Mission Of Hope Part 2

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VIETNAM – A SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY

I was 3 yrs old when my mother and I fled Vietnam to the US. I have always wanted to learn more about the origin of where I was born. What was it like there, what is it like now?

When I was 8, I still wanted to do something in the future to help people on the other side of the world. That desire became stronger and more urgent when I entered my 20s. The feeling never left. I always believe that one day, I will be able to pursue it.

In the summer of 2016, I returned to Vietnam with my daughter of 18 months and 3000 USD of savings. Many people said I was foolish. People asked why I didn't just transfer the money to an organization that does charity, instead of being so risky.

Knowing how easy of a task that was, I still wanted to go to experience it for myself. I wanted to see with my own eyes the reality of the lives these people were living. Only when you experience it yourself is when it gets engraved into your heart forever.

That first trip back was very hard to forget. Besides additional travel costs, my 18-month-old daughter and I rode motorbikes from early morning until late at night. My daughter was very young and was not used to the climate, so she became ill. Together, we sought out people who were disabled, starving, homeless, or with life's disadvantages. In Saigon and Da Nang, we were able to give milk and diapers to children at the orphanage.

Three years later, I returned with my husband and 3 children for the second time. This time around, I was accompanied with the program "Standing with the Vietnamese Family - Radio English" from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

The team took me up to the highlands to give gifts to 300 students. Then we descended to the river to visit some disadvantaged families. On this mission trip, we were able to build a water filtration station for the school and local villagers. The children and locals were getting sick from drinking water that had lead runoff. We were also able to provide 50 elder patients with much-needed cataract surgery. Everywhere you walked, everyone's eyes and smiles are imprinted in your memory. This time, my family donated $6,000. A small amount, but I feel extremely happy when I can do something for others. My family was able to experience many things that we will never forget. We tread thru the rice field together and walked on the muddy dike walls. Falling in mud, clothes were dirty and soaked, but we continue. We were able to help build a house for little Kieu. My children know how lucky they are compared to their friend Kieu. This little girl travels this road to school daily. She told us all she wanted to do was go to school without wearing wet clothes all day.

We returned to America. Life goes on, again struggling with difficulties caused by Covid-19. My husband is unemployed again. In my heart, there are always prayers and dreams.

Four years later, on July 9, 2023, our family landed at Tan Son Nhat airport at 11 pm. On July 10, 2023, at 6am, we had to get on the bus for 5 hrs to travel to Kien Giang to inaugurate the Enlightenment Bridge. The bridge is 23m long, with a load of 2 tons.

I cannot help every family financially, but what I CAN do is work hard, and with the cooperation of everyone. I can help the children by providing each of them a bicycle so they don’t have to spend 4-5 hours walking from home to school and back. The current school is located 5 miles away in the village and is built poorly with a few tarps and palm leaves, but it is the only thing shielding the children from the rain, wind, and the cold. I am deeply saddened of this because I believe a good education is the only foundation for a better life and the only hope for the newer generation to be able to thrive.

I will continue to work towards this goal, and hopefully, I will meet many friends along the way who share the same dream with me. I would be flabbergasted if I could achieve this goal.

Before and after effects of our 1st and 2nd trip

Before

After

Before

After

Some more photos from our trips

2019: We built a clean and reliable water station for the children and the locals. We were also able to provide 50 elder patients with much-needed cataract surgery. And we donated $6000 dollars to the village.