A Rewarding Experience

" Our experience volunteering for the Hoi An Foundation was definitely one of the highlights of our 5 week trip in Southeast Asia. My fiance, Emmet, who will be starting medical school this upcoming fall, was anxious to do some medically related work in Vietnam. He emailed Josh while we were in the U.S. and immediately got an enthusiastic response. Once in Hoi An, we were able to contact Josh by phone and get instructions on how to rent a motorbike and drive to his house. Along with a nurse from Australia and two translators, we paraded out to the countryside through towns and villages, dodging chickens, dogs and barefoot toddlers for a visit to a clinic in the provinces. The ride there was one of the best parts of the adventure! Once we arrived at the clinic, there were about 30 elderly people waiting anxiously to see a doctor, and it quickly became apparent that this was far too much for one person to handle with limited funds and money for medication. However, Josh got right to work efficiently and with a sense of humor. He had Emmet taking blood pressures and pulses as I jotted down the information on their cards. It was very eye opening to have up- close interaction with so many Central Vietnamese people, many of whom had injuries that were a result of the Vietnam war with the U.S. Josh was kind enough to take the time to let my fiance sit in with him as he consulted each patient so that it could be a hands on learning experience for him. After all of the patients had been seen, we were treated to a delicious lunch riverside by the woman who worked at the clinic year round. They were very warm and grateful for Josh's help.

The following day Emmet went to Josh's house by himself, where by 9 am there was already a line of local people waiting to be seen. Josh tirelessy helped each person and welcomed them into his home. Emmet was most touched by a family who came in with a young girl who had a hole in her heart. Knowing that she had hope because the Hoi An Foundation would help her fund the necessary surgery was proof that they were really doing miraculous work. We are so thankful that we had the chance to work with Josh, and it is clear that this non profit could do so much more for these people if it had greater funding. We wish the Hoi An Foundation and his staff all the best and hope that we can continue to support it in the future."


Merry Christmas, Josh! Hope you're well. Keep up the good work.

Best,
Meg and Emmet