From Thighland to Thailand

Thailand 4.7: Miracles

February 23, 2012-Thursday

Happy Birthday Cindy Wu!

Our morning began with a health crisis of one of our own. Andy was taking one of his usual morning strolls and felt a deep pain in his side. You know, one of those “getting old aches”. He thought he pulled a muscle. It was an unusual pain, one that he had never experienced before. Most of you know that Andy is a pretty tuff guy. At least he acts like one but Diane says he’s a pussycat. He felt this wave of pain going down his flank (muffin top area for those of you who can relate). It is an unbearable pain for which most need narcotic (opioid) injections, like morphine or Demerol. The closest we had was vicodin but that doesn’t work with Andy. I even tried to contact my Betelnut pal for pure opium, but she says that she doesn’t deal anymore. Good for her! With Kane at his side and after some Zen-like meditating and using the Lamaze breathing technique, “Hee, hee, hee, who” Andy emerged from his room sweat dripping from his brow. The crowd roared, “An-dy! An-dy!” He “only” had the pain for a few hours as the stone eventually passed down the ureter (tube connecting the kidney to the bladder) as large stones that bulge could take a long time, even days, to pass as stones often gets stuck and the muscles of the ureter try to propel it down this narrow diameter tube, wave after wave of peristalsis. Doug Owyang quoted Jay Leno, “Passing a kidney stone is like given birth to broken dishes.” You get the idea. I’m waiting for his stone to pass so I can post a photo of it in the next blog. Andy says it reminded him of the song “Rolling Down the River”.

As Kane commented It was truly God’s blessing that for those of you who have not experienced a kidney stone (I can relate) he passed it into his bladder in a relatively short time. Now Andy could have stayed in bed the rest of the day but he is a trooper and wanted to take his post in triage. It would have been a tight bottleneck without him. I pray that the rest of the trip that he’s doesn’t get stoned again.

We got detoured today and instead of going to a prison due to logistical changes we went to the Huaisan Public Heath Center with is along the way to Luka’s village. He must have connections because he only has to make one call the day before to send “The Word” for patients to quickly gather. The facility was a fairly nice medical clinic, albeit a little cramp but we always make do. The dental clinic worked in one corner in their “open Air” suite and in the other corner we had the pharmacy. In the corridor the eye clinic sat up shop and rumor had it that there was already 100 patients lined up for just their clinic alone. Pastor Jack joined the lens grinder team due to his “Axe grinding” experience. The medical docs were enclosed in the administrative wing with fairly tight quarters.

Daily Stats: 200 patients
1. Medical: 79 patients seen
2. Dental: 71 patients seen
3. Eye: 51patients (or 102 eyes) seeing (see that coming?)

Lisu tribes woman

Case of the Day:

We are medical missionaries. We have a unique opportunity to evangelize and to care for them spiritually as well as physically. Some can do it better than others. I know sometimes I have that I can have that “get ‘em in and get ‘em” out attitude just due to the number of patents that we have to see. “Next!” but Kane has a knack to look for an opportunity to share the gospel. That’s just one of his gifts. I was eavesdropping on his conversation with a patient in the next room (It’s not my fault, I mentioned it was cramped space.) I was trying to get pointers. A patient came in complaining of your typical back pain. “Get ‘em in, get ‘em out.” Then he probed into her past medical history and she already had a total knee replacement and needed another one in the opposite knee. Then she complained about other body ailments and that she felt that her body was breaking down, that she looks fine on the outside but that she can’t fix her body. Kane explained to her that he is a Christian medical missionary and he took the chance and asked her if he could pray for her. She said, “Yes.” Fortunately, Ghan, Luka’s wife was translating and could relate to what Kane was about to say. “Are you a Christian?” he asks. “No, but I went to church once.” “Have you heard the Christian gospel?” “No.” “God didn’t plan for our bodies to break down. He intended for us to have perfect bodies.” Kane then proceeded to explain that because of the downfall of man we are punished for our sins and that our bodies will suffer because of that and when we go to heaven our bodies will be restored. Then the patient added that her husband had been cheating on her for years and had recently left her for the mistress. Kane explained how if the husband knew Jesus that perhaps he would have emulated him because Jesus taught us how to love and respect one another and things may have been different with Jesus in her life. Kane offered her to pray for her and although it would not cure all her ailments it could give her hope to cope with her suffering. Furthermore, in Revelations, it is written that there will be no more pain. No more suffering. No more tears. Wow! How’d he get through the New Testament in 20 minutes? He was hoping to encourage her to go to church again for support and further discovery.

Now as this was going on, in the next room Doug was with a patient and they, too, could hear the whole thing. I wasn’t the only one eavesdropping! You could see them looking at each other’s wide opened eyes in amazement. Doug had just treated the patient’s migraine with an injection and her headache was gone. It was the first time that she ever had relief of her headaches even after going to another clinic time after time. She was, in fact, experiencing her own miracle right at this moment. The patient then turned to Doug and asked him, “Will you pray for me?” Whoa! Heavy duty man. Pastor doesn’t believe in coincidences and that this trip alone could have been to bring just one child to Christ.

We had a nice celebration for Cindy Wu’s birthday today as the innkeeper had a Jell-O-type birthday cake, watermelon, and mango spread just for her. It was very generous and the whole staff at the Golden Triangle Inn has been very hospitable. After our dinner and devotion which covered what you read above (we do contemplate and reflect each evening and cools our jets) we had an enjoyable night at the Colors of the World festival which had a gathering of several dozen ethnic “Indigenous” tribes from around the world. A single Tee Pee was even their representing the American Indians as a whole. Many unique foods were tried but we managed to avoid the roasted cockroaches. We can get them anytime in our bedrooms. Thanks Bill.

Looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow-Mark

Thailand 4.6: Wake up call

February 22, 2012-Wednesday

Bob Wu made an interesting comment that my journal writing has been, say, more subdued than in the past.  Perhaps it’s been that I am being more polite and writing more facts and recounting experiences and reporting rather than commentating my “feelings”.  Personally I like writing with more feelings and passion but I have to remind you that my wife is accompanying me this trip so I am trying to behave myself.  Please make a comment at the end and tell me what style that you prefer.  I would like to keep the readers attention and perhaps entertained so it wont be so boring.

Sight for sore eyes vs. eye sore:

Sight for sore eyes is seeing the last patient of the day after going nonstop.   I want you to close your eyes and picture that old Burt Reynolds pose for a women’s magazine lying on his side with his hand propping up his head with strategically placed hands.  Provocative isn’t it.  Now picture Richard, hand on his head propping his head with a sheet strategically placed over his belly with this grin on his mouth.  I was afraid to ask whether or not he had anything on underneath. That’s an eye sore.  That is why I slept in another room otherwise I would have had nightmares.  I wish I had that camera…

We have real early birds.  Larry’s was up at 0400 surfing the web. Bill was up since 0300 trading stocks in the wee hour and has a software program to alert him of opportunity to buy/sell.  Its just to much work but I guess its worth it to him,   No, I know its worth it because he’s already in retirement.  “Gold is going Up”, he says.  too bad the only gold I own is in my mouth.  Now I know why I’m not rich.

The women came out of their dorms  ready to go for a stroll but came into our building so they wont’ disturbed those still sleeping in their building.  What about those that are still sleeping in our building.?   Gail, Lena, and Lynelle followed by allyson came in literally walking right over steven who was sleeping on the floor in the middle of the room.  They treated him like he was the door mat.  Poor steven so bill and I drug him over to the side of he the room lest he be furthered disturbed.  I don’t like to talk at 5 am but the girls always seem to find something to talk about.

Since we were all eventually up early we got prepared for breakfast.  Already the Lao school kids who come from the villages were ready to take a van to school.  A van half full already came to pick them up and the dozen kids standing in line eventually piled into the back of the van one by one.  The Lao are really efficient; they can fit 25 kids in one van. But interestingly their van doesn’t bottom out compared to the van carrying 12 of us Americans.

We had a very productive day today and had to turn back a few patients who travelled to see us.  We felt bad since many came from Laos across the border.  We treated many physical ailments but Kane treated a number of patients spiritually by praying for and with them for their physical and emotional healing.  Kane has that gift of compassion and patience and takes the opportunity to evangelize whenever possible.

Daily tally: 287 patients seen

1. Medical: 160 patients
2. Dental:      65 patients
3. Eye:            62 patients

Top 5 ailments I’ve seen in missions:

1. joint pain
2. back pain
3. numbness
4. hand pain
5. heartburn

Top 5 helpless moments treating patients:

1. Arterio-venous Malformation of the face
2. Infant Cleft lip and palate
3. Bone pain in my whole body
4. Symptoms changing when there is a full moon
5. HIV

Top 5 Treatments I wish I could honestly suggest:

1. Change jobs
2. Don’t sit on the floor and don’t stand
3. Drink alcohol
4. Get a Thai massage
5. Eat better

We pack our bags after feeling satisfied and productive and say our good byes to our host Pastor Phonekeo and Directors Robert and Chris Davis.  However, I am a miffed at Bill.  Okay, I am po’d.  As you know I like to take photos for documentation and Kodak moment opportunities.  My photos are usually in the journal so I have to take more than enough photos.  I guess I’ve been replaced by Steven who gets free reign of the place and of people.  Bill let him take photos of the combined group with a dozen different cameras of several team.  But Steven wasn’t in any of the photos and since it was his first time I wanted him to be in at least one photo with the group so I quickly stepped out and said, “Just one more photo please.” he says NO!  We have to go! And reluctantly returns to his position and doesn’t’ smile.  Okay I took 30 seconds to take the final photo.  You can see his eyes roll up into his head.  So now we rush cause he wants to get back quickly and pack the bags and away we go.  We aren’t even 5 minutes down the main road and then the vans are pulling over next to the Mekong River.   I thought we had a flat or something.    People exit the other two vehicles en mass to take a photo of this bright boat travelling down the river.  I guess it’s a Kodak moment.   I see Bill and Gail checking out the right position for a photo with the river in the background and he’s checking out the lighting so that the sun would hit softly on his face to shadow out his bags and wrinkles and the two are combing their hair and posing and smiling like a honeymoon picture taking their sweet time.  I can read his lips through my van window saying “Take another shot to be sure.”  I was stuck in my van in the third row against the window opposite the door sitting next to Richard who was barricading me with his eyes staring at me saying ”you’re not getting out.”  Yes sir master sergeant!  So I missed that shot.  All I want is consistency Mr. team Leader.   I can’t wait to see the lovebird photo of Dr. Hypocrite Ho.  Oh, I thought you were in a hurry?!?

I think I’m being seduced by the dark side (I have even seen a star wars t-shirt on an Akha elder before) as I have been hanging around with the wrong crowd.  I had befriended an Akha elder the last few trips.  She’s the one who got me to try the betelnut plant that has an addictive drug that causes chronic users to get dark red/black teeth.  It gives you a little buzz but can be sedating as I had discovered.  I saw her again this trip and she greeted me with smiles, sometimes being a little too friendly, but I thought it was their custom and hospitality.  Now I am not so sure what her particular individual’s motives were.  I discovered through a reliable source that this 75ish year old lady just spent two months in prison with her son for using opium and peddling the drug.  No lie.  Really.  I’ve been comingling with a felon! Her own village turned her in due to the strict codes or laws that they have and so for her own good she was taken away and put in prison so that she could rehab and detox off the drug.  I’d like to see if I can get her on the Dr. Drew show.  I suspect, though not confirmed that she may have wanted me to, you know, deal for her.   Be the usa connection perhaps.  So I am, at least being cautiously optimistic and giving her the benefit of the doubt.  She’s a nice lady and always seemed happy.  I thought she was high on life but it could have been something else.  I’m glad she cleaned up her act.  Praise the Lord!

May the force be with you-Mark

Thailand 4.5: Heading for the border

February 21, 2012-Tuesday

Most of us are acclimating to the 90-degree heat and humidity and have recovered from jet lag.  We are dealing with the water shortage mentioned before by showering with bottled water.  I think I’ll try Avian next time to hydrate my sensitive skin.  last night we were treated to dessert by Ming with wonderful Mango sticky rice, my favorite!  Yummy, thank you Ming!

Today we traveled 2 hours to the Thailand Mennonite Brethren Foundation. It’s located near the border town of Chang  Khong situated along the Mekong River which separates Laos from Thailand. Our connection with this area is former fresnan Pastor Phonekeo Keovilay.  Born in Laos and imprisoned after the Laotian war he fled to a refugee camp where he was converted to Christianity.  He came to Fresno after training at San Jose Christian College to evangelize the Laotian population.  He felt called back to the Khmu tribe in Laos and as a missionary for the Mennonite Brethren Church, he help build this center for training lao pastors across the Mekong River.

The center is quite impressive and covers several acres and the buildings are only a few years old.  We set up house in the usual fashion and will be spending the night in separate male and female dormitories except those higher ranking couples who get to share a room.  I understand the lesser few will have to arrange conjugal visits. But most are too tired and the “headaches“ are for real.  The rest of us get to have a slumber party and pillow fights.  How fun.

Okay, stats for the day are 115 medical patients, 65 dental patients and 62 eye patients.  This is actually quite good since we only worked for about six hours starting just before noon.

One noteworthy patient passed out at the triage passed out from dehydration.  Andy has been salivating at the chance of starting an I.V.  A man with a history of diabetes came with low blood sugar and dehydration and collapsed in front of everyone.  Fortunately we had the supplies and I.V. fluids to successfully resuscitate him.  Andy Probably saved his life; it’s another day at the office for him.  We have many patients that we really can’t help like a patient who had a huge arterio-venous malformation on his face that was pulsating.  If we looked at it the wrong way it would have bled and that would have been fatal. Others like the patient with Hepatitis that we couldn’t treat or diseases that need a drug we don’t have need to have us spend time with them for the sake of caring.  Doug reminded me about patients just needing reassurance despite our limitations.

We are not expecting to treat a certain number and number crunching is not why we are here.   Quality outweighs quantity and sometimes patients just want to know that someone cares. Lena and Gail make the patient feel warm and their positions to greet the patients make them feel very welcomed.  The eye clinic continues to turnover glasses at a record pace as Mark Patton and Allyson grind away in their little corner.  It’s a dramatic change for most when they can immediately see a difference.

We cannot do what we do without all of our interpreters who have to interpret for up to three docs at a time.  They are greatly appreciated.

Top Ten things to do in Chiang rai in our spare time:

1. Go to the day Market
2. Walk with friends at 530 am
3. Search for WI FI signal and surf the web
4. Slap mosquitoes
5. Count how many geckos are on the wall at any one time
6. Read kindle
7. Replenish drugs and dental supplies
8. Eat mango sticky rice
9. Call home
10. Blog while everyone else is sleeping…

We are spending the night at the Foundation some sleeping on floors on pads sharing the room with up to a dozen people but it beats packing and driving back and returning in the morning.  Many patients are anticipated to cross the Mekong from communist Laos for medical care.  I hope that it will be worth their trip and efforts.  We hate to disappoint.

Got to go slap some mosquitoes-Mark

Thailand 4.4: On your mark. Get set. Go!

February 20, 2012-Monday

FYI: Please see http://www.fcbcfresno.org or http://www.markchinmd.wordpress.com unless you are already here.

Today was our first work day and we travelled to the Huisan Akha Village about 30 miles away. This is where Jo Tsa raised Luka and his family. About 100 families now live in this hillside village and they were expecting us. many people greeted us with smiles and waved to us as we drove by their homes along the dusty dirt roads.

Typical home and Akha villagers.

Huaisan Village Church soon to be clinic

The team set up camp at the Church Building for the medical and eye clinic. A small existing clinic next to the sanctuary was used for the dental clinic and had a small room for minor surgery. We are fairly efficient now and got going quickly. It was great to see so many familiar faces since we have be coming here 2006. Some were children and young adults who are now grown up. Auntika or“A” as we call her in particular is well known to us is now married and in her first trimester of pregnancy! My betalnut buddy greeted me with a double hand shake and presented me with a bead necklace. Later she played a mouth instrument twanging aboriginal type music. Many of the team members were given shell necklaces as well but we had to remove them since most of us had an allergic reaction to them last time! It seemed so familiar here and comfortable like coming to visit family.

Many came with various ailments of decayed teeth and general body aches and pains. Many had eye pain or needed glasses. We realize that HIV is reaching this small Akha village. It may be due to some of the individuals are in contact with people from the big cities and bring it back up to the village. Many patients are manual laborers that work in nearby rice, tea, and cornfields and suffer similar repetitive strain injuries as well. Many were treated for the same ailments that were treated the last time we were here so I guess we didn’t cure them. We will try again this time.

Well, during our first day we encountered a few headaches. Getting the dentists to treat the anxious crowd in a timely manner was like pulling teeth, but they were aching to get to work done quickly. They know the drill. No blings.

The Eye doctors had some vision on how to set things up and watching them was a blur, especially Mark Patton, who was working in a dust cloud grinding lenses for the new glasses. It made us look cross-eyed. Optometrists are a compassionate group of docs demonstrated by their signs “Eye care.” Well, we care too. But the unavoidable clutter was an eye sore and cleaning up the mess was a sight for sore eyes. They worked so fast I saw double.

Adequate working space is a luxury and doctors like to be pampered. Well, the medical docs had some ill feelings since we were getting sick with the little area to work in. Every body helped as we shouldered the responsibility and treated the patients efficiently and quickly. Working with them was a little nauseating but we managed not to succumb to their desire for more room. We diagnosed the problem right away and tried to make adjustments. there was no cure and the space was just too anemic. The situation was terminal so we let things pass on. We should have known. Constantly bumping into one another was a dead giveaway.

David was setting up the pharmacy and because drugs were in short supply he was a pill and drug his feet. Dorothy was able to sedate him and was straight laced by telling him to chill out because she was Dunn with him. He was stimulated with their conversation but vented to her. It was cathartic.

On a happeier note, the budding Steven “Spielberg” Chin literally had his hands full with that video rig he’s toting along with a backup camera swung around his next. He’s always carrying and shooting video and even jumped from the van and ran ahead just to capture that special moment of our caravans coming and going and crossing the river. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to have a story board in your head and try to capture those moments to place in the video. He’s a cross between an in-your-face reporter and paparazzi. I can’t wait for the documentary and the sequel.

We are either getting more efficient or it seemed fairly steady but work was not overwhelming. It proceeded with a leisurely pace for most. The medical and the Dental clinic finished early and done by 3 pm. The eye dept. returned to the inn by about 5:15 pm working constantly with 5 optometrists and an abundance of helpers to help people to see the light.

At dinner time our Spiritual Leader Pastor Jack led us with his Chapbook V: Our Journey… follow God…

He led us in prayer, devotion, and song. We will do this nightly so we can be spiritually fed by the word and not by bread alone.

talleys for the day.

➢ Dental Clinic: 41patients seen

➢ Medical Clinic: 60 Patients seen, one minor surgery

➢ Eye careClinic: 44 patients

➢ Casualites: one member Headache, several members car sick, half recuperating from jet lag, everyone bitten by mosquitoes,

Feelings for the day: Rookies

➢ Mark Patton: Worked hard, non-stop. Missionary kid, so he’s used to it.

➢ Steven Chin: “Oddly familiar.” Though seeing many for the first time it felt like family. It felt warm.”

➢ Lena Chin: “How exciting it must be for everyone and newbies felt welcomed. We have rhythm.”

➢ Allyson Farrell: It was exciting, enjoyable, and delightful to see when the patient could see clearly for the first time. Some eyes were opened. She felt appreciation even when we can’t do everything but the patient felt happy when we can do something.

➢ Dorothy Dunn: Although she felt ill by dinner time she felt better. “Coke was good!”

Quotes of the Day:

➢ “Sometimes we can’t do something physical for them but we can do something spiritually”-Diana Lee

➢ When urinated upon by a child who Lynelle was treating, Bill Ho exclaimed “That’s an Akha Baptism!”

➢ “It felt comfortable like coming to visit family.”-Richard Bruce

➢ “That’s Akhaward!”

Water saving measures at Golden Triangle Inn:

➢ flushing the toilets are only effective for waste settling at the bottom and for number 1. Toilet paper doesn’t flush down so we deposit TP in the trash.

➢ Doug is lathering his hair with shampoo and the water stops. Comes out to the lobby and says “No water!”

➢ Uncle Dennis and Dr. T were moved from one room to another due to lack of running water. Dennis is halfway showering when the water stops. Then he wonders if its running in the room he left. It is and he finishes the rest of the shower. He just chuckles as he crosses the lobby.

➢ Kane taking a shower and the water stops and stands there butt naked and waits for 15 minutes.

➢ Mark showering and the water stops, waits 5 minutes, hears air water coming and is excited until the ultra hot water sitting in the electric container gets blasted out onto my stomach. I’m glad I wasn’t aiming lower.

➢ Dusit anyone?

Lights out- Mark

Thailand 4.3: Love is Patient

February 19, 2012- Sunday

By now it’s Sunday, Thai time and we have arrived at our destination.  Last trip I “Journaled” while Jennifer “blogged”.  I am going to try to do a hybridized version, a Blogal if you will.  For those who just want the facts I’ll precede the detailed version with the cliff note version.  Those of you who want to get an idea then you can just get the bullet points. Those of you who want to feel what we feel can proceed to the lengthy, exhaustive, somewhat boring version but I would just like to say that it helps me to remember what we did when I try to recall our trip in my advancing age.  At least read the cliff notes so that when we converse when we come back home our feelings won’t get hurt if you ask “Haven’t seen you for awhile; you’ve been out of town?”

First the FAQs:

• Why are we doing what were doing? We are suppose to serve. The great commission: Matthew     Go into the world and spread the news to all nations.

• Is this an evangelical Mission or Medical mission? Primarily it’s a Medical mission to offer services to the needy but we will represent ourselves in a Christian manner hoping for opportunities to spread the good news.

• Who are we? Medical Team International, First Chinese Baptist Church.

• How often do you go? Every two years, Goal every year some type of mission trip.

• Where are we going? Throughout Chiang rai, chiang mai, Golden Triangle near Laos border in northern Thailand
• Who are we treating: Akha Villagers, Laotians, prisoners, school children, various other hillside tribal villagers.

• How long are we going for? Gone 16 days.

• Who’s going? Pastor  Danny Jack, Arlean Jack, RN, Sir Richard Bruce, USMC, Bill Ho, DDS, Gail Ho, RN, Lester Lowe, DDS, Larry Lowe, DDS, Lynelle Win, DH, Akira Tajiri, OD, Dennis Chiinn, OD, Allyson Farrell, OD, Diane Lee, OD, David Chow, PharmD, Dorothy Dunn-Chow, Jack Patton, MD, Mark Patton, Doug Owyang, MD, Kane Kuo, MD, Bob Wu, MD, Cindy Wu, RN, Andy alejo, RN, Ming Chong, RN, Mark Chin, MD, Lena Chin, MRS., Steven Chin. 25 in all.

• This team is comprised of many veterans from FCBC, Tacoma, Washington, and Southern California.  Those that are new to this trip are Lena Chin, Steven Chin, Mark Patton, Dorothy Dunn-Chow, Allyson Farrell, and Diana Lee.  As the team advances in years the talents and skills need to be passed on. Drs. Farrell and Lee fulfill this hope for the future.  Allyson is Dr. Tajiri’s daughter and Diana is Gilbert/Dolores lee’s daughter.  They will be using the optical equipment invented and designed by Dr. Tajiri so that prescription glasses can be made in as quick as 15 minutes.  Lena, Mark Patton and Dorothy will be general helpers and work in whatever capacity they can as their Warm presence and efforts will be greatly appreciated.  Steven majored in visual arts and will be filming and preparing a documentary for use at home and for the American Baptist Churches

• What is their age range?  24-85 years old.

• What services are you providing? Medical Care, Minor Surgical care, drugs and vitamins, Dental care (Cleaning, hygiene, and restoration), Vision Care and Prescription glasses.

• How many patient encounters do you expect? Over 1000-1500 Patients.

• Who’s Paying? Self Funded by volunteers , Team members, and by FCBC mission fund.

• Is it dangerous? Actually, yes.  But you can get a 2^nd opinion.

• Why is Mark Chin writing, again?? No one else volunteered.

• Why are the entries so long?  I’m wordy, have diarrhea of the mouth, and there’s nothing else to do.

• Do I have to read anymore of this? No, you can stop here.  This is not required reading.  But if you want to sympathize or empathize with us, or cry, laugh, get nauseated, scared, freaked out, feel our joy or disappointment and our humiliation, our passion, and be there in the action…Read on and stay tuned.

Two luggage missing!!

No party bus.

"Are we there yet?"

A boy and his toy! George Lucas Jr. in the making...

Now as my lovely wife would ask: What did you do, who did you see, what was it like?

• Long hours, traveled 32 hours door-to-door from FCBC to Bangkok, to chiang Rai to golden Triangle inn.

• Luka Chermue, founder of Thai Akha Ministry foundation and our host along with his entourage (Gi and Joshua) met us at Chiang Rai Airport with warm Embraces and enduring smiles.  They transported us with their school bus and 4 x 4’s to Golden Triangle Inn and then treated us to a nice lunch.  It feels like we were just there.

• Unload, unpack, and unwind.

• Shopped at the day market and Central plaza.  Definitely need more time to shop.

• Lena, Steven, Diane and Allyson experienced their first tuk- tuk ride.

• I found some great mango and sticky rice, two portions, didn’t have to share much.  I felt guilty… nah, not really.

• Bob and cindy wu arrived separately to join the team.  Feels like family together again.  Missed them dearly.

• We went to a nearby restaurant with our team and Luka’s team and their families.  About 35 people gathered to remember Luka’s father, Jo Tsa, who past away in 2010.  Jo Tsa was the first Akha villager who became a Christian and essentially had to leave his village due to his change in religion.  He took his family along with four other families and formed what is now known as the huisan Akha Village. It was a touching moment to share his memories through a slide show which included the last days of his life.

• Jack Patton graciously introduced the team members and remarked that “It’s like coming home and seeing old family again.”

• Pastor Jack, our spiritual leader thanked luka and his vision that he has with his ministry and how important it was to this team to be part of that ministry.

• We Met Yonie Cramer, RN from texas who will be joining us during our stay.  She worked at the akha village medical clinic from 1998-2000 and this was a welcoming home for her.  We are glad she can join us with her experience.

• We briefly celebrated Bill ho’s, Jack Patton’s, Lynelle’s, and Cindy’s Birthday and had some cake.  We tried to spank them but they ran too fast and we’re too tired.

• A brief trip to the night bazaar yielded empty bags.  Yes, we really must have been tired!

Memorializing grandpa Jo Tsa

Luka, Mrs. Chermue and Dad Jo Tsa Chermue

Pastor recognizing and thanking Luka for his ministry

Kane Kuo's team shirts given to Luka

Happy Birthday to us!

First Chinese Baptist Church commits a generous portion of their budget towards mission trips.  Donations and fund raisers such as Food and fun support this cause.  Donations are always welcome, anytime. This is our fourth trip to Thailand as a medical Team (the youth group went last year to teach and help build and paint buildings).  All who go are volunteers offering their skills and talent to what has developed into an efficient and effective team that collaborates to see as many people and in as many cities that we can be at in our relatively short time frame.

Kane Kuo donated custom designed team shirts for luka’s and our team to wear with the Bible verse Luke 10:2  written in Thai:

“The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.”

God is calling you…Mark

Thailand 4.2: Humility

February 18, 2012-Saturday

Good Morning America! 

Day two is a traveling day and we will also be loosing a day since Thailand is 15 hours ahead so we will be arriving on Sunday so It may seem that I skip a day when I go to local time.

Okay, I woke up humbled again.  First I have to admit that I am not a very good traveler.  I’m a terrible one.  I complain a lot.  In fact, there are few things that I dislike more than traveling although the destination eventually makes it worth it.  It’s the Traveling time and airplanes and TSA and the hassle factor.  There seems to be so much time wasted and it is not very relaxing even when you DO take a vacation.  It’s cramp, we’re in the same clothes all day and all night, we stink, we sweat, constantly adjust our wedgies, eat fast food or anything in sight scrambling for leftover pieces of food, wreak halitosis, can’t shower, go unshaven (including beards, mustache, legs, and bikini lines) and undergo TSA screening with undressing, dressing, x-ray and pat down and probing our bodies (At least they didn’t make me remove my Depends diaper to see what was in it). We’re in crowds, bumping into , coughing, and sneezing onto each other and spreading our germs and have sticky dirty hands getting filthier.  As I attempted to freshen up in the 2 x 3 ft. lavatory stall this morning I had to get down on my hands and knees to wipe the floor down from washing my face and dripping water down my elbows, My butt was sticking out of the open door into the aisle straining my aging back as I was mumbling explicatives. Forgive me Lord.

For these team members THIS IS NO VACATION! I’m beginning this journal today on my new macbook air nine hours into the 18 hour flight from LAX to Bangkok.  We are in economy class and at $2,000 per seat that’s an oxymoron.  At least they don’t call it 2^nd class or worse stowage. Premium economy would have been nicer: more room to stretch out during these lengthy flights.  It’s going to be about 30 hours door to door once we get to the, not 4 or 5 star, but two star hotel.

As I’m venting out to you, God hits me on the side of the head and says in his typical baritone voice: “You moron, where I’m sending you, my child, they experience all your so-called inconveniences and discomforts everyday” “So chill out you spoiled brat!” Okay, so God isn’t a name caller and maybe that was my conscious speaking to me.  But He’s right.  Again.  Many of the people we will encounter and treat have very little.  Little food, little clothing, little money, little supplies.  Little homes, err, shacks.  Showering is a luxury.  Toilets are a hole in the ground hopefully with something to squat on and no toilet paper.  Running water is rare as is electricity.  Clothing that they wear are 2^nd hand, hand-me-downs. They are thin from malnutrition (I envy the thinness). They walk for miles and a family of five traveling on a scooter is a typical scene. They have access to little medical care. 

To quote an unknown missionary: “They have nothing and are happy.  We have everything and we’re unhappy.” Ain’t that the truth!

So I will Chill out.  That will make my wife, Lena, happy. That will make Bill happy and probably the rest of the team…  “Count your blessings, count them one by one.  Count your blessings See what God hath done.”

Let us focus on the mission at hand.  It’s not about us, It’s not about me.  It’s about Helping our fellow man. (Sorry, I hate clichés) As the US Navy says it: “It’s not a job, it’s an adventure.”

Thank you First Chinese Baptist Church for allowing us to go on this mission.  It is a privilege and honor to represent FCBC and be god’s healers and servants.

Thank you, Bill, for assigning me to Journal.  It makes me stop and think before reacting.  Something I seldom do.  it’s a revelation.

Have a great day back at home, we miss you!  -Mark

Thailand 4.1: Servitude

February 17, 2012-Friday

Welcome to our Fourth Medical (To Be politically correct, our Medical-Dental-optometrical-pharmaceutical-nursing-general helper team. But for simplicity please allow me to use the generic term “Medical team to Thailand (which could also mean Thailand-Laos-Myanmar (formerly known as Burma)-and maybe China if we can).” Should we just say South East Asia? Okay well it ain’t here in the good ole U S of A.  Somewhere over there, Over seas, Over the rainbow way up high.

We are all excited, ready and willing to go.  In fact, we are ahead of schedule… by 15 minutes.  It seems easier and more fluid the more trips that we make.  Perhaps, as a team we gel and cooperate and know what to expect.  We have effective and efficient team leaders Bill Ho and Pastor Jack and Marine Master Sargent Richard Bruce, USMC.  The first most common phrase is “Praise God” while the second most is “Yes sir!” followed by “No sir!” And then “Blame Bill, It’s his idea!”

FCBC Medical Team ready to leave for LAX

Serving is a humbling experience.  You all should try it when given the opportunity.  It gets us out of our comfort zone.  God challenges us and won’t put you in situations that you can’t handle. 1Corinthans 10:13 “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” I keep reminding myself of this verse.  It has been said that ”it is easier to give money than of yourselves.”  God has blessed our church and their families.  I am proud of this team that make many sacrifices to serve.  We have to take time off of our busy schedule, give up vacation and sick leave hours, slow production at our offices and sacrificing revenue.  We have to get vaccinations (Lena and Steven are newbies and had six shots a piece over several weeks) and still are subject to  motion sickness, diarrhea, Malaria, Worms, Typhoid, Hepatitis, and even Leprosy (ask us in  20 years to see if we contracted it).  We brought along an AED (automated external defibrillator) and resuscitation equipment for, not only in an emergency for patients, but for our team members as well.  We have team members that can potentially die of natural causes on this trip! May they rest in peace, God-Willing. God Bless those Octogenarians!!  You don’t have to go over the rainbow to serve but please evaluate the gifts and talents that each of you have be blessed with and search your hearts prayerfully and god will open the doors for you.  Just walk through.

Look what ‘s happening right now to American born Chinese Jeremy lin, outstanding guard for palo alto high school leading his team to the state championship in basketball. Overlooked and denied a basketball scholarship he went to Harvard and was an excellent guard.  He went undrafted by the NBA and eventually signed with the Houston rockets last year. Then he was sent to the minor leagues (D-league) and then cut.  He was picked up by the Golden state warriors and then dropped to the D-league and traded to the new york knicks and then dropped to the D-league without letting him play and sat as a bench warmer and slept on his brothers couch in manhattan.  God opened his door.

Only when the two guards ahead of him got hurt did the knicks let him play and in that game he scored 25 points and  the knicks won.  The next five games he started and averaged 28 points and accumulated the most points scored by an NBA player starting his first five games ahead of Shaquille oneal!  One game he scored the winning shot with 0.5 seconds left on the clock. The Knicks are now on a seven game winning streak.  He is the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to  play in the NBA.  Who said Asian Kids Can’t jump?!  Why do I bring him up?  He is a man of God and glorifies him in his interviews.  He is a humble man. He is an overnight and international sensation and brings God’s awareness to an international crowd.  This is his Linsanity and this is his Linderella story, He has been described as Linvincible, and Lincredible, and all the derivatives that you can think of.  You see him praying and gives thanks to God.  God is using him as his humble servant.  Where can you serve?

I would like to thank our send off crowd today.  I can’t remember everyone but thank you Pastor Dennis, Michelle, Lani, Vi, Irene, Vicki, Kelly, Courtney, Ping, Sarah, Elizabeth, Collette, Rachel, Diane, Nanette and her mother, Dr. Mao, Jeanne, Joanne, Ed, Herb, Mary, Grandma lowe, Sharon, Diane, Mrs. Tajiri, Tom, leslie, Irma, Melissa,  james, and Dirk from Channel 47 who covered our story.  We also were covered February 9^th, see cbs47.tv for video segment at our packing meeting.

We arrived at LAX at 1800 and met up with Dr.Kane Kuo with Amy, Sam, and KK and Dr. Diana Lee and Friend anne. Dr. Owyang’s Brother James and his wife Geri along with John Patton sent us off with all of our 28 medical bins and 16 luggage checked and miscellaneous carry ons for over one ton of supplies!  As long as my toilet paper makes it I’m great.

We will try to post this journal to a blog site with a link on the church’s website for hopefully daily updates.

Sawatee Krup- Medical Team International, c/o Mark Chin

Thailand 3.16

March 6, 2010-Saturday-16th day

This will wrap it up for Thailand 2010 Medical Team International.   I hope that this ejournal or blog or emails have kept you in the loop during our mission here on the Thailand-Myanmar and that you have been able to experience the roller coaster of emotions with us.  These past two weeks were a blur and was filled with excitement, adventure, happiness, sadness, evictions, disappointment, hope, fulfillment, joy, camaraderie, team work, faith, and love.

The last clinic at the end of our journey was held at the Jaoporluang Uppatham 5 school in Ghan’s village near the Myanmar border.  On our way up the steep mountain we saw a trail of families, primarily women and their children slowly and determined walking up the hill to the clinic still one mile away.  Later, I am told that most of those people were Burmese who had gone over the mountain, crossed the border, just to come to this clinic.  Most of the Akha we see live in the surrounding hills and walk down to the clinic.  Ghan grew up with these villagers and we saw some familiar faces from the prior expedition and some patients were seen last time.   They must have been happy campers  for similar treatments or have more teeth pulled.

As they clinic begins I look around and survey what’s in store for us today. I see exhausted, weary looking people, sluggish at times but some who are actually hyperactive, some skinny while some are overweight, many look overworked, and a few that appear near death.  Curiously, they are all dressed in blue.  Hey, wait a minute, that’s the mission team!  It’s been only 2 weeks and they’ve aged quite a bit.  Get them home quick before they collapse!

These villagers are tough and strong!  They define the meaning of work.  They die with a hoe in their hands, men and women. I saw many 70 and 80 year olds with ripped muscles and back pain from bending or stooping over.  Eighty per cent of the patients I saw today needed anti-inflammatory medications, pain killers, and steroid injections just to get back to work as soon as they can.  Time is money; they can’t afford to be off of work.  Their back hurts, they can’t flex their fingers, they suffer from tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and joint pain.  I saw an elderly lady with hunchback pushing a cart up hill.  Work=food.  They really impressed me with their work ethic and bring to mind the Hmong that work the fields back in Fresno in the hot sun growing the strawberries.  Support your local ethnic farmers!

This was a very interesting case and a teachable moment.  A relatively young muscular man, 40ish, came in with complaints of body numbness.  His left hand was deformed and had severe muscle wasting from severe ulnar neuropathy.  How odd that it didn’t get treated earlier.  He said his feet were numb and as he took off his socks the feet were quite narrow and deformed. I thought that those feet don’t belong on that body.  The toes were clubbed and he had sores, craters, and ulcers on the bottom of his feet. There was dense numbness and thickening of the feet. Usually we see that in diabetic feet so I tested his sugar level and it was normal.  I got a second opinion from our chief medical director and he looks and authoritatively says, “leprosy.”  Okay, as I back off from him slowly as not to reveal my panic.  “Isn’t Hansen’s disease contagious?” I asked trying to avoid the “L” word.  “Oh, you’ll probably won’t get it” he nonchalantly responds in his usual caring soft voice.  PROBABLY.  Hey, I didn’t get vaccinated for that.  No one did.  If I get it we’re all getting it.  Besides the optometry team fit him for glasses and been exposed.  Why am I the only one concerned here?  Don’t body parts fall off?  Luka says there’s even a leper colony in Chiang Rai.  I asked if it was safe.  “Oh yeah, it is safe.”  But that’s what he says about everything…  Luka gave the patient his card so that he can be taken to the hospital to be evaluated and tested and eventually be treated with medications.  In the meantime, hopefully the antibiotics and steroid injections will offer him some palliation.

I offered to be quarantined in First Class since the rest of the team is waaay in the back (should have gotten Premium Ecomomy) to spare them the air that flows from First Class back.  Bill just says I can just wear a mask.   Even Pastor tried to ostracize me by pointing to a table that was reserved for me at breakfast time.  If you don’t hug me when I get back I’ll understand but if you see me irritated and deformed, please don’t ask, “What’s eating him?”

This is cool.  There is a Shaman, a witch doctor, that resides in the village.  Traditionally, he was handed down the duties from his father but really didn’t want to do it.  He was scared of demons and evil spirits and had the tools of the trade, such as, a spear or sword, a sacrificial knife, and other paraphernalia.  You definitely don’t squeeze the Shaman.  Well, he didn’t want to be a witch doctor any more and was afraid of burning these hand-me-downs in fear of the evil spirits; in fact, he wanted to be a Christian. The local pastor wasn’t sure he wanted to “exorcise him” so he called on Pastor Jack who, with Dr. Patton, Bill, and Luka went up to the local pastor’s home and laid hands on the patient and prayed with him.  Well, guess what?  Witch doctor be gone!! He prayed and he confessed his sins and accepted Christ as his personal Lord and savior.  The team took the things to be discarded and burned.  Later in the former Shaman, born-again Christian, came to the eye clinic with hopes of being able to read the bible.  Amazing Grace.

It’s hard to use measuring sticks as to what constitutes a successful mission.  The number of patients treated was a significant amount and perhaps the easiest to quantify: about 1910.  Smiles on their faces of those we treated, even somewhat hidden behind the dental gauze, or the typical bow with the hands-in-prayer-position with “kup koon ka or kup koon krup” and “goo long humaday” which is “thank you” in Thai and Akha, respectively is a reflection of he success of our efforts.  It’s amazing that they still thank us after we have inflicted some considerable pain or discomfort.  The warm and kind human touch with our very presence that we brought from half a world away showed them that someone cares for you.  And question will follow like “Who are they” or “Who was that masked man?”  Christians, they’ll say.  “What are Christians?”  Well, have a seat, and let me tell you a story that happened over two thousand years ago…

You would be proud of the team that you sent on how organized we were and how effective every team member performed in their unique position.  We all got along and strengthened our relationships with each other.  Developing relationships has always been emphasized on this trip not only with our overseas friends, but also between the doctor and their patients, between Christian brothers and sisters, between husbands and wives, and between this proud father and my special daughter, Jennifer. We opened the doors to Western civilization and Christianity in some parts of the world as representatives of First Chinese Baptist Church.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve God and for the support and prayers of FCBC and our friends and family.  We look forward to the next trip with equal enthusiasm and it won’t be soon enough.

Hey Bill, you’ve just completed a third successful mission trip to Thailand, “What are you going to do?”  “Im going to go to Disneyland!”  “And run a marathon on the West Coast and run one on the East Coast just to get a “Coast to Coast” Disney medal.”   I think I’m going to get you another “Goofy” medal, Bill.

Someone asked, “What will the future hold?”  We will know when we get there.

Medical Team International signing off…Proud to be humble servants of God.

Thailand 3.15

March 5, 2010-Friday-15th day

See Jennifer’s blog  at www.fcbcmissions.wordpress.com now with video!

www.markchinmd.wordpress.com and www.fcbcfresno.org

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT…

I haven’t seen it yet but if you pick up Fresno Magazine, March issue (www.fresnomagazine.com) you can read about some of FCBC’s missions to Thailand and Laos.  A few months ago they interviewed me, a dentist, and an ophthalmologist, about our overseas mission work and wanted to write an article about it.   Coincidentally, the current SALT Fresno Magazine,   www.saltfresnomagazine.org, which is a Christian based magazine, has an article about the missions trips as well and has previous blogs and photos.  There will be a launch party for SALT magazine at FCBC on March 25, 5:30-6:30 pm giving the mission team an opportunity to mingle and share our experiences with the congregation and the public.  Refreshments and door prizes too!  Please be there and support your very own mission representatives.

I think Andy and I have worms.  We have been eating for two or three.  He eats his usual breakfast and then the previous nights left-over dinner plates.  I have eaten 12 scoops of Swensen’s ice cream in two days.  Hey, they’re small scoops, okay medium scoops, not Fenton’s ginormous scoops.  Swensen’s has a coup on being the only ice creamery chain in Thailand.  Good thing Baskin Robbins isn’t here otherwise I would have tried all 31 flavors. When I have been on Atkin’s diet for three months, I go into carb withdrawl.   I am just hoping the worms kick in so that I can loose some of this weight.  I feel like this has been a cruise ship meal plan.  Once I get down to my desired weight then I’ll take the worm pills.  Wherever we go, the hosting village, church, or school like to feed us.  There is no shortage of food.  Kind of Chinesey.  They want to make sure that we get food so they never run out and as gracious guests we like to show them that we try everything and leave some food on our plates so that they know that they didn’t run out.  The team has experienced a little GI upset but no Montezuma’s revenge so far.  The common question is, “Is it safe?”

We should be asking the same question ahead of time before we drive on some of these roads.  Today was actually fun.  It was another one and a half hour drive with the last half in the hills through dirt roads and potholes.  We went up and down and we were excited to find out if we were going to survive this drive.  We drove in vans and every now and then the van would bottom out and we would go “Oh!” and then take a big dip and go “Ah!”  Pastor likes to go “Woo hoo!”  The poor van.  I don’t speak Thai but I think the driver was mumbling, “I’m not getting paid enough for this.”  It was a nice scenic route along the river with tiered harvested rice fields, and cornfields, grazing water buffalo, and huts and home lining the roads along the way.  It’s almost envious because back home when we want to get away and “rough it” these are the places that we like to go: to a cabin in the woods or camping, and they get to live this every day.

I can’t believe that a school is located way out here.  If I had to travel this far for classes I would prefer to be home-schooled.  Apparently the principal, who went to college with Luka, drives here each day from Chiang Rai city.  We approach the Pahwang School for the local Lahu villagers.  Several hundreds of children attend this school from elementary to high school and some reside in the dormitories.  It is a relatively nice complex with a playground and a basketball court.  You wouldn’t think a building such as this would be located, or built for that matter, in the boonies.  Just thinking how the construction equipment could make it out here is mindboggling.

A group of children were waiting on the playground and I was trying to get them to wave at me while I was videotaping them but only a few responded to this attempt of an icebreaker.  Then I recruited Kane, Jen, and Ghan to do “The Wave.”  You know, go up and down while the next one to you goes up and down and so forth.  Only half of the group even attempted this exercise in calisthenics.   They probably thought we just looked silly.  I am glad that we were entertaining.

It’s a challenge to influence a primarily Buddhist nation but perhaps it can be done one village at a time.  Ghan told me that Auntika’s sister lives out here and worked with South Korean Christian missionaries who have visited before.  In the past, the children used to get together in the morning and praise the monks and do Buddhist worship.  Now, most of the children are Christian so now they get together in the morning and pray the way Jesus taught us to pray.  Praise the Lord!

We quickly set up clinics and encountered the usual pediatric ailments: runny nose, stomachache, hormones, headaches, lice, fevers from holding the thermometer close to the light bulb, reading and visual issues, and dental caries and tartar build up.  I got to take a eyebrow cyst out and sew up a chin laceration.   It was impressive that after lunchtime how the children gathered and squatted in a circle in the yard and many of the kids brushed their teeth in unison. At the end of the day I had and opportunity to print some photos.  At first, no one wanted his or her picture taken.  Then I printed one up for a partially blind girl.  The kids started to gather around the printer as the photo developed and THEN they wanted their picture taken.  First one, and then another with a friend, then a group and then a family and then a class, etc.  We communicated in sign language.  The kids would just point to who they wanted in the photo and then give me the number of photos they wanted by holding their fingers up. They are little hams.  We ran out of time to print pictures for everyone because by then a small crowd had formed and I couldn’t do everyone but for those who got a photo, this may be their only childhood Kodak moment.  A bit of advice for those, including myself, who take oodles of digital photos: print some of them now or periodically so that you have a hard copy or you may not find them years later and you will be empty handed.

The school was grateful for us coming and gave out hand-made bracelets to the members of the team.  We said our good-byes and now the children were waving as we drove off in the vans.  It was a hot and humid day but well worth the trip.  It takes a lot of energy out of the team so most sleep on the way back.  For some the ride back doesn’t bother them and they take naps and just look like bobble-heads.  It’s pretty quiet though and gives us time to reflect what we did today and for the past two weeks and how the experience has touched each of us.

We have one more clinic to do at Ghan’s village located about one hour away.  We went there before and treated a lot of manual laborers and expect the same.  I don’t know how many people we have treated and it really doesn’t matter because we treat each patient one-by-one, one at a time.  Whether it’s a pill, a filling, a pair of glasses, or a stitch, we have showed others that someone cares for you and that is reassuring and a feel-good moment.  For Christians, God cares for us, and that is not just for a moment, but, for eternity.  It is this enduring love and security that we want to pass on to others.

Medical Team International…winding down.

Thailand 3.14

March 4, 2010-Thursday-14th day

See Jennifer’s blog  at www.fcbcmissions.wordpress.com now with video!

www.markchinmd.wordpress.com and www.fcbcfresno.org

I had a terrible night. Jen wanted to look at my CF card from my digital camera to review the day’s photos for posting on her blog.  She hooked it up to her computer and said that there were no photos.  A cold sweat appeared as I peered over my eyeglasses with a raised eyebrow.  Jen defensively says, “I didn’t do it.” I put the memory card into my camera and it read “no image.”  Okay, so I put it the memory card in the computer and looked onto the card, which previously had 465 photos on it and it did not show any folder or photos, as if it were blank and unused.  After my explicative loosely translated as “Oh doo doo!” I was hoping to find a recovery program somewhere on my computer but to no avail.  Light bulb went off: Internet access.  Long story short (I actually can if I try), if it happens to you, take the memory card out of the camera and don’t take any more photos and go to www.lexar.com and get Image Rescue IR4, which recovered 99.5% of the photos intact that were “hidden” on the card.  It’s worth it even at 3:30 am.

I want to introduce Libby Andersen, RN, FNP, is a nurse practitioner from Seattle who is a very cordial and friendly individual.  She was introduced to Luka and his foundation in 2005 when she came with her church, Seattle Grace Presbyterian Church, who helped build a church in Thailand.  She wanted to come back to Thailand to help in a medical position so she prepared herself for this by first workeing for a family practice group for three years to get familiar with primary care medicine.  In November 2008 she began volunteering at the Akha Youth Development Center helping with mobile clinics to serve 12 Akha churches, public health education, and nurse at the AYDC medical clinic.  Libby has been extremely useful and is an asset to the team because of her medical background helpful with triage in addition to being a translator for both Akha and Thai speaking patients.  She has accompanied the team to most clinics and will stay here in Thailand for several months more after we leave and will be able to follow up on some of our patients that we have treated. Thanks Libby for all that you do for the foundation and for the sacrifices that you have made and the hardships that you have endured.

Our itinerary, as you now know is not written in stone.  The village that we were going to go to is located way in the hills and it was determined that the vans couldn’t go up the bumpy roads so we would have had to change to 4 x 4’s.  It was felt that the drive might be too rough for the medical team.  What are we, a group of pansies? Instead we were detoured to the Song Serm Sart (“promote religions”) Presbyterian Church, located about an hour away in the pineapple village, whose members are primarily Thai citizens.  That means that most of them have access to health care and many are already on medications but want refills or a second opinion. We had a nice spread with plenty of room for the entire team and lots of elbowroom.  I got excited when they rolled in an actual hospital bed for either surgery or examinations.  They were just being hospitable.  We prayed together in the beginning as a group.  Today, I tried to be more cordial, less stuffy arrogant impersonal surgeon-like, than I have been, with less business-like and production line mentality since Bill put away the whip. The patients still, however, couldn’t tell I was smiling since I had too much BOTOX on-board.

The medical team saw its usual ache and pains and GI complaints.  Two patients stood out amongst the crowd.  One young man was burnt with acid when he was 5 years old protecting his brother from getting spilled on.  One half of his face including the eye and ear were destroyed with subsequent scaring on his face from the burns or from skin grafts.  His hands and arms and legs and back were not spared either and he had contracted scars and keloid scars all over his body.  The best we could offer was to get him glasses to read and for distance because he was afraid of loosing his job as an air-conditioning tech.  Dr. Tajiri and Dr. Chinn had to do some fancy fitting in order for the glasses to fit on his face since his nose was shallow and he only had one ear.  They were able to fit him for both reading glasses and one for distance.

Another child, seven years old, but with severely stunted growth and blindness had a severe congenital defect.  The young mother was told during an ultrasound that the fetus didn’t look right so the mother took some pills to abort the fetus.  Then the grandmother said don’t abort the baby because she’ll take care of the it if there’s a problem.  Little did she know the severity; the baby went to term and was severely disfigured, blind, and stunted in size.  But she cuddled the child with pride and a great big smile.  Apparently, Luka has seen this a couple of times before where the picture is the same.  The young mother takes a pill to abort and the baby goes to term and with similar looking birth defects.  We took pictures and gave it to the grandmother who was very grateful to have a picture with her grandson.  The child had cataracts and nothing could be done.  I often feel helpless or useless despite having sophisticated American medical training to leave the families or patients disappointed especially when they have traveled so far with a lot of hope.

Perhaps Kane was more helpful in his contacts with a few patients with whom he prayed.  He put on his spiritual counselor and psychiatrist hat and he said that they had “similar problems, only different language” regarding dealing with stressful family issues between in-laws and relationships with the immediate family.  With one patient who came in for a refill for anti-depressants, he didn’t think that medications were the answer to her problems; neither did she.    He was able to get a bible and read some verses to share the gospel to the patient, who was torn between Buddhism on one side of the family and Christianity on the other side, to use scripture to deal with common problems.  The patient asked him to pray with her so Ming, Luka, Kane and the patient prayed.  He must of spent about an hour with her working through lunchtime but I think Kane felt that he was fed, more importantly, spiritually.

We felt a strong relationship with this church because they are our Christian brothers and sisters.  The church is the family.  They expressed to us that the church was praying for healing and that God answered their prayers by having this medical team respond to their prayers.  In other words they felt that, “God sent you.” So it is an amazing feeling that Medical Team International was the answer to someone else’s prayer.  In appreciation, they gave each member a souvenir bag of dolls, pins, and key chains as a token to remember them by.  Those tokens along with the memories and photos make it impossible for us to forget our experiences with them.

There’s been a rash of well, rashes.  I noticed a peculiar rash on Jen’s neck.  Odd place so I put antifungal on it.  “I want a 2^nd opinion”, she says.  “Heat rash I imagine” Dr. Patton and suggests a steroid cream.  Then he noticed it on my neck. Odder still.  Gail had a rash as well as Bill.  Come to think of it, Jack had a rash on his chest. Epidemiologically analysis suggests…Akha bead necklace that several of us were given as a “Thank you” by the Akha women villagers when we visited the Huisan Akha village and the church last Sunday!  Working diagnosis: allergic contact dermatitis.  We were beadazzled.

Medical Team International itching to sign off.