03/27
We went to a school for handicap and down syndrome children. They help the parents learn how to work with their children and show them how to teach them things. It was very interesting to watch them show the parents how to work their legs and teach them how to walk. Then they have it set up to help teach colors, shapes and help build brain development. The parents have to come with their children to the school and work with them and the teacher. We gave them each 4 little boxes of milk and a envelope. We gave the Doctor of the school 6 bottles of children vitamins. From there we went to a orphanage in Hue. They have 200 children that they are taking care of. The youngest is a little girl that is 16 days old and the oldest is a boy that has 1 year of school left. They just had 2 dropped off under a tree. One was the new baby and the other is about a year old. They have only had the baby for 3 days. She is just a tiny little thing. From there we went to the temple for lunch and took a little break. We noticed that another storm was coming in so we hurry up and started are walk to 3 houses in the area that have a handicap member. We didn't quite make it back before the rain started. I thought it felt great but they thought different. They don't like to be in the sun or the rain. On the way home we stopped at a bakery that is run by the French. They donate the money and teach the kids that work there how to bake and decorate cakes. The store was very busy. Back home for a while then we walked to the market where Mom and Susan use to work. They got to see and visit with a lot of old friends. It was really neat to see. Back home and time for dinner. The other house that we decided to build got started yesterday. It is for the family that lived in a small metal house with good student. There old house had dirt floor, no windows, and the door was held up with a stick. They are so excited. Dad said he would help as much as possible. His son's friends are helping haul sand for the foundations after they get out of school. He said they would have never been able to do all of this by themselves And THANK YOU SO MUCH SEACAN! The house will cost 25 million dong. Good Day Got lots done. Tomorrow is are last day for charity work. We head to Saigon on Monday to start working are way back home.
Monday, March 30, 2009
March 24 - 26
03/24
Today was HOT!!!! Mom told us we couldn't go any where today because it is to hot. So we did some swimming to cool off. After lunch we walked to the market. One of Susan's cousin stop by for a visit and he is driving to Laos tomorrow for work and wants to know if we want to go along. He buys lumber to ship back to Vietnam. We said sure why not. So Mom, Susan and Muriel are off again in the morning. Four of us meet up with Dr. Hang at 4:00 PM. We road way out of Hue to a house and parked are motorbikes. We walked up to the top of this mountain to a cemetery. When we arrived at the top this gentlemen had just finished burying 6 children. There parents drop them off at gas stations after they pass away. They get a call to come and pick them up. He said that they are of all ages. The gentleman's house that we parked are bikes at also helps. It is the two off them that do this for there church. There are 3200 children there. They keep it all nice and clean and each one has a flower of some kind planted in the middle. We put a burning incense on each one of them. The Father of the church gets help and donations to help buy the cement and other items that are needed. The gentlemen had just bought a Huge Angle with his own money for the newer section. We all gave him money to help pay for it and what ever else he might need. It was a very sad but good day. They are gone but not forgot!!!!!!!! We got home just in time before the storm hit. It was the biggest thunder and lightening storm I have ever seen. Then it got really windy and poured down rain. The storm lasted for about 4 hrs. It was really something. Time for bed we have to be up at 4:30 am to leave for Laos.
03/25
Up at 4:30 and ready to go. We drop Daddy off at his village on the way out of Hue'. We have a long drive ahead of us. It takes 10-11 hrs to get to the boarder. It was a very pretty drive. We went by the ocean a couple of times. It was just beautiful. Stopped to have lunch in a little village along the way. Phoung works in Laos, he has been working there for 17 years. The drive up the pass was really pretty. Rivers, waterfalls and lots of huge palm trees and greenery all over. Kind of reminds me of driving the road to Hanna in Hawaii. We finally get to the top and go in to customs. S how are passports and they ask for are Visa. Well now the fun begins Susan and Mom don't have theirs. They were told they only need passport. (Wrong) We talked and talked to them BUT they wouldn't let them go any further, So back down the mountain we go. We now have to figure out a way to get us girls back to Hue. We couldn't find a bus and Phoung wouldn't let us take a taxi. (NOT SAFE) It is now about 7:30 PM. Phoung starts calling people to see if any one could help us. He finds a gentlemen that was willing to drive us back home to Hue. He had a little 4 door car. So we leave from Vinn City around 8:00 PM 6 hrs drive ahead of us!!!!! It as about 20 minutes later and the driver is yawning like crazy, puts the windows down and turns on the music really load. Next thing I see is his head start to nod a couple times.(OH MY GOODNESS ) We STILL have a LONG ways to go!!!!!! Susan is sleeping and Mom starts to notice things are not going good. We gave him mints, water, face wipes and Mom talks to him off and on. I have never been so scared before!!!!! Then is when I really needed to know Vietnamese!!!!!!!!!! We stopped at a toll booth and he buys gum starts chewing right away one right after another. The gum didn't last long. We finally stop he is hungry. I told Susan GREAT now with a full tummy he will really fall a sleep!! I talked to Susan about what was going on and so did Mom. I told Susan if he starts that again and we are stopping for him to take a power NAP!!!! Next thing you know he pulled over and says SLEEP. THANK GOD I was praying the the whole time!!!!!!!!!!! Please GOD keep us SAFE!!! He sleep for a while, then Susan wakes him and tells him that I will DRIVE! He says no he is fine? I guess we will see. Susan and Mom stay awake to help talk to him. He hit a big hole in the road. The car hit really hard I am amazed his car was still driving. It sounded really BAD when it hit the hole. It did end up doing something to his car after that every time he put on his breaks it made a horrible noise and when we went the wrong way and did a U-turn it sounded awful. It was a horrible drive home!!! I just keep on Praying Please get us home safe !!! Come to find out we all were!! I told Susan never again will I drive at night like that! I can't even tell you how scared and bad it was. We finally got home a 2:15 am THANK YOU GOD
03/26
My teeth and jaw are sore today from are driving adventure. We all made it home safe. We checked on the driver and he made it home ok too. We told he to make sure he sleep for a while before he tried to drive home. Sounds like he listen. All's good!!! Lesson learned!!!! Didn't do much today. Susan went to visit some of her friends and go to the school for the blind. They wanted to talk to her. I did some reading and started to get things ready to pack. Went and picked up traditional's tonight. They did the neck wrong so Susan took them back. When Susan got back home we stuff envelopes for tomorrow and then off to bed.
Today was HOT!!!! Mom told us we couldn't go any where today because it is to hot. So we did some swimming to cool off. After lunch we walked to the market. One of Susan's cousin stop by for a visit and he is driving to Laos tomorrow for work and wants to know if we want to go along. He buys lumber to ship back to Vietnam. We said sure why not. So Mom, Susan and Muriel are off again in the morning. Four of us meet up with Dr. Hang at 4:00 PM. We road way out of Hue to a house and parked are motorbikes. We walked up to the top of this mountain to a cemetery. When we arrived at the top this gentlemen had just finished burying 6 children. There parents drop them off at gas stations after they pass away. They get a call to come and pick them up. He said that they are of all ages. The gentleman's house that we parked are bikes at also helps. It is the two off them that do this for there church. There are 3200 children there. They keep it all nice and clean and each one has a flower of some kind planted in the middle. We put a burning incense on each one of them. The Father of the church gets help and donations to help buy the cement and other items that are needed. The gentlemen had just bought a Huge Angle with his own money for the newer section. We all gave him money to help pay for it and what ever else he might need. It was a very sad but good day. They are gone but not forgot!!!!!!!! We got home just in time before the storm hit. It was the biggest thunder and lightening storm I have ever seen. Then it got really windy and poured down rain. The storm lasted for about 4 hrs. It was really something. Time for bed we have to be up at 4:30 am to leave for Laos.
03/25
Up at 4:30 and ready to go. We drop Daddy off at his village on the way out of Hue'. We have a long drive ahead of us. It takes 10-11 hrs to get to the boarder. It was a very pretty drive. We went by the ocean a couple of times. It was just beautiful. Stopped to have lunch in a little village along the way. Phoung works in Laos, he has been working there for 17 years. The drive up the pass was really pretty. Rivers, waterfalls and lots of huge palm trees and greenery all over. Kind of reminds me of driving the road to Hanna in Hawaii. We finally get to the top and go in to customs. S how are passports and they ask for are Visa. Well now the fun begins Susan and Mom don't have theirs. They were told they only need passport. (Wrong) We talked and talked to them BUT they wouldn't let them go any further, So back down the mountain we go. We now have to figure out a way to get us girls back to Hue. We couldn't find a bus and Phoung wouldn't let us take a taxi. (NOT SAFE) It is now about 7:30 PM. Phoung starts calling people to see if any one could help us. He finds a gentlemen that was willing to drive us back home to Hue. He had a little 4 door car. So we leave from Vinn City around 8:00 PM 6 hrs drive ahead of us!!!!! It as about 20 minutes later and the driver is yawning like crazy, puts the windows down and turns on the music really load. Next thing I see is his head start to nod a couple times.(OH MY GOODNESS ) We STILL have a LONG ways to go!!!!!! Susan is sleeping and Mom starts to notice things are not going good. We gave him mints, water, face wipes and Mom talks to him off and on. I have never been so scared before!!!!! Then is when I really needed to know Vietnamese!!!!!!!!!! We stopped at a toll booth and he buys gum starts chewing right away one right after another. The gum didn't last long. We finally stop he is hungry. I told Susan GREAT now with a full tummy he will really fall a sleep!! I talked to Susan about what was going on and so did Mom. I told Susan if he starts that again and we are stopping for him to take a power NAP!!!! Next thing you know he pulled over and says SLEEP. THANK GOD I was praying the the whole time!!!!!!!!!!! Please GOD keep us SAFE!!! He sleep for a while, then Susan wakes him and tells him that I will DRIVE! He says no he is fine? I guess we will see. Susan and Mom stay awake to help talk to him. He hit a big hole in the road. The car hit really hard I am amazed his car was still driving. It sounded really BAD when it hit the hole. It did end up doing something to his car after that every time he put on his breaks it made a horrible noise and when we went the wrong way and did a U-turn it sounded awful. It was a horrible drive home!!! I just keep on Praying Please get us home safe !!! Come to find out we all were!! I told Susan never again will I drive at night like that! I can't even tell you how scared and bad it was. We finally got home a 2:15 am THANK YOU GOD
03/26
My teeth and jaw are sore today from are driving adventure. We all made it home safe. We checked on the driver and he made it home ok too. We told he to make sure he sleep for a while before he tried to drive home. Sounds like he listen. All's good!!! Lesson learned!!!! Didn't do much today. Susan went to visit some of her friends and go to the school for the blind. They wanted to talk to her. I did some reading and started to get things ready to pack. Went and picked up traditional's tonight. They did the neck wrong so Susan took them back. When Susan got back home we stuff envelopes for tomorrow and then off to bed.
March 19 - 23
03/19
Today was a lazy day for the most part. I did some reading and typing to Craig. At 4:30 PM Mung, Sue and Dr. Hang came to the house. We all got on the motorbikes and went to the bike store. We bought 10 bikes to take to the village that doesn't even have electricity. That is are trip for tomorrow. The little girl with the bad heart and back checked out ok at the Dr. Hang visit today. So while we were at the bike store we called and had her come to the store sand pick out a bike. She picked out a pretty pink one. She was all smiles from ear to ear. We got some really good pictures of her riding the bike. It has a extra seat on the back, basket, bell, lock and a little head light on the front. It is a really nice bike and fits her just perfect, plus will still be ok when she gets older. From the bike store we went to the hospital and gave envelopes to 4 different family's. Two of the baby's have bad hearts and 1 down syndrome baby. The other one was a gentlemen that has a 1 month old baby at home. The chain on his bike broke and he crashed into a car. He broke his leg in 3 different places, no insurance, no money and it cost 35 million for surgery. It is so hard to see all these cases because you can't help everyone. We finally had to leave because we were surrounded by people wanting your help.
3/20
We stayed home today. The family had a ceremony today to release fish back to the river. To^ worked on getting the food ready. Hue' did the fruit and the flowers for the alter and the table that they set up at the front door. After the were all done praying they took the fish to the river by the house. It was really interesting.
3/21
Mellow day at home. It is Tina's daughter Ventita 1st Birthday. Party at the house at 6:00 PM. Her birthday cake was huge. He was really cute. Lots of pictures taken. Lots of good food and family to help celebrate her birthday.
3/22
Up at 5:30 am today to be ready to leave at 6:30 am. We had 11 motorbikes and 21 people. We bought 10 pedal bikes and Dr. Hang bought 6. We went way out and got on a boat to take us across the river. It took 3 trips to get us all over. We then rode way out to this village. The road and the last part a trail were a real challenge for the drivers. The bikes were delivered for us. We are not sure how they got out there. The children were all so excited. Three of them got up and sang sole to us while they put the bikes together. One of the students told us that he was so grateful and would make us proud by studying and doing good in school. That he would not let us down. Getting to school was going to be a lot faster and easier for them now. Thank you very much. After that we went back home for lunch and a 10 minute rest. Then in the van and off again. We went to a village by the ocean. We got to play in the water for a few minutes. Then off to give envelopes to 30 family's. We walked part of it. It was really HOT today. It was 92. We got home at 7:30 pm. Everyone was really tired from the heat and up early.
3/23
Up at 7:00am to leave for Danang at 8:00. We went so that Daddy could look for a bell that he made years ago. They didn't want Daddy to build it so they moved it 3 times to different locations and made him fly to Saigon to get supplies. Daddy didn't give up and got the bell made. We found the temple but everyone there was to young to know anything about Daddy's bell. So we didn't find his bell. Felt sad for him it really meant a lot to him. We went and had lunch. Daddy went to visit friends and we went to Marble Mountain and Market. Back to pick up Daddy and head back to Hue. We got home just in time for dinner. They had a surprise for Muriel. BIG HUGE PRAWNS!! Oh so good. Today it was HOT HOT!!! 100
Today was a lazy day for the most part. I did some reading and typing to Craig. At 4:30 PM Mung, Sue and Dr. Hang came to the house. We all got on the motorbikes and went to the bike store. We bought 10 bikes to take to the village that doesn't even have electricity. That is are trip for tomorrow. The little girl with the bad heart and back checked out ok at the Dr. Hang visit today. So while we were at the bike store we called and had her come to the store sand pick out a bike. She picked out a pretty pink one. She was all smiles from ear to ear. We got some really good pictures of her riding the bike. It has a extra seat on the back, basket, bell, lock and a little head light on the front. It is a really nice bike and fits her just perfect, plus will still be ok when she gets older. From the bike store we went to the hospital and gave envelopes to 4 different family's. Two of the baby's have bad hearts and 1 down syndrome baby. The other one was a gentlemen that has a 1 month old baby at home. The chain on his bike broke and he crashed into a car. He broke his leg in 3 different places, no insurance, no money and it cost 35 million for surgery. It is so hard to see all these cases because you can't help everyone. We finally had to leave because we were surrounded by people wanting your help.
3/20
We stayed home today. The family had a ceremony today to release fish back to the river. To^ worked on getting the food ready. Hue' did the fruit and the flowers for the alter and the table that they set up at the front door. After the were all done praying they took the fish to the river by the house. It was really interesting.
3/21
Mellow day at home. It is Tina's daughter Ventita 1st Birthday. Party at the house at 6:00 PM. Her birthday cake was huge. He was really cute. Lots of pictures taken. Lots of good food and family to help celebrate her birthday.
3/22
Up at 5:30 am today to be ready to leave at 6:30 am. We had 11 motorbikes and 21 people. We bought 10 pedal bikes and Dr. Hang bought 6. We went way out and got on a boat to take us across the river. It took 3 trips to get us all over. We then rode way out to this village. The road and the last part a trail were a real challenge for the drivers. The bikes were delivered for us. We are not sure how they got out there. The children were all so excited. Three of them got up and sang sole to us while they put the bikes together. One of the students told us that he was so grateful and would make us proud by studying and doing good in school. That he would not let us down. Getting to school was going to be a lot faster and easier for them now. Thank you very much. After that we went back home for lunch and a 10 minute rest. Then in the van and off again. We went to a village by the ocean. We got to play in the water for a few minutes. Then off to give envelopes to 30 family's. We walked part of it. It was really HOT today. It was 92. We got home at 7:30 pm. Everyone was really tired from the heat and up early.
3/23
Up at 7:00am to leave for Danang at 8:00. We went so that Daddy could look for a bell that he made years ago. They didn't want Daddy to build it so they moved it 3 times to different locations and made him fly to Saigon to get supplies. Daddy didn't give up and got the bell made. We found the temple but everyone there was to young to know anything about Daddy's bell. So we didn't find his bell. Felt sad for him it really meant a lot to him. We went and had lunch. Daddy went to visit friends and we went to Marble Mountain and Market. Back to pick up Daddy and head back to Hue. We got home just in time for dinner. They had a surprise for Muriel. BIG HUGE PRAWNS!! Oh so good. Today it was HOT HOT!!! 100
Thursday, March 19, 2009
March 18
03/18
We don't have to hurry this morning. We had soup for breakfast and waited for Mung to pick us up. This morning is girls hair day. Muriel, Te and Susan all had there hair shampoed and a little massage with it. Susan and Muriel ended up getting a trim. Hurry back home to make sure we have lunch before we head out at 2:00 pm. We bought 10 more bikes for the students to get to school. Some were crying that they didn't get a bike and needed one to get to school too. So they asked if we could by some more so that they all could have a bike. Muriel had missed that trip because she was sick so now she gets to go and give bikes too. It takes 2 hrs to get there. It is over a pass like Stevens Pass. Only has a one lane road and not a very good one at that. It is pretty bad driving exspecialy when one of those big trucks wants by. Right when we got to the school you could see and feel that a storm was coming. Then it started to lighting and thunder and pour down rain. It was like we were back in Seattle. I went to go and stand in the rain and they all started to yelling and having a fit. It felt so good but had to get in out of the rain. They say it will make me sick. The children all arrived after they got out of school so we hurry and give them the bikes before it starts to rain again. They were all so excited they wanted to hurry up and try them out. It was pretty neat to see. We then started are way home we wanted to get heading home so we didn't have to drive a lot of the pass in the dark just in case it was really stormy. Back in town we meet up with Dr Hang and we all go to dinner. It was very good.
It was "ngon lanh lung"
We don't have to hurry this morning. We had soup for breakfast and waited for Mung to pick us up. This morning is girls hair day. Muriel, Te and Susan all had there hair shampoed and a little massage with it. Susan and Muriel ended up getting a trim. Hurry back home to make sure we have lunch before we head out at 2:00 pm. We bought 10 more bikes for the students to get to school. Some were crying that they didn't get a bike and needed one to get to school too. So they asked if we could by some more so that they all could have a bike. Muriel had missed that trip because she was sick so now she gets to go and give bikes too. It takes 2 hrs to get there. It is over a pass like Stevens Pass. Only has a one lane road and not a very good one at that. It is pretty bad driving exspecialy when one of those big trucks wants by. Right when we got to the school you could see and feel that a storm was coming. Then it started to lighting and thunder and pour down rain. It was like we were back in Seattle. I went to go and stand in the rain and they all started to yelling and having a fit. It felt so good but had to get in out of the rain. They say it will make me sick. The children all arrived after they got out of school so we hurry and give them the bikes before it starts to rain again. They were all so excited they wanted to hurry up and try them out. It was pretty neat to see. We then started are way home we wanted to get heading home so we didn't have to drive a lot of the pass in the dark just in case it was really stormy. Back in town we meet up with Dr Hang and we all go to dinner. It was very good.
It was "ngon lanh lung"
March 16 & 17
03/16
Today Mi and cousin took us to the market & book store. Back home for lunch and nap before we head out again. We meet up with Dr. Hang and went to meet a blind student that is almost done with school. One of his classmates helps him to get to school. All of the young men that he rooms with keep a good eye on him and help him out a lot. When he is done with school he is going to go to work at the school for the blind. We gave him a envelope and off to the next stop. We went to see this little girl that has a bad heart and deformed shoulder blade. She is a very cute tiny girl. Dr. Hang wrote down all her information took pictures and told her grandma to bring the little girl in to her office tomorrow so she could do some test on her. We wanted to buy her a bike so she could get back and forth to school, but need to wait to see how the test turn out. She lost both parents so Grandma takes care of her. We went to check out the school for the blind and meet a few of the children there. From there we went to the hospital to see how some of the patients were doing that we helped. Vong one of Susan's old friends gave us money to give to a girl that has been waiting for a long time for surgery. So we went to see her and deliver the money to her. She has been posted on the Internet for months and no one has come forward to help her. We meet her on are last visit and helped her to so now maybe she has enough to get it done. We then went to the cancer building and gave some money to a women that has breast cancer and just got done having surgery to have them removed. A lot of times the family's have no money for food while they are waiting for there loved ones. It is a lot different then at home that is for sure. It is getting late so we head home have dinner and stuff envelopes for tomorrows trip.
03/17
Happy St Patricks Day!!!
Today up a 7 to be ready to leave at 8. We are going the Blind Buddha Munk's temple. It is a very poor village. We went there on our last trip. There are 10 of us going today. We brought rice, noodle soup, oil, and sugar. We didn't walk it this time. When we got there everyone was at the temple waiting for us. Most of the women got dressed up and put on there traditional's for us. They had made a list with all the names of the people that were getting a envelope for us. Dad called out the names and Muriel handed out the envelopes and Susan took pictures. They were all so excited when we called out there name. After we were done with the list we walked to a few of the house. They were not able to make it to the temple. This time the houses were on the other side of the village. It didn't take near as long doing it that way. Got back home to eat and make our plans for tomorrow.
Today Mi and cousin took us to the market & book store. Back home for lunch and nap before we head out again. We meet up with Dr. Hang and went to meet a blind student that is almost done with school. One of his classmates helps him to get to school. All of the young men that he rooms with keep a good eye on him and help him out a lot. When he is done with school he is going to go to work at the school for the blind. We gave him a envelope and off to the next stop. We went to see this little girl that has a bad heart and deformed shoulder blade. She is a very cute tiny girl. Dr. Hang wrote down all her information took pictures and told her grandma to bring the little girl in to her office tomorrow so she could do some test on her. We wanted to buy her a bike so she could get back and forth to school, but need to wait to see how the test turn out. She lost both parents so Grandma takes care of her. We went to check out the school for the blind and meet a few of the children there. From there we went to the hospital to see how some of the patients were doing that we helped. Vong one of Susan's old friends gave us money to give to a girl that has been waiting for a long time for surgery. So we went to see her and deliver the money to her. She has been posted on the Internet for months and no one has come forward to help her. We meet her on are last visit and helped her to so now maybe she has enough to get it done. We then went to the cancer building and gave some money to a women that has breast cancer and just got done having surgery to have them removed. A lot of times the family's have no money for food while they are waiting for there loved ones. It is a lot different then at home that is for sure. It is getting late so we head home have dinner and stuff envelopes for tomorrows trip.
03/17
Happy St Patricks Day!!!
Today up a 7 to be ready to leave at 8. We are going the Blind Buddha Munk's temple. It is a very poor village. We went there on our last trip. There are 10 of us going today. We brought rice, noodle soup, oil, and sugar. We didn't walk it this time. When we got there everyone was at the temple waiting for us. Most of the women got dressed up and put on there traditional's for us. They had made a list with all the names of the people that were getting a envelope for us. Dad called out the names and Muriel handed out the envelopes and Susan took pictures. They were all so excited when we called out there name. After we were done with the list we walked to a few of the house. They were not able to make it to the temple. This time the houses were on the other side of the village. It didn't take near as long doing it that way. Got back home to eat and make our plans for tomorrow.
March 13 - 15
03/13
Mellow day today We went to Sudam's house for a memorial aviversary party for her mom. After lunch we walked across the street to pick up are jewlery. They truned out really nice, and of course we spent more money. Ben pick us up and we went back to the house. For dinner tonight we went to the temple for them to say thank you for the 5 bikes. One of the nun's spoke very good english. She walked me around the temple and told me about some of is history and explained some of the different statues to me. She was in Indonisa for 5 years and said we sould go there for are next trip. Very poor country more poor then Vietnam. She came back to Hue to take care of her mom. Back home after dinner, I worked on the computer typing in info for Craig. It is a very stormy night, really windy and raining a lot.
03/14
Not to good of sleep last night for us. It was so noisie from the storm. Dr. Hang stop by the house this morning to pick the money that we owed her for the well and the bikes. She also gave us the drawing and paper work for the well. Susan and Muriel decided to build a house for the blind family. We gave the ok last night and they started it a 6:30 this morning. We will go by and take pictures so that everyone back home can see the house. It cost 25 million dong. That is a house with a raised foundation, 2 bedrooms, toilet, eating area, alter and a good roof. Not bad. It equals about 1,800.00 in US dollars.
03/15
Up early today. We went to the temple were Susan, Thuy and Tina's dad build the statue. It is called Quan Yin. It stand up high on the mountain. It was like a fund raiser and celebration for building a new building. There were lots of people there. We didn't stay at the top for all of it. The smoke and the smell from all of the insence was to much. We tried to stay a long as posibble. Are eye's were just burning and tearing. We went back home. Susan and Mom went to a memorial party. I stayed home to type more info to Craig. We left the house again a 4:00 pm to go to a school that is for children that lost their parents. The women that started th school is from Swizertland. It was her life long dream to start up this school. She is 79 yrs. old. The school was very clean and all the children were so polite and well behaved. The dinner was vegetarian. We had soup and something that was kind of like a taco. It wasn't to bad. After dinner I was asked me to go over and talk to the childern in english. It was really cute. They would stand up and ask me a question I would answer back and they would start to laugh. Then it was my turn to talk to them in Vietnamese. It was pretty funny. They thought that was great that I knew some vietnamese. After that they all stood up and sang 3 songs to me, happy New Yyear, one in English song the the last in Vietnamese. It was fun .
Mellow day today We went to Sudam's house for a memorial aviversary party for her mom. After lunch we walked across the street to pick up are jewlery. They truned out really nice, and of course we spent more money. Ben pick us up and we went back to the house. For dinner tonight we went to the temple for them to say thank you for the 5 bikes. One of the nun's spoke very good english. She walked me around the temple and told me about some of is history and explained some of the different statues to me. She was in Indonisa for 5 years and said we sould go there for are next trip. Very poor country more poor then Vietnam. She came back to Hue to take care of her mom. Back home after dinner, I worked on the computer typing in info for Craig. It is a very stormy night, really windy and raining a lot.
03/14
Not to good of sleep last night for us. It was so noisie from the storm. Dr. Hang stop by the house this morning to pick the money that we owed her for the well and the bikes. She also gave us the drawing and paper work for the well. Susan and Muriel decided to build a house for the blind family. We gave the ok last night and they started it a 6:30 this morning. We will go by and take pictures so that everyone back home can see the house. It cost 25 million dong. That is a house with a raised foundation, 2 bedrooms, toilet, eating area, alter and a good roof. Not bad. It equals about 1,800.00 in US dollars.
03/15
Up early today. We went to the temple were Susan, Thuy and Tina's dad build the statue. It is called Quan Yin. It stand up high on the mountain. It was like a fund raiser and celebration for building a new building. There were lots of people there. We didn't stay at the top for all of it. The smoke and the smell from all of the insence was to much. We tried to stay a long as posibble. Are eye's were just burning and tearing. We went back home. Susan and Mom went to a memorial party. I stayed home to type more info to Craig. We left the house again a 4:00 pm to go to a school that is for children that lost their parents. The women that started th school is from Swizertland. It was her life long dream to start up this school. She is 79 yrs. old. The school was very clean and all the children were so polite and well behaved. The dinner was vegetarian. We had soup and something that was kind of like a taco. It wasn't to bad. After dinner I was asked me to go over and talk to the childern in english. It was really cute. They would stand up and ask me a question I would answer back and they would start to laugh. Then it was my turn to talk to them in Vietnamese. It was pretty funny. They thought that was great that I knew some vietnamese. After that they all stood up and sang 3 songs to me, happy New Yyear, one in English song the the last in Vietnamese. It was fun .
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
March 11 & 12
03/11
Dr. Hang called first thing to check on Muriel and say that she is to go no where stay home and relaix no running around. Muriel is feeling better. Stomach is still a little touchy and still a little run down. Susan, Mom, and Dad went to the temple for lunch. Pretty mellow day for all.
03/12
Muriel is still running a little low on fuel. So we are only going to do a little bit today. We left the house around 8:30 am drove out to where Dad wanted to spend the day at this village. Dropped dad off and we headed to visit a house where both of the parents have died leaving the kids to take care of themselves. The girl was 14 and the boy 16 when there Dad past away. The girl has had to take charge of the house and the brother, work and try and go to school. They were cut off for help because there house is to nice. We gave them a envelope so that they could by some food. Grandpa had come to visit while we where there. The girl has been sick. Grandpa is 92 yrs old. He just started to cry when he got there, said he has been trying for days to find someone to give him a ride so he could check on his granddaughter. He got a ride from someone on a motorbike. He could hardly walk but he was still able to get on that bike to come and see her. Off to the next house, we went to visit a older women that lost the use of her legs. She cried a lot and said she just feels like a waste and a bourdon to her kids. It was very sad. We have her a envelope and on to the next house. The next house their son has down syndrome. He was so cute and has the neatiest personality. He said thank you in English and gave Muriel a big kiss on the check. Gave him a envelope and on to the next. Next we visited a student that is going to school to be a teacher and teach English. She did a very good job speaking English. We have her a envelope and off again. We stopped by Mungs house so I could meet her mom and Susan could say Hi. Mung has gone on a lot of the charity trips with us and taken us around on her motorbike. The rest of the day is relaxe time. Wrong!! I didn't know we were going to the temple. We left around 3:30 and got home at 8:00pm. Today was the ceramoney for the familys that have lost their loved ones to help release them into the other place. Sometimes they get stuck in the middle. Dr. Hang was there and took me under her wing. Told me what was going on as best she could. Her english is pretty poor. It was really something to see and be included in. Lots of chanting and praying. The head Budda munk would throw rice balls that had burning insence in them with a special coin. People would go nuts trying to get one of those special coins. I had one roll under by legs and my robe it burned quite a few holes in it. Mom had one land in her lap. We had lots come are way. When the first one landed in front of me I didn't know you were to pick it up. That is when Dr. Hang told me that it is special to get one. Next thing you know one lands in my lap I hurry and put my hand on the coin. They were all so happy for Mom and Muriel. After that was done we went down to the floor below. Then one Budda Munk came out and stood on a chair with a cute little tea pot witha caranation in the spout. Dr. Hang handed Muriel a glass and took her up front and had her put her hand up. The Budda Munk then tipped the tea pot a little and the flower blew and landed in her glass. She took the flower out and held her glass back up and ended up with some of the water in her glass. You then drink the water. There were lots of people trying for the same thing. Not everyone got water in their glass. After the cermony was over we got invited to stay for vegatarain dinner. When we got home Dad had gone and bought some special food for Muriel. They are so afraid that she might starve. Mom and Dad thinks that she does not eat enough. They are both so thoughtful and are taking good care of me.
Dr. Hang called first thing to check on Muriel and say that she is to go no where stay home and relaix no running around. Muriel is feeling better. Stomach is still a little touchy and still a little run down. Susan, Mom, and Dad went to the temple for lunch. Pretty mellow day for all.
03/12
Muriel is still running a little low on fuel. So we are only going to do a little bit today. We left the house around 8:30 am drove out to where Dad wanted to spend the day at this village. Dropped dad off and we headed to visit a house where both of the parents have died leaving the kids to take care of themselves. The girl was 14 and the boy 16 when there Dad past away. The girl has had to take charge of the house and the brother, work and try and go to school. They were cut off for help because there house is to nice. We gave them a envelope so that they could by some food. Grandpa had come to visit while we where there. The girl has been sick. Grandpa is 92 yrs old. He just started to cry when he got there, said he has been trying for days to find someone to give him a ride so he could check on his granddaughter. He got a ride from someone on a motorbike. He could hardly walk but he was still able to get on that bike to come and see her. Off to the next house, we went to visit a older women that lost the use of her legs. She cried a lot and said she just feels like a waste and a bourdon to her kids. It was very sad. We have her a envelope and on to the next house. The next house their son has down syndrome. He was so cute and has the neatiest personality. He said thank you in English and gave Muriel a big kiss on the check. Gave him a envelope and on to the next. Next we visited a student that is going to school to be a teacher and teach English. She did a very good job speaking English. We have her a envelope and off again. We stopped by Mungs house so I could meet her mom and Susan could say Hi. Mung has gone on a lot of the charity trips with us and taken us around on her motorbike. The rest of the day is relaxe time. Wrong!! I didn't know we were going to the temple. We left around 3:30 and got home at 8:00pm. Today was the ceramoney for the familys that have lost their loved ones to help release them into the other place. Sometimes they get stuck in the middle. Dr. Hang was there and took me under her wing. Told me what was going on as best she could. Her english is pretty poor. It was really something to see and be included in. Lots of chanting and praying. The head Budda munk would throw rice balls that had burning insence in them with a special coin. People would go nuts trying to get one of those special coins. I had one roll under by legs and my robe it burned quite a few holes in it. Mom had one land in her lap. We had lots come are way. When the first one landed in front of me I didn't know you were to pick it up. That is when Dr. Hang told me that it is special to get one. Next thing you know one lands in my lap I hurry and put my hand on the coin. They were all so happy for Mom and Muriel. After that was done we went down to the floor below. Then one Budda Munk came out and stood on a chair with a cute little tea pot witha caranation in the spout. Dr. Hang handed Muriel a glass and took her up front and had her put her hand up. The Budda Munk then tipped the tea pot a little and the flower blew and landed in her glass. She took the flower out and held her glass back up and ended up with some of the water in her glass. You then drink the water. There were lots of people trying for the same thing. Not everyone got water in their glass. After the cermony was over we got invited to stay for vegatarain dinner. When we got home Dad had gone and bought some special food for Muriel. They are so afraid that she might starve. Mom and Dad thinks that she does not eat enough. They are both so thoughtful and are taking good care of me.
March 10 the Queen part 2
03/10
Muriel still sick in bed. Dr. Hang came by 3 times that day. Mom was really worried about me. Mom rubbed more green oil on me and made sure I was drinking my magic water. Mom laid with me for a while . Dr. Hang came around 12:30 PM and gave me more medicine and went and bought me for bread and cheese to eat. Told me I needed to get something in me. She came back again early afternoon to see how I was doing. Dr. Hang then came back that evening and gave me a IV. Dr. Hang stayed until it was empty. That took 3 1/2 hrs. I keep telling them to tell her she could go and come back. I got in trouble for not eating all my food. It was 3 very long breads to large rolls and a brand new laughing cow cheese. I don't even eat that much when I am feeling good. Here I thought I was doing good with 1 bread and 3 pieces of cheese and 1 1/2 liter of magic water. All kinds of family and friends stop by and came up to my room to check on me. It was so nice to have the hospital come to me so I could stay in my own bed. Today Susan,Mung and Auntie went to the mountain, way up farther that we did last time. We had bought 5 pedal bikes to give to 5 student. They were delivered up there for us. They keep asking this one boy what he wanted he said I only want a bike. They keep trying to change his mind and he keep saying no all I need and want is a bike. When they told him to go out side a look, He saw the bike and just cried. All the children were so excited and suprised. One girl left before Susan could take a picture she needed to get to school it was test day. Sounds like it was a good day for all!
Muriel still sick in bed. Dr. Hang came by 3 times that day. Mom was really worried about me. Mom rubbed more green oil on me and made sure I was drinking my magic water. Mom laid with me for a while . Dr. Hang came around 12:30 PM and gave me more medicine and went and bought me for bread and cheese to eat. Told me I needed to get something in me. She came back again early afternoon to see how I was doing. Dr. Hang then came back that evening and gave me a IV. Dr. Hang stayed until it was empty. That took 3 1/2 hrs. I keep telling them to tell her she could go and come back. I got in trouble for not eating all my food. It was 3 very long breads to large rolls and a brand new laughing cow cheese. I don't even eat that much when I am feeling good. Here I thought I was doing good with 1 bread and 3 pieces of cheese and 1 1/2 liter of magic water. All kinds of family and friends stop by and came up to my room to check on me. It was so nice to have the hospital come to me so I could stay in my own bed. Today Susan,Mung and Auntie went to the mountain, way up farther that we did last time. We had bought 5 pedal bikes to give to 5 student. They were delivered up there for us. They keep asking this one boy what he wanted he said I only want a bike. They keep trying to change his mind and he keep saying no all I need and want is a bike. When they told him to go out side a look, He saw the bike and just cried. All the children were so excited and suprised. One girl left before Susan could take a picture she needed to get to school it was test day. Sounds like it was a good day for all!
March 9 The Queen part 1
03/09
It was a long night for Muriel. Susan didn't wake me today she thought I had a good night sleep and still sleeping. Little did she know it was the worst night and morning. I was up all night and morning being the Queen of the throne. I had the worst stomach cramps and looked like I was pregnant. I went down stairs drank some tea and then back up I went. I ended up being the queen for a day and didn't even get a crown. I didn't know you could even have that much crap in you. Mom and Susan checked on me a few times. I must have looked pretty bad. They called Dr. Hang. Dr. Hang got to the house around 5:00 PM. She said I did look pretty bad. Dr. Hang had them cook me up some special water. They browned rice in a frying pan and added that and salt to boiling water. I had to drink 2 liters of my magic water. It smelt like popcorn, to bad it didn't taste like popcorn. While they were making my magic water Dr. Hang left on her motorbike and went and got me some pills, powder medicine drink and some bread to eat. She told them how I was to take it and when. By now my poor bottom is getting pretty sore!!!! Now I know why the kids cry like they do when theirs is so sore. NO FUN!!! I took a shower thinking that would make me feel better. When I got out Mom had my magic water in my room for me. She waited on the bed for me and told me to lay down. Mom rubbed some green oil on my legs and feet. Next thing you know Auntie, Tho and Mom were all rubbing in green oil and chattering a way in Vietnamese. Didn't have a clue what they were saying but it sure felt good. At one point everyone that was a home were in my room trying to help.
So far still the Queen.
It was a long night for Muriel. Susan didn't wake me today she thought I had a good night sleep and still sleeping. Little did she know it was the worst night and morning. I was up all night and morning being the Queen of the throne. I had the worst stomach cramps and looked like I was pregnant. I went down stairs drank some tea and then back up I went. I ended up being the queen for a day and didn't even get a crown. I didn't know you could even have that much crap in you. Mom and Susan checked on me a few times. I must have looked pretty bad. They called Dr. Hang. Dr. Hang got to the house around 5:00 PM. She said I did look pretty bad. Dr. Hang had them cook me up some special water. They browned rice in a frying pan and added that and salt to boiling water. I had to drink 2 liters of my magic water. It smelt like popcorn, to bad it didn't taste like popcorn. While they were making my magic water Dr. Hang left on her motorbike and went and got me some pills, powder medicine drink and some bread to eat. She told them how I was to take it and when. By now my poor bottom is getting pretty sore!!!! Now I know why the kids cry like they do when theirs is so sore. NO FUN!!! I took a shower thinking that would make me feel better. When I got out Mom had my magic water in my room for me. She waited on the bed for me and told me to lay down. Mom rubbed some green oil on my legs and feet. Next thing you know Auntie, Tho and Mom were all rubbing in green oil and chattering a way in Vietnamese. Didn't have a clue what they were saying but it sure felt good. At one point everyone that was a home were in my room trying to help.
So far still the Queen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
March 5-8
03/05
We got up and went to the market before we go of the the party for Te's grandma's 1st year memorial party. We bought material, shoes, purse's and order some dresses to be made. At the party there was lots of friends, family, food,beverages and visiting. After the party we got on motorbikes and went to different silk shop to come pair price and quality of there work. We also looked for some with flowers and birds. No luck the 2 we did find we not very nice looking. Then we headed back to the market to pick up the dresses that we had made. We ended up being there for 3 1/2 hrs. A couple of the dresses were not quite done and then a few alterations needed done. So in the mean time pick out more material and designed a few more dresses. I guess that is a good way to make more money. Back to the house load up the car and we are on the road back to Hue. It felt so good to get back home to a bed that had a mattress.
03/06
Today we went to the temple where we get are silk pictures for SEACAN. We got to meet the girls that do the needle work. There are 4 that are deaf and the others are handicap. It was amazing to watch them do the silk needle work. They are pretty fast at it. Susan paid them the money owed from the silk that had sold. They were so excited. We took a few pictures of the girls. We then went back up to the seating area and looked through all of there finished work. We bought some more Rose one's to sell for SEACAN. There were so many pretty ones it was hard to choose. From there we stopped at a couple book stores looking for some books Susan wanted to get for a few people. We then stop and drop the traditional material off at the seamstress to get them made. They should be ready in a bout 10 day's. Mom has called twice wanting to know when we will be home and what do we want to eat? After dinner we put money in envelopes and got ready for tomorrow. We have a full day planned. There should be about 16 of us going. Mom say time for bed. So good night.
03/07
We left the house a 8:10 am and didn't get back until 8:30 PM was a long and busy day. There ended up being 17 of us. We had the van and car full. We rented a van Than was are driver. We drove to look at the school where we are paying for a well to be put in for them and maybe a toilet. It was a little three room school that has 60 students. The principal of the school was there to talk to us about what is happen in the school and about the children that go there. It is in a very poor village. On up the mountain we headed. We went to a village way up in the mountains and walked around half of it and gave them all envelopes so that they could buy rice and gave out some of the clothes that we brought. Ended back where we started. To take a rest and have lunch. After lunch we headed out to walk the other side of the village and do the same thing. We got up in this one part of the village and had to walk across a river and up a little creek to get to the higher part of the village. Good thing it wasn't deep. We did a lot of walking to get to all of the different family's living up there. A lot of very poor people. Headed back to where the cars are after a eventful day of caring and giving. We didn't hang around long the government had been there wanting to know what was going on. The drivers told them we were visiting family. It was a long but very good day.
03/08
Up early and off on motorbikes to help the handicap today. There were 14 of us that went today. We had 8 motorbikes. My bottom was a little sore after riding all day on bumpy roads. We went all over parts of Hue from house to house giving envelopes to family's that have a handicap person that they are taking care of. Today was a pretty hard day. There were so many sad cases. Some of the homes were pretty bad. This one house that has 3 people living in it, dad is blind, mom a stroke, and daughter is handicap. The floor is dirt, walls and roof made from empty rice bags, one bed and a small area to cook and that is it. After we went to all the houses Dr. Hang took us to the hospital. Only Susan and Muriel could go in, the rest waited out side by the motorbikes for them. Dr Hang took us to several different parts of hospital the burn unit, kidneys, children w/bad hearts, cancer, and others hurt from accidents. We saw a lot of sick children and a lot of burn victims. One poor women was burn all over her body from a gas fire. When we talked to her she still had a smile on her face. Really makes you think!!! We ended up giving out of the envelopes we had plus a few more. Today we saw to bad motorbike accidents. One was right next to Muriel's motorbike. They were passing on the left and it ran head on into a pedal bike. Susan was on the motorbike behind us and stopped. She said they were hurt pretty bad. Susan keep telling people to call a Taxi, finally someone did and the loaded them in and took them to the hospital. Makes you sure count your blessings. We made it back home safe tired bottoms and all.
We got up and went to the market before we go of the the party for Te's grandma's 1st year memorial party. We bought material, shoes, purse's and order some dresses to be made. At the party there was lots of friends, family, food,beverages and visiting. After the party we got on motorbikes and went to different silk shop to come pair price and quality of there work. We also looked for some with flowers and birds. No luck the 2 we did find we not very nice looking. Then we headed back to the market to pick up the dresses that we had made. We ended up being there for 3 1/2 hrs. A couple of the dresses were not quite done and then a few alterations needed done. So in the mean time pick out more material and designed a few more dresses. I guess that is a good way to make more money. Back to the house load up the car and we are on the road back to Hue. It felt so good to get back home to a bed that had a mattress.
03/06
Today we went to the temple where we get are silk pictures for SEACAN. We got to meet the girls that do the needle work. There are 4 that are deaf and the others are handicap. It was amazing to watch them do the silk needle work. They are pretty fast at it. Susan paid them the money owed from the silk that had sold. They were so excited. We took a few pictures of the girls. We then went back up to the seating area and looked through all of there finished work. We bought some more Rose one's to sell for SEACAN. There were so many pretty ones it was hard to choose. From there we stopped at a couple book stores looking for some books Susan wanted to get for a few people. We then stop and drop the traditional material off at the seamstress to get them made. They should be ready in a bout 10 day's. Mom has called twice wanting to know when we will be home and what do we want to eat? After dinner we put money in envelopes and got ready for tomorrow. We have a full day planned. There should be about 16 of us going. Mom say time for bed. So good night.
03/07
We left the house a 8:10 am and didn't get back until 8:30 PM was a long and busy day. There ended up being 17 of us. We had the van and car full. We rented a van Than was are driver. We drove to look at the school where we are paying for a well to be put in for them and maybe a toilet. It was a little three room school that has 60 students. The principal of the school was there to talk to us about what is happen in the school and about the children that go there. It is in a very poor village. On up the mountain we headed. We went to a village way up in the mountains and walked around half of it and gave them all envelopes so that they could buy rice and gave out some of the clothes that we brought. Ended back where we started. To take a rest and have lunch. After lunch we headed out to walk the other side of the village and do the same thing. We got up in this one part of the village and had to walk across a river and up a little creek to get to the higher part of the village. Good thing it wasn't deep. We did a lot of walking to get to all of the different family's living up there. A lot of very poor people. Headed back to where the cars are after a eventful day of caring and giving. We didn't hang around long the government had been there wanting to know what was going on. The drivers told them we were visiting family. It was a long but very good day.
03/08
Up early and off on motorbikes to help the handicap today. There were 14 of us that went today. We had 8 motorbikes. My bottom was a little sore after riding all day on bumpy roads. We went all over parts of Hue from house to house giving envelopes to family's that have a handicap person that they are taking care of. Today was a pretty hard day. There were so many sad cases. Some of the homes were pretty bad. This one house that has 3 people living in it, dad is blind, mom a stroke, and daughter is handicap. The floor is dirt, walls and roof made from empty rice bags, one bed and a small area to cook and that is it. After we went to all the houses Dr. Hang took us to the hospital. Only Susan and Muriel could go in, the rest waited out side by the motorbikes for them. Dr Hang took us to several different parts of hospital the burn unit, kidneys, children w/bad hearts, cancer, and others hurt from accidents. We saw a lot of sick children and a lot of burn victims. One poor women was burn all over her body from a gas fire. When we talked to her she still had a smile on her face. Really makes you think!!! We ended up giving out of the envelopes we had plus a few more. Today we saw to bad motorbike accidents. One was right next to Muriel's motorbike. They were passing on the left and it ran head on into a pedal bike. Susan was on the motorbike behind us and stopped. She said they were hurt pretty bad. Susan keep telling people to call a Taxi, finally someone did and the loaded them in and took them to the hospital. Makes you sure count your blessings. We made it back home safe tired bottoms and all.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
March 3 & 4, 2009
03/03
Today we left Hue for Danang. It is about a 3 hr drive. Over a couple of passes and threw the new very very long tunnel. We stayed at Susan's cousins house. We dropped our stuff off at the house and of course have lunch before we headed off to the Metro Store. It is like our costco. We priced baby formula it wasn't that much cheaper so we decided to support some of the private people that have little shops in front of their houses. They were so excited we bought 13 of the biggest cans they had. We also went to a local market. That is a experience just in it's self.
Back to cousin Te's house to get ready for tomorrow. Lots planned for tomorrow.
03/04
Off for a busy day. We went to a orphanage that is run by the Red Cross. There were 43 children living there at this time. They were all handicap. They are trying to teach them a skill so that some day they will be able to support and take care of themselves. They are teaching them sewing, printing, and the silk needle art work. They were all such sweet kids. So excited to have us come in a visit and see all of their work. We had them all come to the front lobby to take a picture and give each on a envelope with 50.000 dong. Each one said Thank You in English to me when I handed them the envelope along with a big smile on there face. From there we walked up to another building where the baby's were. They have 12 baby's right now ages from 2 months to 3 years old. Their mom's dropped them off at the hospital or the red cross office. Most of the time it is because they are not able to feed and take care of them. Most of them are healthy baby's. They all were so cute, you feel so bad you just want to take them all home. We gave them bags of baby cloths and the formula that we bought the day before.
Time to go back to cousin Te's house for lunch. After lunch we went to a temple way out of town. They have 12 children that live there that they are taking care of. We gave them 1 million dong, kids vitamins, and a can of formula that we forgot in the truck from this mornings trip. Worked out good because they had a little baby to that they had to feed. Did some more shopping and then went out to dinner. It was our first time eating out on the trip. We went to one of the little restaurants that are in front of peoples house. It was a all vegetarian. It was really good. Back home and up to bed.
Murf
Today we left Hue for Danang. It is about a 3 hr drive. Over a couple of passes and threw the new very very long tunnel. We stayed at Susan's cousins house. We dropped our stuff off at the house and of course have lunch before we headed off to the Metro Store. It is like our costco. We priced baby formula it wasn't that much cheaper so we decided to support some of the private people that have little shops in front of their houses. They were so excited we bought 13 of the biggest cans they had. We also went to a local market. That is a experience just in it's self.
Back to cousin Te's house to get ready for tomorrow. Lots planned for tomorrow.
03/04
Off for a busy day. We went to a orphanage that is run by the Red Cross. There were 43 children living there at this time. They were all handicap. They are trying to teach them a skill so that some day they will be able to support and take care of themselves. They are teaching them sewing, printing, and the silk needle art work. They were all such sweet kids. So excited to have us come in a visit and see all of their work. We had them all come to the front lobby to take a picture and give each on a envelope with 50.000 dong. Each one said Thank You in English to me when I handed them the envelope along with a big smile on there face. From there we walked up to another building where the baby's were. They have 12 baby's right now ages from 2 months to 3 years old. Their mom's dropped them off at the hospital or the red cross office. Most of the time it is because they are not able to feed and take care of them. Most of them are healthy baby's. They all were so cute, you feel so bad you just want to take them all home. We gave them bags of baby cloths and the formula that we bought the day before.
Time to go back to cousin Te's house for lunch. After lunch we went to a temple way out of town. They have 12 children that live there that they are taking care of. We gave them 1 million dong, kids vitamins, and a can of formula that we forgot in the truck from this mornings trip. Worked out good because they had a little baby to that they had to feed. Did some more shopping and then went out to dinner. It was our first time eating out on the trip. We went to one of the little restaurants that are in front of peoples house. It was a all vegetarian. It was really good. Back home and up to bed.
Murf
Saturday, March 14, 2009
March 2, 2009
We went to visit the family with the son that Muriel and Al gave money to. He needed to have surgery so that his parents didn't have to insert a home made tube to drain his waste. Before the money got there some one else helped. Susan was told to go ahead and keep the money. So Susan held on to the money for almost a year. We were about half way there when the driver came to a spot where the bridge was way higher then the road. There was no way the car could even make it. We got out and walked a little ways up to a village. We asked people if they know this yound man, by this time people had come from every where wondering just what was going on. They all were so helpful. Next thing you know Susan, Auntie and Muriel are on motorbikes and off we go to the young man's Mom and Dad's house to meet them and their son. Susan's parents waited with the driver and car. It was a good thing the car would have never make it. It was still a long ways out and the so called road was terrible. We finally get there and Dad is gone, son is in school and mom is the only one home. Everyone starts talking 90 miles a minute and one of the drivers gets on the phone starts calling around and found dad. He was back in town where we just can from back we go. We find the young mans dad and Susans's parents. They all get in the car I stay on the motorbike and we head off to the school. When we arrive at the school we have to wait out by the road until we get permision from the princpal. We get the ok and are taken up into a class room. Mom, Dad, Auntie, Susan, Muriel, principal, his dad and teachers. The young man is in the 11th grade and is #1 student in the school. His surgery went well and he is doing great. We found out that someone stole his pedal bike this morning. That is how he gets to school. When we gave him the money that Susan had held for him she told him to use it to buy a motrobike so he didn't hurt from his surgery. He now has a bag that his waste goes into and by the time he rides to school it hurts really bad. Dad and the young man were so shocked they didn't quite know what to say. They both just cried. When we left his dad walked half way back with us . He had forgot he moved his bike when he went to get pictures to show us. He was pretty funny just started laughing I am so excited and shocked.
Friday, March 13, 2009
March 1
We went to the mental hospital today. We had 2 vans total of 14 people. The hospital is like a jail with a court yard in the middle. The people that are not so bad get to walk around freely for a while. When we got there they loaded all the bags of food and treats that we brought on to metal carts and took them to each building and handed them out. They took us into one of the court yards where they were all locked up. It was a horrible feeling. I was a little nervous and scared when we were walking to the different buildings. They came all around us. The people their were of all ages and sex. Some of the were running around with nothing on. The food and treats that we brought was like having a party for them. They were all so excited. The bugs are bad this time.
Dr. Hang came to the house this evening and talk to us to see if we could help her out. She was even smaller that Susan. Dr. Hang gave us plenty of things to choose from. Susan and I decide to:
1.) Help put in a well at a school up in the mountains.
2.)Help pay for treatment for a few very sick people in the hospital that don't have the funds to pay.
3.)Pay for a student to finish his last year in school so he didn't have to quite school.
4.)Tuition for 20 students for school.
5.)Buy 5 students pedal bikes so that they can get to school.
6.)Give money for 20 handicap people.
The total comes to $5000 in American money.
We will take a trip to see the school where we are putting in the well. and Susan and Muriel will go and meet all of the people that we are going to help.
We are off to temple for thank you dinner. Got to go I will try and do more later.
Murf
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Feb 28, 2009
Hi To You All,
All is going GREAT!!! The flight was very long and the day even longer. We had a 29 hrs day by the time we got to the house. We had to stop at family resturant and have dinner first. A lot of the family came and joined us. They had a really big flower arrangement in my room for me that had a ribbon that said Welcome Sister Muriel From Family With Love.
Our first day we got things ready for charity. Yesterday we road on motor bike way out to the jungle. They put us and the motor bikes on a boat and took us accross the river. We went up to a family house of Tha'n. He was one of are drivers parked the motor bikes and walked around and gave money to the elders that have a hard time getting food. The oldiest was a 99 year old women. She is still working in the garden to grow what we call weeds to have to eat. From there we went to temple for veg. lunch and planned are trip for today.
Today we are going out to take 2 vans full of food and cleaning supplies to the blind (328 people). It is very warm and muggy here.
Susan and I walked to town the other night. It was the first time she had ever done that. We went to a hotel of a family's friend and got the best spa treatment. It felt so good after such a long time on plane and up so long for day.
Thank you for all of your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will drop a note again soon.
Love Ya All,
Merf
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