Mission Completes in Vietnam

 

As the mission in Vietnam came to an end, the Project HOPE team said goodbye to 13 talented volunteers.

The volunteers gave their time and efforts into not just making the lives of the patients they treated in Vietnam better, but they also impacted the lives of their shipmates as well.

Dr. Jennifer Mbuthia,a Pediatrician from Silver Spring, Maryland, who helped treat children at the onshore medical sites in Vietnam said her second volunteer opportunity with Project HOPE was an “uplifting experience.”

“I gained a better appreciation for the people of Vietnam, just getting to see how they live and being able to interact with the interrupters,” said Dr. Mbuthia. “The people were absolutely beautiful here, both inside and out. They were very warm and friendly.”

As we say goodbye to many volunteers that made a difference in the hearts of the people of Vietnam, we also say hello to 10 new HOPE volunteers that are joining Pacific Partnership 2012 for its final stop in Cambodia.

Danielle Pech Carson, a native of Cambodia, is returning to the country for the first time in over 33 years. “I want to connect with the people of Cambodia again,” said Carson. “Being able to participate in this medical mission is so meaningful to me because I was born here.” Read more on Carson’s homecoming in the next few days.

Dr. Earl Wellington, a retired physician from Harlingen, Texas is on his second mission with Project HOPE, having volunteered the first time on Continuing Promise 2010.

“I look forward to finding out more about the Navy’s hospital ship operations, and highly sophisticated equipment that is aboard the USNS Mercy,” said Dr. Wellington.

With the final team assembled, they will prepare themselves for Cambodia during the four day transit.

Check back for more on the new HOPE volunteers.