Thursday, December 30, 2010

Touch

Before leaving North Cambodia we got the chance to serve at a huge Wat in the floating village. The floating village is such an inspiring place. This is an entire village who live on a river that floods up to 20-30 ft in the rainy season and they've adapted completely to heir situation; stilted homes, stashing firewood in the tallest trees and constructing floating pig sties. At the heart of the village is a massive ornate temple and school house. We were honored to be able to set up our tables and serve the village, students and even some tourists who were just looking around. Around noon Something very special happened. A large group of monks live at the Wat and the head monk here is considered one of the more prominent monks in Cambodia. He had been in seclusion for quite a while suffering from debilitating head aches/ dizziness and those around him were becoming worried. I was asked to adjust him. 2 of his helpers carried my table into a back building as I followed and began to mentally prepare. Once at the head monk's building I was instructed to remove my shoes and enter. Once inside I was guided through a series of steps to prepare myself to be in the Head Monks presence. After bowing to an immense golden Buddha four times I was told to remain on the floor. The head monk exited a door at the top of some stairs and made his way to my table aided by 2 other monks. He stood
in front of me in flowing orange robes with his disciples in a semi- circle around him. After bowing to him 3 times ( one less time than to the Buddha ) he removed his robe top and exposed the dozens of circular welts he accumulated from trying cupping to cure his dizziness. He had tried everything.

The next step was getting permission to touch his head (because the head is your temple and usually touching it is not allowed) once I received that he got on the table and we began the assessment. His atlas was subluxated to the left along with some other things. I set up, took a deep breath and asked ( in my head) to please have the ability to deliver a healing adjustment and then thrusted, his eyes opened up wide and it was clear something was different. After finishing the adjustment he stood up and began speaking in Khmer with my head Doc about how a bone out of place in the neck could make someone dizzy. On e he got a grasp on the Chiropractic philosophy he turned to me, put his hand up an said a few words. I was instructed to bow and back out of the room. I was told the monk had just blessed my with long life and prosperity. When I go back to the group my hands
were trembling. It all hit me at once, what had just happened. About 30mins later I was called on again. Apparently the head monk was already doing significantly better and instructed the rest of the monks to get adjusted. Spent he rest of the day adjusting monks in a temple under the watchful eye and smiling face of a giant gold
Buddha. I learned a valuable lesson...everyone has something! No matter how together someone looks or how prominent a person is, everyone is dealing with something. Treat everyone with the same compassion and caring. An absolutely special and humbling way to wrap up a strong day of adjusting.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Say Wat?

On a trip to Ankor Wat we had the chance to tour the ruins and get a
bit of history. Such massive and complicated structures all carved by
hand. It's truely amazing what can be accomplished when the mind is
focused!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Onward

Waiting for the sleeper bus to take us from Sihanoukville, Cambodia to
Vietnam. Nha Trang for New Years!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Happy Holidays

Want to wish all of you a very happy and healthy holiday...this post may be later or early, because trying to access the internet on Bamboo Island is a challenge. All the same, hope everyone is having fun and I love you all. More updates to follow...

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Fresh Air

Heading to Bamboo Island with the docs for a few days of fishing,
hiking and relaxation. No electricity in my bungalow so I will say
Happy Holidays now. I love you all and will have updates on the 26th!
Take a deep breath and smile!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Learning



We opened the doors to the back building of a run down clinic on the side of the road in deep Cambodian farm country, with big smiles and low expectations. It was a holiday, at the beginning of harvest season and the clinic we were using is known for selling drugs on the black market and not actually helping patients, essentially it's a place where people go to die. Our goal is to change all that.

In 3 days, over a span of 18 hours (6 shifts) 5 Chiropractors  logged roughly 600 patient visits! Patients came in from miles, by bus, car, moto, even horse driven.

The word used for Chiropractor in Khmer (Cambodia's national language) translates to adusting the nervous system ( I wish America adopted that realization...haha) so we were packed with all kinds of disorders.  Over the 3 days I cared for MS, Parkinsons, stroke, TB, Migrane, organ dysfunction and all ranges of pain. I was called upon to adjust the doctor of the clinic and the brother of his excellency...both reported amazing results and are now actively promoting the support of Chiropractic in Cambodia.

One patient really stuck with me, an 80 year old female who had stroke years ago and was delivered to the clinic in a hammock slung across the back of a pick-up with a make shift IV in her arm.  I carried her from the truck to my table, she laid there staring at the ceiling, no motion in her right side and hopelessness in her eyes, she looked checked out. I adjusted her hand, wrist, elbow and foot on the right side to stimulate the brain to the pathways on that side. Then I placed my hands on her neck, began to introduce motion and ever so gently adjusted her atlas, really just using the weight of my hand to move the bone into place. She came alive, huge smile, increased breathing, color returned... She was transmitting and recieving!  On the 3rd day she was making eye contact and was able to put energy into gripping my hand! This woman changed me...the absolute joy and gratitude in her eyes for the care I was providing floored me. Such a beautiful experience.

You never know how far reaching something  you say, think or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow!




Sent from my iPhone

Ready to serve

The humidity finally broke so this was my office for the day. A slice
of heaven

Out There!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Kingdom of Wonder

Took a trip, 896 steps, up to a mountain top Wat (the name for a
Cambodian temple). Walked an interconnected set of caves with
magnificent Buddah statues carved throughout. A very powerful space.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Upgrade

Always nice to arrive well rested after a 15 hour flight!

Arrival!

Made it to Phnom Penh safe and sound.  Landed, with another intern and her husband, around mid-day and was greated by the head Doctor and his cousin, who is a 3-Star General in the Cambodian Military", and is aptly nickamed "the General".  We were taken to our guest house (equivalent of an inn) where we washed up and then headed out for a tourof the killing fields and torture camps...an incredibly humbling experience, especially considering these were used so recently there was still blood on he floor in many of the cells. With a military escort it made touring the city an extremely unique experiece. What an exciting and wild place!

After a long day...it's time for a hot shower and a good nights rest...many hours to travel tomorrow to get to our first Clinic.

Yours in Service.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Step 1

Arrived safely in Taipei and am preparing for the next leg of the trip...into Cambodia.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Take a Moment

It was 30 years ago today, that John Lennon passed away and alhtough he is most known for Imagine (which is a very fitting song for the upcoming trip) Here is my personal favorite Lennon song and overall Beatles song! Take a moment to enjoy and then take a moment of silence.  Find someone you love today and let them know it.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Road!


The road to success is well paved...but that doesn't make it an easy walk.
-Austin Davis

All of the resources to accomplish great things are present in the universe, however, recognition and utilization of them can be extremely difficult. Stay the course and keep your goals firmly planted in your mind...the Universe will help provide the means necessary to achieve them.  Being humble and having the willingness to admit that, at times, help is needed can be the difference between success and failure.  With the intention to do right and an openness to the unknown, it's amazing what can be accomplished!