Coming Home to the Motherland

Singapore is so cool! I didn't really think that it would be, cause really I don't know tons about it. But it's this crazy urban city transplanted in the middle of a jungle. We did this awesome hike through the wilderness that's a national park in the middle of the city. Part of it is a suspension bridge that goes through the canopy of the trees and you can see the green lush trees stretch out forever on either side. Oh and there's monkeys - like big ones just hanging out on the bridge and some of them weren't that friendly, hah. It was hot and humid but I loved it all. I've decided I'm really good with just dealing with the heat and it honestly doesn't bother me. The city is wicked high end and the buildings are way cool and kind of remind me of Dubai a bit. There was way more I wanted to see and do and that just added to my sadness of having to come home.
I cannot even start to try and put into words how I feel about this project. I am so grateful and so incredibly blessed to be able to be a part of it. I don't think I can describe how it has changed me and how much I have gained. I feel almost selfish because I think I've gotten way more out than I feel like I've put in. I am so humbled. With the material things I have been blessed with especially. I've been humbled too as I've watched and been privaleged to be friends with and work with amazing people who have made me want to do and be better in so many different ways. I have loved serving the people. I can honestly say that I have loved everyone that I helped and worked with. I was just happy being able to give of my time and skills to be giving them the help and medical care they needed and wouldn't have been even close to without this project. I know that's because Heavenly Father let me see and gave to me some of the love He has for them and worked through me to make their individual life better. The other medical people I worked with are phenominal. They are my close and forever friends. I feel so blessed to have them in my life and to be able to learn so much from them.
I wish I could stay longer! It's weird to be home too. Everything I've done today seems so surreal and foggy to be back into real life. But at the same time, I'm excited to start again and to be better with the things I've learn and the ways I have grown. I love all of you who have written to me and supported me and sent me your love. You have no idea how much it's helped and I'm so happy to be home with you again!!

Love, Amy

i heart cambodia

Cambodia was an amazing experience just itself. The orphanage I helped at was called Happy House and the kids that live there really were just so so happy. I think that's something I love about kids is that lots of times they're oblivious to the not so great things around them and still play and have friends and are happy and going through life. That's one of the reasons I love pediatric nursing is cause even though they have sick days, they're still kids who are always trying to maximize their fun. I became specail friends with one little girl who I spent almost the whole afternoon with. I will now always love and I wish I could do more for her. It's especially hard when individual people become personal and 'real' to you. That you get to know them and what they're about and who they are. I knew I'd have to deal with that but it was harder than I thought. I had a wonderful time repainting there and the group did so much more for their house in the days after too.
We had some very interesting and rare medical cases too. If you wanna know more about that just ask.
Another exciting thing is that I got to go to Angkor Wat. Definitely didn't think I would get to do something so ridiculously fantabulous while I was there. Before I left I knew there would be a chance I wouldn't get any free time on land so that was above anything I'd hoped for. It took 10 hours to get there on a bus but definitely worth it. We got to see 3 separate ruins and they were basically incredible. I love the art and architecture and culture!!!! It blows me away what they could do with the materials and tools they were working with. Ridiculously intricate!
My team that I've been working with who are mostly Navy or Army personel and one Canadian Forces nurse(!). They're wonderful people and I love them all. We became even closer together in this part of the project and we just work so well together.
Cambodia is gorgeous!!! The landscape is lush and basically a jungle. I became friend with one of the helicopter pilots and we got to fly over Cambodia - holy smokes.
Beautiful country and even more beautiful people.