Seoul and SE Asia

My mom with our CHP staff.

At a palace in Seoul.

At a Korean War Memorial.  The Korean War Museum in Seoul was a very moving museum. 

2 boys who had open heart surgery in SE Asia

The result of oxygen deprivation from a heart defect causes clubbing in fingers and toes. 

Three kiddos who had heart surgery.  The tall girl would give me the biggest hug everyday which made my day. 

A little girl before surgery.

Right after surgery.

And two days after surgery

This 6 year old girl was not too happy I made her get up and walk. 

My mom was able to transport a group back from Canada in February.  The two year old boy, his mom, and interpreter had been in Canada for 3 months, so they were very happy to be returning to Mongolia.  His surgery was delayed, but he is happy, healthy, and doing great now.  Reunions at the airport are always so special.  His grandparents, aunts, and uncles were so happy to see their boy.  And I was happy to see my mom.  It was so special that she could return again to Mongolia.  She enjoyed lunch with my friends and coworkers and then 18 hours after her arrival, she and I headed to Seoul. I needed to get a visa in Seoul the week of her trip, so she came along with me.  We enjoyed some sightseeing and just hanging out.  When I am in the US visiting family, I am often busy doing lots of running around, so it was just nice to be together.  Then we parted ways-her to the US and me back to SE Asia.  I have made 5 trips to SE Asia in the last year and am always thankful for the warm weather.  It was great to be a part of a team who brought desperately needed healthcare to a country with so many sick children.  19 children and families were forever changed.  I consider it a privilege to go to this land and pray over it and use my nursing skills to help.  6 hours after my return to Mongolia a media team arrived from our headquarters to film the 1000th CHP child.  Her name is Nomin and she has tetralogy of fallot.  She is 4.5 years old and from 4 hours north of Ulaanbaatar.  And on Wednesday she had successful life saving heart surgery in Minnesota and is no longer blue.  I will go to the US in two weeks to help our program celebrate 1000 children and families forever changed.  Thanks for supporting me through prayer.