It has been an extraordinary and great trip on many levels. But none more so then what the ladies team has begun with our homes in SE Asia. Todays journal is from Linda Shaul. Linda came to us by nothing short of a divine appointment. From the beginning she felt called to Vietnam. Linda has filled a vital place in GIBTK. Not only is she gifted and talented in admin but has a heart to do so much of the "stuff" that I can't.
This past year Linda stepped in as my Executive Administrator and most recently as a board member. Bringing a Godly ladies touch to our work! I so appreciate her and she has been nothing less then a God send helping me with all the "lose ends" involved in my job. I am thankful to Linda for hearing from God and stepping up to do such a great job serving and helping me.
Her is but a little of what Linda's month in Vietnam is about.
When the first children saw me again they shouted "grandma." Not much warms my heart more. The new staff members I met said I wasn't as scary as they imagined in person. Well,..I think that is good. It has been a little over a year since my last trip to Danang. Longer than I had hoped. There were new staff members I had not met and new children and babies to hug.
I came early and by myself so that I could intentionally have individual time with every staff person and every child in all six homes in Vietnam. I wanted to build new relationships and grow, strengthen and encourage each person. It has been an amazing and humbling experience. As always, I come away filled with so much more than I think I gave. The stories of the staff and each child fill me with awe and inspiration. How hard they have worked and how different their life is because GIBTK gave them an opportunity to transform their life.
After my first night in Vietnam by myself I thought I might be lonely until the other teams arrived. Then, every night the personal stories of children and staff would run through my mind and my heart was so full of hope, encouragement, prayer, and thankfulness that their life is different. My tears were falling with theirs as they shared abandonment, poverty and sorrow.
One mom at The Father's House remembers vividly at the age of five when her grandmother tried to sell her because she was a girl. She wanted her unborn baby to have a mother who would always love her. Another young lady at Lighthouse remarked that GIBTK enabled her to buy new clothes for Tet. At 19 she had never before bought new clothes. Then smiles would come as they shared how life is different and how they want to give back to help others less fortunate, and they are already doing it in their spare time! Since most children go to school six days a week it amazes me.
I read every quarterly letter that each child writes. Now that I have spent individual time with each child, my heart aches especially for each child that doesn't have a donor to write back and encourage them. I truly want to sponsor them all and was feeling a little sad. God reminded me that He is in charge and I have no idea how He will use my time with them or someone else to lift them up.
Dorothea and the other ladies left this afternoon. Dorothea was kept in a bubble of protection from illness that spread through just about everyone. To see how she inspired all the staff and children and the relief in their eyes to see her healthy was so very meaningful. I am already missing the sharing and bonding of these wonderful women with staff, house mothers and children.
The night lights of Danang are especially beautiful out my window. I was describing the Dragon Bridge that shoots fire from its mouth to my grandchildren over FaceTime. One said, "it must be a magic place." I see God's magic in the hearts and eyes of each child and staff person that has an opportunity to have or help a transformed life. Come see for yourself!
Linda
Robert Kalatschan
Giving It Back To Kids
