Lauren Smith

The Mind Matters Too

I’ve told you about the the work that is being done here to help physical illnesses and injuries. We’ve seen abnormal growths, at-risk births, respiratory problems and a slew of other physical conditions. But there is another side too – the mental side, that we mustn’t ignore. I’m talking about mental health. The mission teamContinue reading “The Mind Matters Too”

Let There Be Life

Sometimes you get to be a part of something that brings pure joy. Those are the moments we all seek – that we hope will find us. Yesterday we had that moment as Nancy and Eileen from Team IWA assisted in an emergency C-section for twins. I caught up with Nancy today to get theContinue reading “Let There Be Life”

First Day At The Clinic

I’m sure that you are eager to learn about how our first day went at the clinic. Well, you are in luck! We arrived at 6:45am, ate breakfast there, and then set out to finish setting up (moving chairs, finding supplies) and find our stations. We were Team IWA, reporting for duty. I’ll give youContinue reading “First Day At The Clinic”

The Day Awaits

It is 6am and we are waking up at our guesthouse in Takeo. In a half an hour we will take the bus to the hospital, which is actually quite close to here. Today will probably be a mix of getting acquainted with the hospital and stations, and seeing patients. We’re ready and willing toContinue reading “The Day Awaits”

All That Glitters – The Royal Palace

As we walk up to the Royal Palace, I raise my gaze to check something…the location of the flag. You see – if the flag is up, that means that the King is here. If it is down, then he is away. It’s down. The current king of Cambodia was a Buddhist monk before heContinue reading “All That Glitters – The Royal Palace”

The Last Minute Checks – An Introduction

Passport? Check. Bugspray? Check. Toothbrush? Check. As you might have guessed, I am sitting here going over my pack list for the upcoming Cambodian mission. We leave tomorrow. I’m sure you’ve experienced this last minute travel cocktail of enthusiasm and uncertainty: I’m so excited. Did I forget something important? Now that you know the contentsContinue reading “The Last Minute Checks – An Introduction”