WOW! I had to begin my intro of Jade as she begins her journal. Jade went to high school with my son Tommy. Before the trip Tommy said "you haven't been around Jade for any time have you? My answer no why? He said "you'll see" smiling. Truly another of the amazing young adults Gods has allowed to visit GIBTK.
Jade through a busy schedule interning for her nursing career, and a near death fall off a waterfall, and being racing underwater down the river for a time, came out with only cuts and scrapes. Jade told me all watching thought she was "gone". She too not sure but said "it felt like there was a soft cloud" protecting her. As I type I'm tearing once again in the airport! Not cool! Please enjoy but a small look into this amazing young lady.
"Wow. There are not enough words to describe the feelings and emotions I have felt during this trip. I live for moments like these where I get to pour my heart out to a group of new faces and love where there may not be any. Something I remember Mr. Kalatschan say was "Go into a fatherless nation, with a father's love." Holy cow, here we go. This might be all over the place, but here I go blabbering about my thoughts from the week with GIBTK.
Watching the kid's faces from the community light up as I brought out my butterfly crafts was unreal. They get excited from just a hug, let alone some quality time and play. Quality time is very special to me. The importance you feel from the warmth of an embrace and time spent together with another person cannot be replaced by a letter or money sent abroad.
I learned that the staff help the children with emotional health, life skills, and encouragement. Oh man, do kids, adolescents, and young adults need this. Even I needed this growing up. During this trip I heard others call me beautiful. Beauty is not something I used to see in myself. I see beauty everywhere around me here in Vietnam. The faces of the children, staff, mothers, and volunteer team. How much more beautiful can it get that a group of people who once did not know each other, are now working together to love on kids that did not know what love was in the past.
It's hard for me to show a weakness. I am an emotional person, on the inside, and have found that I tend to hide this person behind humor and jokes. I seem to have a lot of energy, some funky dance moves, and dorky facial expressions, but I also have a softer side. I think this is what helps me relate to kids. I ended up breaking at an unexpected time. I had to step outside during one of the dance performances in the talent show and I thought, really Jade?! Are you kidding me? Stop crying and get back in there. In this moment I processed the beginning of our trip and really thought about this moment. I need to come back. I am truly in my element and know that I am living out my life purpose with this team, children, and in this environment.
I have questioned my life purpose in the past. These children give me strength and made me realize pediatric nursing is where I want (need) to be in the future. I enjoy helping children and giving to others, but these kids truly have given me love, laughter, and memories that I will cherish forever. I love the community here. I felt called to take on this trip without any expectations or knowledge of what would come. It was a decision I am so blessed to have made. I want to be a part of GIBTK and continue to watch the children grow up.
Mr. Kalatschan said to me "You know what I love about you Jade? You love to live your life to the fullest," with a huge smile on his face. He is the stinken greatest! Made me all warm inside. And I will continue to live my life like so with every bone in my body.
So now I am going to go live in the moment (I need to start doing more) and maybe drink my Vietnamese coffee next to my new friend Katie or sing a jingle I randomly made up. My life purpose is to love unconditionally and give to others without judgement. GIBTK helped me find myself. Thank you GIBTK team and children for impacting my life and forever leaving an imprint."
With love,
Jade Vulgamott
