After being told that we could no longer treat at the Buddhist pagoda because the police wouldn’t allow it, the monks requested we visit so that they could meet us and meditate together. It was a very emotional afternoon, I cried most of the time, as THEY apologized to US about the way things had turned out. It was/is the most beautiful place ❤️

Don documented our whole trip in Vietnam. From the initial lows to the many highs! It was tough at times having his camera there, particularly during the emotional time when we learnt we wouldn’t be treating at the Buddhist pagoda. But what he documented was REAL, very REAL! And I can’t wait to see it ❤️

A CANDID ACCOUNT OF VOLUNTEERING IN VIETNAM! I tried to do a video, in fact I tried to do several videos but they were all too long. So I hope you’ll persevere and read what I have to say..and if you read to the end, you have my gratitude! As you know I had hoped to make short videos and keep you updated on what was happening as the week progressed but this was not possible. When we arrived in Nha Trang, our teacher & team leader informed us that we had been shut down! It appeared that the organization of the week had been so successful that the authorities got gittery. The rumblings on the street of a group of 9 international acupuncturists, along with Vietnamese translators, drawing large masses of people to one area rang alarm bells! There were talks of us starting a political uprising. So, they did what they thought necessary...they shut us down and threatened us with jail if we went ahead and treated in the Buddhist Pagoda. Vietnam is a communist country, this was not an idol threat. And it was our first lesson in how privileged we are to live in a democratic country! Our devastation on hearing the news was very real. What were we going to do? I thought of all of you back home that had sponsored me...how would I explain? And I thought of the hundreds of patients that had been arriving at the pagoda, since 6am, and that had to be turned away! We were heartbroken. But we had not reckoned on the tenacity of 3 very capable Vietnamese ladies. While we were busy discussing how to make the most of the week, talking about seminars and learning from our team leader and each other, they were busy making phone calls and walking the streets. By the following morning we had patients and a make shift clinic in one of the hotels. It started with us treating some friends & family of theirs but word soon spread, via the Market sellers, the taxi driver, hotel staff. We moved hotels a couple of times, all the time flying under the radar, all the time treating more and more patients as they were ferried to the hotel to us by those wonderful Vietnamese ladies! And it was humbling...deeply humbling. We treated back pain, neck pain, knee pain, glaucoma, undiagnosed high BP, diabetic neuropathy, blindness, migraines, numbness and insomnia. Often the patients didn’t know where their pain was because when you are worrying about where your next meal is coming from then you don’t have the luxury of acknowledging your pain! Their gratitude was heartbreaking...they had little to nothing yet they brought us gifts, of homemade dishes, a little purse with prayer beads for a colleague of mine, and I even got flowers! They wanted photos of themselves with us, they hugged us and bowed to us and by the end of the week were saying ‘thank you’ in English. There’s a saying that ‘everything happens for a reason’ and I firmly believe that. Our trip did not go as planned but it became so much more than I could ever have hoped for. I had gone there to help others but it turned out that I was the one that needed the help. As one of the team commented each one of us got to confront ourselves, our inadequacies and vulnerabilities. For me personally i had to confront my fear of appearing stupid or not knowing enough in front of my peers! I have returned from Vietnam a changed person, a better person, and a better acupuncturist! I now longer see anything as ‘impossible’ I only see the ‘possible’ in that word. I am humbled...by the freedom we take for granted; the beautiful and open hearts of a people and country that have known too many atrocities; the tenacity of the team organisors; the big hearts of my fellow colleagues; and lastly of the healing power of the amazing medicine that we practice! And to all those that sponsored me, please feel free to ask for your money back or for a treatment in lieu of it. We did not treat the thousands that I promised but we did make a difference 😊 Fiona

First installment on Vietnam Trip ❤️

Woo hoo....first edition out now!!! 👍🏻

Video 1 of my Vietnam Adventure and the reason why ye didn’t hear from me until now!!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

The adventure has begun 👍🏻😁