As some of you know, my trip consisted of participating with a group called ChiroMission.  The mission of this group is to promote chiropractic and adjust all those who are subluxated throughout the world, especially in third world countries where resources are so limited. ChiroMission also intends to cultivate students of chiropractic from those deprived areas so they may return to their countries and work in offices established by ChiroMission. 

My participation with this wonderful group began as soon as I boarded the plane in Miami.  I felt warm and fuzzy surrounded by other Chiropractors that I have known for years on the flight.  Little did I know that less than 24 hours later I would be really uncomfortable.

Day one of my mission started with a physical challenge.  The process of a "waterfall challenge" and a jump off of a 25 foot cliff into cold water was designed to prepare you for the rest of the weekend.  That same afternoon, I received my first village assignment.  I was picked to go to a school, alone, with a guide that did not speak English.  I do not speak Spanish, Creole, or French.  As you can imagine, I don't love the unexpected or situations where I have no control, so immediately my head filled with all sorts of questions:  What do I do if I encounter trouble? What do I do if there are too many people to adjust? What do I do if they do not like me? What do I do if they do not want me?  A tremendous amount of fear!  I am thrilled to report that everyone in the school was wonderful.  Each child was well dressed, very respectful and eager to get adjusted.  A line was formed and the number of children was unbelievable.  The feeling at the end of the day was WOW that was great. 

Nonetheless, I did see the poverty that everyone speaks about; shared pencils between children reuse of school workbooks, broken desks and tables.  I left day one thinking, "WOW, I am good!" "I can not believe how many children I adjusted in such a short time."  The "all about me" attitude would soon be challenged.

Day two:  I received my assignment this morning and was pleased to find that I was working with two other Chiropractors.  "Great, I am not by myself," I thought.   The "ME" thing would soon change.  The three of us were be led by two guides, both of whom spoke some broken English.  I also learned that we would need to bring lunch and drinking water in our backpacks, because we would be going to several Haitian villages and the probability of either food or water being available might not exist.  Now I am uncomfortable! 

Growth always occurs in a state of being uncomfortable.  Day two of my ChiroMission will have a lasting etch on my consciousness.  Children are running the streets without clothes or shoes, because they have none.  Babies do not have diapers.  Muddy streets (it rained everyday) are filled with bodily waste; Children are abandoned on the street, with severe mental and physical handicaps. Poverty and a lack of health care do exist in this third world county; however, I have chosen not to make their poverty and lack my focus.

Day two also represented the better side of human beings as well. Multiple villages where everyone within the village knew each other and a true since of community existed.  I encountered children that wanted nothing more from you other than the companionship of toting your backpack filled with the water and food your were told to bring. I witnessed children that deeply respected their elders.  I was invited into homes to adjust and bring Chiropractic care into their lives.  I adjusted family after family.  Despite the language barrier, a mom would hand their child to be adjusted by a complete stranger, on the knowledge of hand signals and a tee shirt written in Spanish.  Looking back tonight, I do not know if they could even read.  I am certain that a shift occurred within my consciousness; when in alignment, love and certainty can accomplish anything.  I was there to deliver the adjustment, have certainty that the body has the ability to express health, express unconditional love, and expect nothing in return. 

Day two knocked down barriers I created in my own mind and brought forth the importance of family, community, certainty, and love.  Etched in my consciousness forever, I am bringing back to Newnan to those four concepts; family, community, certainty, and love. 

Day three of ChiroMission- I have no fear!  I was grateful to be paired with another Chiropractor that I have known for about a year.  I knew we were going to have fun.  No Fear and two women!  It was raining and our guide did not speak English.  Nevertheless, we got out of the car in our first village.  I thought about how thoughtful they were to have an area set up for us with chairs and an appearance of order.  This is a drastic change from my prior day of adjusting on a pieced together chair in a home that has a curtain for a front door. 

Dr. Kris and I adjusted a few people in the rain, and we were waiting for the line of chairs to fill.  I waited a few minutes, and then a few more minutes.  The entire time, I was telling Dr. Kris about my prior day and the "experience".  So...I made the decision that I was done waiting.  I picked up my chair and started walking up the street.  I had a since of urgency, and no fear!  What a combination!  Dr. Kris and I walked all over the village, dragging our guide, who surely thought we had lost our minds. 

On my third and final day of ChiroMission, I learned a since of urgency.  Armed with the commitment of  family, community, certainty, love,  a since of urgency, and no fear, I knocked on doors, curtains and any space that looked like a human being might call home, to deliver the chiropractic adjustment and connect the brain to the body.  I intended to connect human-kind. 

Commitment of family, commitment of community, certainty about Chiropractic, love, sense of urgency and NO fear are emotions that are forever engrained within my consciousness.  I have tasted the moment when a mother hands her child to you to receive an adjustment without any exchange of words.  I have savored the blind faith of men, women and children receiving an adjustment.  I have seen the child with immeasurable physical and mental handicaps relax and hold you after an adjustment.  I witnessed acceptance and gratitude.  All accomplished without the benefit or interference of language.  I have chosen to accept family, community, certainty, love, urgency and NO fear as emotions that resonate within me.  I am accomplishing this thru the Chiropractic adjustment.