It's working!

What an incredible trip I am having here in Vietnam.  To see this training program come together and be received so well is the most rewarding experience I've had since I've been working at Free Wheelchair Mission( 7 years now!) 

I often find myself getting choked up as I am seeing our distribution partners in Vietnam work so hard to understand what we're teaching.  Today they applied what they have learned so far and they did so well!

Basically we're here teaching the groups responsible to distribute the wheelchairs that are donated from Free Wheelchair Mission, how to properly prescribe and fit a recipient to a wheelchair, then offer training to the person on how to take care of them selves and their wheelchairs.

It has all gone better than imagined.  After 2 days of class instruction, today we had a "practical" exam.  We had 5 wheelchair recipients come to the office  and had each trainee partner up and tell us what kind of wheelchair the person should get and what adjustments they needed to make.  They all did so well and we learned together.

Our wonderful students

Practicing wheelchair assembly

Learning to go up and down the curb properly

Learning how to do patient transfers

Writing a prescription

Teaching exercises

Both of these women had strokes and had been waiting 10 years to receive their wheelchairs

 We continue with more distribution tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited.

I should also mention that there is a lot to love about Vietnam.  Warm wonderful people, and beautiful things to see, and great food too. 

We've had a little bit of time to see some things in the surrounding area of Da Nang.  Here's a peak...

A night in HoAn

Delicious Seafood Hot Pot

Happy Buddah at Marble Mountain

Caves at Marble Mountain

Beautiful views

Seriously this is an awesome country.  I am so thankful to be here experiencing these things.  Can't wait for what tomorrow brings!