First impressions of Vietnam

After 28 hours of airplanes and airports, I am here, finally here in Vietnam.

Since I started working at Free Wheelchair Mission we have been partnering with an organization called Giving it Back to Kids. Their president and founder, Robert Kalatschan, has become a dear friend of mine, as he is local to California, and we've been working together for seven years now and sent nearly 75,000 wheelchairs to be distributed in Vietnam through his organization!  11 years ago when he adopted his daughter from Vietnam,  he realized he had to do more than bring home a baby girl.  There were still thousands, perhaps millions of children in Vietnam that wouldn't have the same opportunities that his daughter would have.  So he went back and founded this amazing organization to help kids reach their maximum potential. 

Robert's been trying to get me to Vietnam for  years now, and recently, as I took the lead on developing a training plan to enhance our partnerships around the world, I finally found a way to get there.  We are rolling out a new comprehensive training plan to help our partners become leaders in wheelchair distribution, and do it the right way.

Alongside two students from Azusa Pacific University ,who are finishing up their program to become Physical Therapists, we developed a program and will be rolling it out here in Vietnam all week.  It has been a labor of love and I am so excited to finally be here, hopefully changing the future of the way Free Wheelchair Mission works around the world! 

We are in the central part of Vietnam, Da Nang.  It's beautiful here, hot and humid, but just beautiful.  We spent all of today inside an office going over and rehearsing this training, but the experience was unforgettable.  I have been working closely with several of the staff in sending wheelchairs and getting reports, but I haven't been able to meet any of them, until yesterday.

We got off the airplane in Dan Nang and were greeted by staff and children from the homes that are run by Giving it Back to Kids.  It was amazing to feel of their immediate love and excitement to meet us.  They made paper flowers for us and just wrapped us in their arms.  My camera was buried in my bag, so I didn't get any pictures, but the lasting memory will not be forgotten.

Today we spent time going over the training program and just getting to know the staff better.  I loved it.  I love that I get to be here with these wonderful people and feeling of their passion and love for what they do.

The Giving it Back to Kids staff, plus Steve, tall guy on the left, and Angelica, tall girl on the left, the APU volunteers

I am a lucky girl.  I am so thankful for these opportunities, I am always just continually amazed that this is what I get to do.  I am so thankful, so, so thankful.  Training starts tomorrow.  16 more people are arriving now for us to teach and educate on proper wheelchair assembly, distribution and recipient training.  I am a little nervous, this is a huge project and one I am very proud to be a part of.   Wish us luck!