One thing we have learned in doing foreign aid work (and domestic, too!) is that even the best made plans can change in a moment.  So it was not a great surprise to arrive in Sanur only to find out that our scheduled trip to Karangasam was canceled due to some political delicacies.  However, the best news was that we had a green light from the health agencies in Bali to proceed with our work.  So all we needed to do now was arrange some sites where we could treat.

Bali 2009 Team (Dan photograping)

We called on our old friend Victor and headed up to Kiliki to see what we could manifest.  The group met to discuss options.

We decided to split up into two teams.  Frank, Grainne, and Mimi would head to the north of the island to scout potential new sites.  Two possibilities were a Buddhist temple, and a small clinic in Lovina treating primarily survivors and children from the sex trade.  Grainne and I quickly packed up a kit of supplies and off they went.

Meanwhile Victor and Ketut put out the call to the local village, and within a very short time people started appearing for treatment.  We had about 30 people to treat that day, a perfect amount to get us back into our skill set and over our jetlag.  We treated all ages, from babies to grandmas.  Even Victor and Ketut got up on the treatment table.

Julie and Katie get rolling.

We were lucky to get all three of our translators, Maye, Agus and Chrisma, back to work with us again.  Their language skills and endless enthusiasm make our work possible. The team came together, as Chrisma and Maye translated, we were able to treat everyone, do an herbal inventory from supplies left over from last year, and get back up to speed. 

Patients of all ages…