Tuesday, July 15 2025

We left this morning at 6:30 AM and drove about an hour and 40 minutes up into the mountains. The ride was long, but honestly so beautiful. We climbed so high that at one point it felt like we were driving straight into the clouds. The views were incredible and that peaceful stillness you only find in places like this.

When we arrived, the community welcomed us with such kindness. Everyone was warm and open.  I spent most of the day helping to translate, and it’s been one of the most meaningful parts of this experience. Being able to help bridge the language gap and connect people to care it’s something I feel really grateful to be part of.

One of the most touching moments happened with Miriam and Haven’s first patient. He was so grateful for the care they gave him that he prayed over them and gave them a blessing. It was emotional and powerful. He kept repeating how thankful he was that we were there, and it reminded us all of the importance of simply showing up and serving with love.

I also got to spend a lot of time with the kids, which honestly brought me so much joy. I’ve already made some real connections with them. At one point Scott, Rico and Jim started playing with them, making and flying paper airplanes outside the clinic. It was going great until one of the planes got stuck on the roof. Naturally, they tried to knock it down by throwing a hose up there… except the roof was metal. When the hose hit it, the loudest bang echoed through the clinic, and everyone inside jumped. We were so startled but then we all burst out laughing. It was such a random, funny moment that ended up being one of the highlights of the day.

Today was full of moments like that, moments that reminded me how deeply human this work is. I’m learning so much, not just about medicine, but about community, gratitude, and connection. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

-Valerie