PPP back at ya again. Today we split up into two groups: Hank, Kelsi, and I teamed up with students from Belmont University and went to two orphanages, while Alyssa, Ben, and Tiffany went with Dr. G to the Saniuk Hospital. That being the case, I'll write about our adventures at the orphanages.
We met up with 17 nursing and pharmacy students from Belmont University, a Christian school in Tenessee. To meet up with them, we crossed the street, haha. Yeah, they were staying in the hotel directly across from us. They were all lovely, nice people and we got along very well with them. During the day, we rode with them on their huge, comfy bus.
The first orphanage we went to was about 2 hrs away from Phnom Penh. On the way there, we saw the King of Cambodia waving from outside his moonroof; it was the funniest thing as we were in the middle of open farm land, and there he was waving as he zoomed past us. Anyway, the frist orphange we went to was from older kids (they seemed to range from 5 to maybe 13 or 15). On arriving there, they presented to us four different types of dances, each with a purpose or story. After that, we handed out gift packs and served them food. They were very grateful and very cheerful and happy. I was somewhat disappointed that we were not able to interact much with the kids as we left after taking a tour of the very nice facility.
We then went to the orphanage for infants (ranging from maybe 5 months or younger to almost two years old, many with HIV). They were truly adorable! I really wanted to take some back with me! But yeah, we just had a great time playing for hours with some of the most beautiful children on Earth. You can't beat that.
Afterwards, we met up with the rest of the group and had delicious Thai/Khmer food at the open upper level of the great restaurant. Later on in the evening, we then walked around the 'park' (really a paved area with grassy patches, monuments, and statues) in the cool Cambodian evening breeze. Most magnifique as the French would say.
Overall another great day!
**
On a more personal note, working with/treating kids in the Philippines and seeing these kids in the orphange (esp. the babies with HIV) has made me really think about the meaning and structure of life and its ultimate purpose. I was holding perhaps the most beautiful baby I have ever seen and I just couldn't believe this child was probably gonna die before the age of maybe 3 or 5 tops because of HIV (which he contracted through no fault of his own) and because of the lack of treatment or care available.
This was perhaps the example that just made me really reflect on the unjust suffering in world. I've seen so many innocent kids, through no fault of their own, in truly unsanitary conditions with diseases or ailments that were either a) preventable if they lived in better environments b) treatable if they had access to the approproriate treatment or c) never gonna be fully cured b/c of the lack of medicine, equipment, skill etc. we brought. And the thing is, even if we treated a 1000+, there are millions out there living like this. to say it's not fair, is truly an understatement.
And yet, throughout it all, there is a glimmer of hope: they are happy. Some of them looked like the happiest kids on Earth with a such an innocent, pure joy can warm any heart and that should make anybody jealous (especially since I probably have never seen anyone as happy, even in the States). Seeing or remembering the large smiles on these kids faces or their cheerful laughs just really warms my heart and just really gives me hope.
But yeah, this has made me think about fairness, order, balance, meaning, and purpose in the grand scheme of things as well as what true happiness really is. Our adventure so far has truly made me reflect about these very important issues to newer and deeper levels and for that I will be forever grateful.
Peace out!
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