(*) "First they killed my father" - A book that deepened my love for the Cambodian people

This is an awesome book! A very heart wrenching book, not for the weak of heart. I read this book in 2 days and many parts made me cry. My heart was moved for the injustice and pain they had to endure. I cannot imagine the hunger, the waiting, and the emotional/physical torture that they had to endure. I felt that this book gave me a very good idea of what it was like to live through the darkest part of human history. In a small part, I understand.

As I read on and reflect, I cannot imagine God's beautiful creatures, such as the Cambodian people, mistreat each other in the name of 'hardwork' and 'ethnic purity.' My thoughts take me to many other similar examples such as: the welded iron letters on Dauchau's gates claiming that 'work is salvation;' the war children in Uganda as documented in the movie "War Dance;" the Japanese occupation of Taiwan that my grandparents survived through; the Manchurian massacre by the Japanese; the ethnic cleansing by the Nazi's around WWII; the ethnic cleansing in Rwanda as depicted in "Hotel Rwanda;" and many many more... Many are not mentioned, war-crimes never brought to justice, war-criminals never tried... A complete disregard for the santity of life is a complete disregard for God.

In fact, as I ponder this point, it makes sense why things like this happen. When we denied the existance of God, things like this happen. I cannot imagine the world without the presence of God and the Holy Spirit. As we think about the topic of how God protects us, here is the evidence.

I have spend the last 3 weeks in Cambodia, mainly in the capital, Phnom Penh. I also spent sometime in Siem Reap visiting the Wats (temples) and 2 days in Battambang visiting some friends. I found that there are many unique features of this land previously unknown to me. I'm impressed with their (1) rich past history of their culture and once the largest empires in southeast Asia, (2) evidences of their turbulent near past with the Pol Pot/Khmer Rouge oppression 30 years ago to this year, and (3) the beauty of their people.

Another interesting fact is that 75% of the present 15 million population are less than 30 years of age, and 50% of them are under age 21. Talk about the age distribution!!! 35 years ago, the Khmer Rouge, the 'Red Communist' soldiers, raised in power with their leader, Pol Pot, in April 1975 and was put out of power by the Vietnamese army in January 1979. The Khmer Rouge killed about 2 million of a total of 7 million people during those 5 years of tyrrany. Their objective was to restore ethnic purity to the 'true' Ankor Empire that was made up of only 'hard working Khmer people.' Which means that they kill anyone with an education or any foreigners (non-Khmer). Inevitabily, their crazy ideas also killed many of their own. The atrocities are detailed in this book.

It is this very reason that every Cambodian-origin person you meet today over the age of 30 will have gone through this tragedy and quite possibly have witness family dying under the iron fists of Pol Pot. It is a population with incredible Post-Traumatic Stress, yet, not many talk about it. Many of these people are forever locked in their emotions and has trouble with forgiveness, trust, and change. In contrasted, the 75% of under-30's Cambodian youth today that has never experienced the war holds a very different sets of values than the former. Eventhough, they have seen the evidence of the war in their parents, the war is not their story. I find the youth in Cambodia to be quite vibrant and open and wanting change. Many of them want justice. It will be exciting to see what happens next. This is a culture in transition as we speak...

We need to act. As communist idea purges religious practices, the freedom and openness to choice is now. As you and I know, our desire for spiritual fulfillment will never be quenched. People are seeking. People are putting faith into things that inspire fear and shame. As their brother and sisters, we need to develope character and integrity in the youth of Cambodia before the 'oppressive - materialism' that has plagued many 'westernized' countries takes over. Another issue is that the current Priminister of Cambodia is an ex-Khmer Rouge, and has prevented many of the war-criminals of Pol Pot's regime from coming before justice. He has been heard to say that if he does not get re-elected as PM this coming election, he will promise a civil war. Please pray for this country. I have come to love this country and its people. I think they are beautiful with a fervent heart for the LORD and the Good News. Pray for courage. Pray for encouragement. Pray for strength to live as Christ lived. Pray for transformation. Pray for revival. Pray for the youth!

In short, I am going to write much more about Cambodia... I have been deeply moved and am wondering what this experience means to me and my future. I want to tell you all about it and post some pictures, so, stay tuned...

(*) Mother India

Here is a song lyric I want to share. It's not a new song, but a song that touched me. Imagine as we sit before our computers in our comfortable home, there is a large population of people in India that are suffering social injustice. They are called the Dalits (='downtrodden'), the "untouchables," or simply 'outside the caste system.' This is where you get the words and meaning of 'out-caste' or 'caste-out.' They are about a population of 250million people, roughly the size of the entire US population. Traditionally, they are treated worst than slaves. A lot of them have very little potential to succeed in the Indian society partly due to the 'Caste System,' partly due to traditions that other Indians hold on to. Jesus Christ, Son of God, in very nature God, declared that all man to be equal. Jesus spoke against the miss treatment of the poor, orphans, and widowed. Jesus also said that He will be their defender! Here are more information if you are interested:

http://www.dalitnetwork.org/
http://www.dalitvoice.org/

Mother India by Caedmon's Call
Father God, You have shed Your tears for Mother India
They have fallen to water ancient seeds
That will grow into hands to touch the untouchable
How blessed are the poor, the sick, the weak

Father, forgive me, for I have not believed
Like Mother India, I have groaned and grieved
Father, forgive me, I forgot Your grace
Your Spirit falls on India and captures me in Your embrace

The serpent spoke and the world believed its venom
Now we're ten to a room or compared with magazines

There's a land where our shackles turn to diamonds
Where we trade in our rags for a royal crown
In that place, our oppressors hold no power
And the doors of the King are thrown wide

Lone Pelican on Oceanside Pier (I really like the composition)

Happy New Year 2009!

What can I say? I'd never miss my own party.

Few weeks in Cambodia...

To fellow beloved, I want to tell you about my trip to Cambodia in a few days. Please pray for the team of physicians and I as we work to set up some health programs there. The trip comprises many different facets for caring of the people in need.

Purpose: About 75% of Cambodia is considered rural and medically under-served. There are many villages there without the care of a doctor. I was invited to go on this trip with a pediatrician who has worked to improve quality of child care in orphanages around the world. Our objectives are several: teaching of health aids to take care of villagers, set up an evaluation process that is to be carried out in times to come as way of quality assessment of our program, evaluation of orphanages, and talking with the embassy regarding international adoption issues.

Preparation: I had a lot of experience setting up assessments and analyzing data from studies, however, I haven't had a lot of experience helping to set up health promotion programs on the ground. So, I have been personally doing some reading regarding to information and history of the country and its people, plus additional reading about 'community health program' and other written wisdom of working in countries where there are not many doctors. I have also asked many of you as prayer and support partners. I don't know how many of you have committed to praying, but I know that you guys have already covered more than 90% of the funds needed for me to go. Our F'ather is great! I trust Him greatly and I also trust you guys and appreciate you guys for the prayer coverage. I know that prayers are the most important tool we have in the caring for His beloved.

Follow up: So, I will be keeping a journal with me. I don't expect to have any sort of connection to you for the next month. I may possibly be traveling from site to site and will not have a way to be connected to you. So, as soon as I return, I will try to post some pictures and some results of the trip. For those of you that supported me through this trip, I believe that you are there with me. I also believe that you will see your offerings multiply in unexpected ways. I appreciate your partnership.

What I need you to do: Pray earnestly for my team and I... for unity, for flexibility to learn and to move as He directs, and for effective witness. I will be connecting with you when I can. Blessings!!!

Ventura Interview...

To my faithful friends and family... I've recently finished my interviews for the family medicine residency, with my last one at the program in the Ventura County Medical Center. This is a wonderful program! I am very delighted to have spent some time there and also to be interviewed there. This program is the OLDEST program in CA and possibly the oldest program of family medicine specialty in the country. The program of 'General Practice' started in 1928, and when Family Medicine became a specialty, it was the first to start in CA in 1969. This program is also the largest family medicine program with 14 candidates in each class. Why did I chose this program to interview among other programs? Well, I wanted a 'broad spectrum' training. From caring for pregnant women to deliverying their babies to taking care of both mom and baby and the family. I think this is how medicine should be, and it was the way medicine was done for thousands of years.

With our current healthcare situation of specialty heavy care, I think the ability to provide continuity of care has diminished. Why would anyone want to go to gazillion different specialists for care, with everyone of them just focusing on a part of the whole body and no one tracking how the entire person is doing? I think this is where Family Doctors are important. However, with our current system, family doctors do not get reimbursed very well compared to specialist... hence, the reason why majority of medical school graduates are going into specialties. Unless there are ways to standardize the payments, it is almost not financially feasible for family physicians to pay off our immense student-loans compared to specialists.

However, with much evaluation and temptation, I've realized that being a doctor is about taking care of people, and being a patient advocate. It is about being a resource for patients. It is about seeing what the patients and their communities need before they see it. It is about helping people to being able to adapt to their ever changing environment. We, as physicians, hold tremendous responsibility, and were given the unique opportunity to make our future together better than the past.

I can write like this for another hour, but I'll spare you. Let me just end with my experience at Ventura. In my opinion, I interviewed them as well as they interviewed me. I felt that I did my best in trying to find out where is going to be my home for at least the next 3 years. I've spent over 1 month of time working with their doctors and getting to know their residents. I am very impressed with people's credentials here. I am also impressed with how knowlegeable their family physicians are here. Being a county program and their association with UCLA, as the primary physicians in the hospital, their Family Doctors still run the ICU, still deliver babies, and do C-sections. Being a Trauma Center and a base for paramedics, their family medicine residents still run the trauma codes and follow patients into trauma surgeries with the trauma surgeons. They also have a wonderful clinic where they provide continuity of care for their patients, who they may have delivered their babies or taken care of them in the hospital. There, they also have an Osteopathic medicine clinic, where the D.O. residents can apply their art of OMT to their patients. Being a strong allopathic program linked with UCLA, this is a plus in my book.

So, overall, a program 1 mile from the surfs, sunny California with good weather year round, and a strong broad-spectrum program... I would recommend this program to anyone.

Tail

My time here in Cottonwood/Sedona is nearing the end. I will be parting ways with the natural beauty, the big hooked-up bachelor pad, my favorite fireplace (my constant hangout and companion), and all the great ER staff. I am heading back to Phoenix for a test on Friday, and will be coming home to California. You know, living the way I did for a month, with all my necessities taken cared for... I think I've had enough. I am ready for a new change: a change of scenery, a change of location, and a change of crowd. I am looking forward for Christmas with my lovely family, and also to finish my interviews for residency.

This last few days in Cottonwood/Sedona has been pretty cold and raining... there were even piles of snow in Sedona on my hike a few days ago... and today, there are snow covering the mountain behind my hooked-up bachelor pad. It makes me want to make some trips up to Colorado or Mammoth to go snowboarding... man, I remember snowboarding at the French Alps a few years ago... no experiences before or after has ever compared to how exhilarating that ride was!

Ok, so, I am ready for some holiday family love. Cheerios mate.

(*) Sunday on the Mountain Top

So, I've decided to go another hike again today and spend some quiet time with our LORD on the mountain top. The hike was about 2 miles round trip, ascendning about 300ft. The view was gorgeous. With the sun gently caressing my face, and the wind pushing behind me to help me up the mountain, the feeling at the top was breath taking. As I sat at the edge of the clift, on a 'rock chair' designed for me long ago, my spirit desired to soar like the ravens and hawks before me all over the immensity and expanse of the sky. The air was crystal (not the crystal in the 'castle') as I take a few deep breath to fill my lungs. The crispy morning air brushes over my skin as they rush by as if they were in a hurry to get somewhere. The expanding horizon allowed my eyes to relax. The gentleness of the warm sun rays made me feel as if I am in the forever warm and secure embrace of my heavenly love. In the presence of such stillness and clarity, I cannot help but to think that God so loved us that He had created all this long ago to satisfy the heart of a little creature like me at such a time as this.

A panoramic tour

COME ON, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

The trail head... it was actually kinda cold. It stormed last night, so there's even patches of icy snow on the trail.

The red trail, revisited.

Remember this picture? Last time I had my crossbike on this trail and about scare my pants off. I said I'll be back... well, here I am :) Today, I actually finished the 3.3mile Airport loop. The trail is pretty narrow and often made up of slide rocks such as below.

Yikes...

Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock behind the tree...; don't fall!

Where I came from... where I am going to...

It was amazing the wind and the quietness on top of the mountain. I had an Mountain Top experience today. Spent some quiet times with the Lord up on the top. Psalm 19: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, LORD. His creations are waiting for the Sons of God to be revealed. Look at them wait...

Recent Residency Interviews

So, I am nearing the last bit of my interview trail for a Family Medicine Residency Program. These last 2 days, I interviewed at 2 programs, Merced and Modesto. They are both broad spectrum family medicine training programs. Broad spectrum meaning that they train resident doctors to do everything from caring for kiddos to elderly, to doing obstetrics and gynecology, and to doing lots of office procedures.

Both of these programs are part of the UC Davis system of family practice residencies. They are both situated in the Central Valley of CA. So, the picture to your left is my summary of the 2 days while I was there. FOGGY! The fog was so thick that I couldn't see more than 50 yrd beyond me.

I've met an attending physicians at each place that really enlightened me with regards to the type of medicine I would like to practice. I'll tell you a little bit about why they are so encouraging. The first one is Dr. K. Dr. K is very passionate about his patients. He made it his career goal to change unhealthy behaviors of the patient. In fact, he says to me that if he does not educate and work with his patients to be healthier, then he has done nothing good for them. He is not satisfied just seeing patients on their visits. He would even go as far as telling them that they would have to find another doctor if they continue to be unwilling to work together toward a better health. He does it so lovingly, that I know he doesn't usually resort to threats. I am sure a large portion of his patients comply. Now, what are the unhealthy behavoirs that he works so hard to change? All these issues are called "Silent diseases," which if can be tightly managed will significantly reduce morbidity as we age and in effect directly increases our Quality of Life!

1. Smoking cessation
2. Diabetic disease management: tight control on the blood sugar
3. Hypertension disease management: tight control on the blood pressure
4. Asthma disease management: proper treatment combinations for the symptoms
5. Obesity management: help patients to reduce BMI as way to reduce long term morbidity

These are just a few things. I believe that if we as physicians could impact patient health in these areas, our world would literally be in a much healthier place. Dr. K relentlessly follow up with patients periodically and re-evaluates treatments and lab results to help his patients to keep tighter control. You see, these are diseases that 'slowly disables us WITHOUT US KNOWING!' That's why Dr. K thinks it is imperitive that we as physicians need to be come patient advocates in educating and helping patients.

Dr. B... He is an inspiring physicians who worked many years to make healthcare available to the underserved. His foresight is inspiring. His passion is to train physician leaders to impact health policy of the community in which they serve and eventually policies of this nation. Simple concepts of policies in community developement: where to put schools, health centers, grocery stores, hospitals, community centers, fast food chains, and other businesses has huge impact in the health of the community. Often, railroads split the wealth of the town. Down wind areas are usually poor. Poor areas have fewer grocery stores, lower literacy rates, higher teen pregnancy rates, fewer access to healthcare, higher crime rates... the disparity is tremendous. Mothers who need to buy groceries, bring children to doctors, work, and all that without a car cannot simply do everything if it takes hours to walk to one thing then hours to take a bus ride to another. So, as a way to serve the poor communities, Dr. B and his team worked together with the community organizers to build a community center that consisted of childcare, medical care, and is right in the shopping center of a major grocery store. A one stop shop! Dr. B and his residents also are required to do home visits, many times at a shack of the underserved family or in the park of the homeless person... these 'home' visits developes deeper appreciation for the underserved and also shows the community that 'we' care as physicians. We care and love those who are down and out to visit them where they are. Home visits also give physicians opportunity to talk to their patients are other pertinent social issues, environmental safety issues, disease exposure and risks, and other topics not typically addressed at the 'sterile' doctor's office.

I'm inspired to incorporate these passions into how I approach medicine!


Lake Yosemite in front of UC Merced; Motto of Modesto: water, wealth, contentment, health

So, the last bit of the blog, I want to tell you about the crazy drive I did last night after the interview... I hope I will not have to do this again. So, the interview finished at around 2pm in Modesto, I decided that I should just drive straight back to Sedona, AZ... That's a 11 hour drive! So, I started thinking, ok, I'm gonna take it one step at a time, may be rest in between. So, crazy me... I drove straight through with just one stop to fill up gas. Yup it took me 11 hours :) The last part of the drive was through the mountains in Jerome, AZ (used to be copper mining town). Have you ever seen Tokyo Drift? That was just like the movie. Imagine, at about 1am in the morning, skinny, slithering 2 lane mountain road, laced with 15MPH and 20MPH 'U' turns... The road was clean, washed by rain... kinda like a car commercial. Darkness all around, shear clift on both sides, guard rail on the right, you can see nothing other than the reflective lines on the road. You are it. No one to compete with you, no one to take a piece of the road. You are the road. The road and you are one. Man, it was so good, I was whipping around the turns at twice the prescribed speed, nearly drifting, sliding, skipping... pulling 'G's' All mine... all mine... I felt like driving a go-kart in the mountain... fresh air... a full hour of exhilaration!

Then, as soon as I got back home... I couldn't resist the sweetness of the pillow...