This post features student writing.

While the group worked hard to complete our new school’s foundation, Nina D., along with guides Anne and Mingma, journeyed deep into the Himalayan hills to deliver a duffel bag full of medical supplies to a hospital in need. Here is her post for the day:

Delivering a duffel of medical supplies was a somber experience, yet an extremely rewarding one. The day started out with a 4-hour jeep drive through flooded roads, having to dig out of the mud more than once. The views were amazing, though, with waterfalls and corn fields and rice patties as far as the eye could see. Getting to the hospital was not what I expected, as it demanded a 10-minute uphill hike through 2 cornfields. When we arrived, we had a few moments to ourselves, as the doctors were busy. I watched as the head doctor exited the building to wash his gloves off in their single outdoor water pump. When they were ready for us, we took some pictures and had the chance to ask some questions. We were informed that the hospital helped 30 to 50 people every day, mostly maternity cases, farming accidents, and a lack of clean water. We then unpacked the supplies in their storage room, and I was amazed how much that single duffel bag filled the sparsely supplied shelves. We got a tour of the hospital, which was comprised of about 12 rooms divided over 2 buildings, only one of which resembled a medical facility. I had a hard time processing during the jeep ride back: it was late, the jeep was packed, the roads bumpy, but mostly I was filled with an overwhelming sense of discomfort and purpose; I have so many resources at my disposal. It’s difficult to come to terms with that after witnessing so much need.

Nina D.