lara czajkowski higgins - team july 2014

Greetings.  I am Lara Czajkowski Higgins. I am married to a wonderful husband,  Michael,  and have three lovely,  fortunate children: James Logan (age 9), Tessa (age 6), and Kye (age 3). 

We live in southwest Wisconsin along the beautiful Mississippi River and enjoy many outdoor activities. I am an avid gardener, kayaker,  cyclist and weight lifter.

I work as an attorney and practice in a variety of areas but primarily in litigation. In my limited spare time I coach youth basketball and help with my kids' soccer program. I also am a member of the Prairie du Chien Rotary Club and chair the club's international projects committee,  so I am always looking for new projects.

I was introduced to COPI by my friend and our mission teammate Julie DeHart. After hearing about the organization and the mission, I was drawn to the trip. I had some health problems last year, which thankfully have resolved. The experience taught me the value of each day and to live each day with purpose. It is for that reason that I have joined the team. I truly look forward to getting to know each of  you well and to serving with you.

Nanaste.

maya harris - team july 2014

Hi Everyone! I'm Maya Harris, Terry Gesulga's daughter. I'm 15 years old and i'm going to be a sophomore at Redwood High school in Marin County, California which is near San Francisco. I was adopted from the Good Shepard orphanage in Ho Chi MInh City when I was six months old and have been on three mission trips before. I am a flyer on my high schools cheerleading team and I am also on the diving team. I really love to paint and i'm also learning how to play the ukulele. 

These past few years with Copi have really changed my life and changed my perspective on the world. It's a lot of hard work but it's an amazing experience and you get to see Vietnam in a different way rather than just touring around. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you! :)

Bà Gay and cô bình

Gay: I am a retired senior - my husband and I spend eight months in Henderson, NV (by Las Vegas) and four months in Jackson Hole, WY.  We really do have the best of both worlds.

I am very active - love tennis, hiking, Frisbee golf and I work out daily with weights and treadmill.  I have three adult daughters and two grandchildren that are 20 and 22 years.  This trip to Vietnam will be my 10th mission and my niece Heather will return for her 2^nd mission with me as well. 

Over the years I have come to love both the people of Vietnam and the beautiful country.  And of course Children of Peace is so very close to my heart.  What our "leader", binh rybacki does for the people of Vietnam is so amazing.  She is so deliberate and so hands-on with how the organization is operated - that is truly the most efficient "non-profit" that I have ever been involved with, and believe me - I have been involved with 40 years of volunteering in Jackson Hole and have even been employed by non-profits, and Children of Peace is the best!  And that is why I just keep going back each year and had decided to join COPI board of directors in 2012.

I look forward to meeting all of you very soon - I will see some of you in Seattle airport and the rest of you in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

Bà gay (means Mrs. Gay in Vietnamese)

Binh and I have grown very close over the years - the photo I have submitted is of binh and I at her son's wedding in August 2009.

binh – I am binh rybacki, Founder and Executive Director for Children of Peace International.  This year marks 21th years we are serving Vietnamese children and people in need.  My husband, Jack and I live in Loveland, Colorado.  Our oldest son, Preston and his wife, Shannon are working and living in Saigon (they will not be in Saigon this summer), they are representing COPI in Vietnam as volunteers.  Our youngest son, Spencer is working and living in Chicago. 

Children of Peace International is an USA-based volunteered organization serving over 7,500 children presently.  We have a wonderful "army" of volunteers from both USA and Vietnam.  We are grateful for every hand that joined us to lift the children and people in our care out of poverty and oppression.  

Joining this mission from Vietnam are our beloved medical and dental doctors, 3 COPI employees and supporters.  Also joining this team are the children whom we had raised from toddler or children who have been receiving COPIs scholarship for many years.  They are all in college and ready to join us to "pay it forward".  We are very proud of our Vietnamese "family" and we know you will love them as well.

We can't wait to serve side by side with you. 

Peace Be our Journey (cool running in Jamaican)

binh (bing) aka cô bình (aunt binh) of the children in Việt Nam 

Phuong Thao Quan team july 2014

Hi everyone! I am medical student, currently living in NY. I enjoy watching dramas and soccer games in my free time. I love to play badminton, swim, and snowboard. My favorite pastime is to cook and bake for my family. Baking is also a way for me to release stress and escape from my studies. 

I feel very blessed and honor to be a part of this mission. Vietnam has given me a wonderful childhood. It was where I was born and raised for 11 years. No matter where I am, I have always wanted to go back Vietnam and help the people in need. I am excited to embark on this new journey and am looking forward to meeting everyone!

First clinic completed March 2014

We had our first clinic at the school for handicapped children in Viet Tri in North Vietnam. The school has children with all types of disabilities, mostly deafness and blindness. We saw 100 patients and hopefully learned something on how to improve for our next 2 clinics in Sapa which will be 300 children at each clinic. Things went pretty smoothly. (First 3 pictures.)

We took an overnight train ride to Lao Cai. The 4th picture is one from the window of our train. It was breathtaking beautiful after the sun came up. After getting off the train we took a short ride to wave to China across the river. Then we rode in a bus up the mountain to get to Sapa. It has apparently been raining here for weeks, but the sun came out for us! The last picture shows us having no fun at all. We were drinking tea at a store that sold dried mushrooms and all kinds of medicinal teas. I did not include the pictures of the dried lizard on a stick that apparently helps with kidney problems. I will save that for your private viewing if you desire.

We will be very busy the next 2 days at our clinics to the indigenous children of this area. We are looking forward to serving!

donna and brick thompson - team march 2014

donna thompson

  Hello!  I am so excited for our trip.  I graduated from nursing school (University of Kentucky:  March Madness anyone?) in 1976 and became a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1985.  My nursing career has been primarily in ICU and ER.  I worked in Critical Care until I obtained my FNP.  In 1985, I began teaching Critical Care and working part-time as an FNP.   Nursing is the best profession in the world and I love it!  I began traveling with COPI in 2002.  I’ve been very fortunate to go on a mission trip once or twice a year until 2011.  I developed a Study Abroad program for nursing students in 2005 and brought students to Viet Nam with me until 2011.  There were not enough students in 2012 and 2013 for my employer to offer the Study Abroad.  I retired from the college in December and now co binh is in trouble!  There’s nothing to stop me (except finances) from tagging along whenever i get the chance!

I was born in Kentucky and moved to Utah after college.  I am incredibly fortunate to have married the most wonderful man in the world!  Brick is the love of my life and my best friend.  We were not able to have children of our own, but God blessed us with COPI’s children to love.  I love animals almost as much as children!  Right now we have two cats named Tucker and Romeow.  In addition to traveling and camping; I love to quilt, knit and crochet.  

This is going to be a great adventure and I can’t wait!    

brick thompson

Hi everybody.  My name is “Brickell”, but I go by BRICK.  I was born in Oregon, but grew up in Montana.  My family moved to Utah when my Dad became the Director of the Utah State Health Department.  He was a pediatrician and my Mom was a nurse. Medical things were second nature in our house.  I have always loved airplanes and had more credits for aeronautics in college than the business degree I received from Westminister College.  I love anything mechanical; cars, trains, planes, etc.  My brother is a builder and we are both retired now.  It’s given us a chance to work on building and mechanical projects over the past year and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  I also love the outdoors.  Camping and traveling are two of my favorite past-times. I also love to read.

I became involved with COPI when Donna decided to go on her first mission trip.  I went with her the next year and we have been making it an annual event since.  I wasn’t sure there was much I could do without a medical background, but quickly learned there is plenty of work for everybody.  I especially love watching the kids and grandmas at the clinics.  I have learned you don’t really need any special training to speak “love”.  Can’t wait to meet everybody next week.  Safe travels! 

          

frani jenkins - team march 2014

Frani Jenkins – Physicial Assistant, Certified Athletic Trainer

I have been a physician assistant since 1997 after a 21 year career as a high school teacher in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  I currently stamp out disease in a Community Health Center in Craig, Colorado.  I have lived in Steamboat for 40 years and used to take advantage of winter sports opportunities more than I do now.  I now have bionic knees so plan to get back on skis again, may be when I retire.

I really like putting on my athletic trainer hat sometimes.  I actually did rodeo sports medicine for 20 years but have retired from that when I decided I couldn’t climb the fence fast enough to get out of the way of the bulls.

My significant other is Bart and two schnauzers dictate our schedules in a very bossy way.

This will be my 7^th COPI trip.  I always learn something new on each trip.  I am especially looking forward to returning to Hue as I have only been there once.