's a bit disconcerting. but i'm getting good at figuring out the money rates, since it's helpful when you sometimes get your change in riel or have to pay for something partly in dollars and partly in riel.

And one more thing: Kathy and John were incredibly appreciative of the stuff we brought for the kids. Apparently you can't get coloring books here and underwear is $3 for one pair. Crazy!

just one more of my favorite kids!

Destination: Cambodia

2008-11-11T06:11:00.000-08:00

After 30 hours of traveling (a 12-hour flight to Seoul, a 12-hour layover and then a 6-hour flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia), my fellow Heart Touch volunteers and I finally arrived at our destination. We took a day to get situated and then headed out to the orphanage to start our work!

This sweet girl is waiting to get cleared to get her medication.

And...wow. The orphanage is run by John & Kathy Tucker, a wonderful couple who moved to Cambodia from Texas a few years ago (6? maybe more). First we got a tour of the facilities, which are very impressive--especially when we found out that most of it has been built in the last two years. They have 8 clusters of homes and each cluster has 3 houses and a kitchen. The idea is to have a couple who takes care of the kids at each cluster, so each one feels like a family. They are also striving to be as self-sufficient as possible, using pig poop for methane fuel (and the pigs will be bred and sold), solar power and bio-diesel. There are over 125 kids there now, and they also support over 900 HIV+ children (who have families) in Cambodia.

We started out by gathering a group of about 40 or 50 kids so we could play some games to break the ice and give them some "touch activities" to play with each other after we leave. We all had a lot of fun and when it was time for them to go and eat lunch, a group of boys stayed behind, asking for "massage." Of course we were thrilled to have some quiet, individual time with them, and even more thrilled to see that they were modeling our behavior and massaging each other. It was really a beautiful sight to behold...and exactly the kind of thing we were hoping would happen, since peer massage helps create/strengthen bonds between the kids, reduces aggression, and keeps them calmer and happier!

Showing the kids some massage strokes .

Massage games!

We also took a trip to the TB ward at a local hospital to offer the patients massage. They were all more than happy to receive some loving touch, as were their caregivers.

The TB ward

When our van pulled into the orphanage on our second day, we were greeted with kids running up to the van, yelling "massage! massage!" and mimicking some massage movements we had done with them the day before. It's hard to get the games and massages done when you have two kids hanging off of you at all times, but we managed. My favorite part of the day was when we were playing one of the games and I looked at the little girl in my lap, only to realize that she was fast asleep! She kept sleeping through the games for another half hour, until it was time to wake her up for lunch (which she was not thrilled about).

Somebody's sleepy

Massaged kids are happy kids!

One of the most touching moments of the trip so far was when a young girl who is new at the orphanage, and came to them from a situation where she was being sexually abused, actually joined in one of the games. We got to watch her come out of her shell and open herself up to some healthy touch during a few short days. She was even requesting a massage on the second day. And for a bunch of massage therapists (aka: touch junkies), that is a wonderful thing to witness.

I'm hot, sweaty, gross and happy. I know we're not supposed to pick favorites, but, well...I just love this boy!

Today the kids treated us to a dance performance before we left for the day...and now my mouth hurts from smiling so much during the dances. And, as cliche as it sounds, I really do wonder who is getting the most benefit from this experience. Because I feel like these kids have given me so much already...and we're not even halfway through the trip.

Cutest.thing.EVER. The kids after their dance.

I'll try to get some more/better photos once i get home. I may have internet access here, but that doesn't mean the computers are fast! I think it might take me all day to sort through my photos and upload them. Make that a week. ha!

preparing to leave!

2008-11-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

Wow...only three more days until I leave for Cambodia. I can't believe how fast the time went by. First, I want to say how incredibly grateful I am for everyone's love, support and donations. I surpassed my fundraising goal almost two months ago, thanks to the generosity of family and friends. I can't tell you what a wonderful feeling that was!

And now, I've received my immunizations, medications, stocked up on DEET and other things I'll need and am almost packed for the trip. I actually have to go out and buy a bag for my own clothes and things that I'll be taking because I filled my regular suitcase with supplies for the kids: coloring books, underwear, crayons, markers, stickers, pens, pencils, games, etc...

THANK YOU so much to the people who contributed to the supplies: Christina, Dan & P, Linda & Silvia, Simone, and my parents. I really can't wait to see the looks on the kids' faces when they get their hands on this stuff.

I will have access to the internet on my trip, so I will try to update the blog on what's going on over there and hopefully be able to post some photos, so everyone who helped make this trip happen can really see how they've helped.

Fundraising

2008-07-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

When I was first presented with the opportunity to take this trip to Cambodia with Heart Touch, I knew that I had to do it, no matter what the cost. Taking three weeks away from work and losing the income wouldn't be easy, but really...I knew I could make it work. What's a little scrimping and saving to be able to help some children in need? Of course, there is also the actual cost of the trip, which would just add to the expenses. I really had no idea if anybody (besides my parents--ha!) would end up donating, but I was (and am) willing to cover the expenses myself to make this trip happen.

Well, my fundraising efforts started this week with my firstgiving page and...wow. I have been blown away by people's generosity. I am completely humbled by the donations that have been made for this trip...both from people I know and even people I don't know. I can honestly say that it has nearly brought me to tears.

A lot of people have asked me if I'm emotionally prepared for this trip. But I honestly don't know if I could be emotionally prepared. Or how to know whether or not I'm prepared. Is it going to be tough? YES. Is it going to tear my heart out to see these innocent babies and children ravaged by a deadly disease with nobody willing to touch them because they don't understand how to safely do so? YES. But will the smiles on their faces, the moments of comfort that I can help provide make that worth it to me? ABSOLUTELY.

I only wish that I could do more for them.