One Body Village - Một Thân Hình

Families in these rural areas barely make $2 USD per day. They struggle to feed their families, let alone afford medicine, transportation, or our fancy iPhones. 

In all this despair, their faith runs strong. These Vietnamese people attend church (which looks basically like a warehouse with pews) every Sunday, traveling by foot from hours away. I asked an 89 year old lady how far she lives from the church and she responds, "Oh, not far, I only walked for an hour and a half". She wakes up at 4 am in the morning to attend church at 7 am, which then lasts for over 3 hours. I can barely wake up 30 minutes before I have to work! Their commitment to their faith compelled me to reflect on my lazy life. I drive to work because I dread taking the train. I make excuses not to visit my mother on the weekend. I can ramble on and on about my indifferent life. Visiting this church community has strongly encouraged me to make more of an effort in my daily life. 

Beauty can be found in the dreariest of places.

Children hanging out after Sunday school.

Make-shift teeter-totter? Quite sturdy!

I admire the fun and innocence in children.

Once a week, the church offers a blood pressure clinic, medications, and a physical exam by a Can Tho doctor free of charge. Amazing!

Bus by day, funeral car by every other night.

Lining up to see the doctor. Most older Vietnamese men and women in this area suffer from hypertension, lung disease, and joint pain/ aches.

Docs hard at work. Lacks confidentiality similar to my ER department!

Sorting through medications. Too bad half the medications in Vietnam are counterfeit.

This is where I can jump in!

If only I can look like these ladies when I'm 90! ..Only less sun damage.

Angela

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