In the Air

Sunday, June 15, 2:30AM (EDT, Miami)

I'm writing this on my way to Miami, hoping that I could post it just before I have to board the plane... but we're scheduled to land only 5 minutes before the boarding time of my next flight, and the plane leaves an hour after that, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to.

Anyhow, once I'm in Haiti, I may not have much chance to blog or send out newsletters as much as I hope to since apparently the internet access is very limited there. I guess I'll have to go and find out.

It's a strange feeling to be going back to Haiti. Going the first time was really exciting because I didn't know what to expect, but this time I keep thinking about my previous trip, what it was like, and what I learned. Random Creole phrases keep popping into my mind. I hope I'll get to use a lot of Creole again. Hmm, the dialect is probably different since it's northern Haiti this time. I'll have to adjust to that.

I should get some rest. I arrive at Port-au-Prince at 7:55AM Haiti time, then I take another flight to Cap-Haïtien. I have long day ahead of me. I'm stoked.

I want to sleep, but my seat is broken such that it doesn't recline back... ahh, my back.

Thank You!

Thank you everyone who sent in donations to support my trip to Haiti this summer! Thanks to you, I've now raised all the funds needed for the trip! It really means a lot to me that so many people have contributed. It's not just about my going to Haiti and volunteering, but now it's about all of you partnering together to help people in Haiti. Not only that, you are also investing in my life and career, as I aspire to serve in developing countries as a physician. The fact that you are supporting me will keep me humble hearted and motivated to do my best in whatever tasks I may be given, however menial or challenging they may seem. So once again, THANK YOU!

Any extra donations I receive beyond the goal of $2550 will be used to help people in Haiti in some form or another and not for personal benefit. I bet you would have guessed that, but just in case you were wondering. =)

Reintroduction

Hi there!

For those of you who may not know me, my name is SunMin, and I am a medical student at University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

This summer I am traveling to Haiti, from June 14^th to August 9^th, to volunteer at a clinic called Bethesda Medical Clinic (BMC). BMC is located in a small village called Vaudreuil, just outside Cap-Haïtien, which is on the northern coast of Haiti (Google Map). The organization that I am going through is called OMS International, which also runs Raido 4VEH in the same area. I learned Creole while spending 4 months in Haiti last year, so I am very excited about the opportunity to go back to Haiti this summer.

I don't know exactly what I'll be doing at the clinic yet, but BMC is one of the top-rated clinics in northern Haiti, sees about 150-200 patients per day, five days a week, and has in-patient care. So I imagine I'll be pretty busy at BMC this summer, and there's no doubt that it will be a challenging and rewarding experience!

I am confident that my time in Haiti this summer will be an invaluable learning experience since my career goal as a physician is to serve rural communities in impoverished countries. My previous travels to Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Haiti have stirred in my heart a passion for the medically underserved in poverty-stricken parts of the world. My experience in Haiti this summer will allow me to further improve skills that are necessary to serve effectively as a doctor.

To finance this 8-week project, I must raise $2550 which covers the costs of airfare to, from, and within Haiti, room and board, and travel insurance. Will you consider partnering with me by supporting me financially or by prayer? Any amount of contribution will be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to subscribe to this blog as I will be posting updates during my trip.

Sincerely,
SunMin Kim

To donate, please click the button below.

Fundraiser Progress

As of Sunday, June 15, 10:00PM
Contributions:
$580 (Surplus from previous Haiti trip)
$200 x 3
$100 x 8
$50 x 10
$30 x 2
$25 x 1
$20 x 8

Total: $2725 (100+%)
Goal: $2550
Unmet Need: $0

To donate, please click the button below.

How to Donate

To send contributions directly to me, please send a check payable to "SunMin Kim" to:

1 Miramar St. #929512
La Jolla, CA 92092

To donate online, please click the button below.

Contact Me

(replace *at* with @)

Email: sunkim*at*ucsd.edu
Phone: +1 (310) 710-3692

Instant Message:
AIM: instantdoxa
Google Talk: doxadeo*at*gmail.com
MSN: doxadeo*at*hotmail.com
Yahoo!: doxadeo*at*yahoo.com
Skype: doxadeo

Snail Mail:
1 Miramar St. #929512
La Jolla, CA 92092

A New Plan

Great News!

Though my original plan fell through, I continued to look for an opportunity to serve in Haiti, especially because I had already bought the plane tickets. Then I came across another organization with which I could volunteer in Haiti this summer! I will be working at Bethesda Medical Clinic (BMC) in a small town called Vaudreuil, just outside Cap-Haïtien, which is on the northern coast of Haiti. The organization that I am going through is called OMS International, which also runs Raido 4VEH in the same area.

As for what exactly I'll be doing at BMC, I don't know the details yet since it was only decided recently that I'll be volunteering there. However, BMC is one of the top-rated clinics in northern Haiti, sees about 150-200 patients per day, five days a week, and has in-patient care. So I imagine I'll be pretty busy at BMC this summer, and there's no doubt that it will be a challenging and rewarding experience!

Now I have less than two weeks to raise all the funds, but fortunately the total cost of the trip is much lower! All I need to raise now is a total of $2550, and since I've raised $1750 so far, I just need $800 more. So almost there!

Thanks again to all the contributors for your generous donations! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayer.

SunMin

To donate, please click the button below.