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The Pfleger family plus 1, has returned home but not without making an impact. Not only on the kids and the Pfleger's but to me also. This trip as I guess in so many others I myself get to see the impact of GIBTK.
This trip I got some more insight into the generational transformation were making. We had a party with the dance off of our homes. Ali and Niko worked with each home on their routines. Last minute we decided to invite the kids from Dorothea's Project Legacy. As I looked at the kids from the community enjoy the evening I saw in their eyes not only joy but hope. These kids from the poor families were having the opportunity to getting tutoring to help ensure a better chance at school and also receiving emotional health training as well.
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| Community kids from Dorotheas Project Legacy 1, feeling part of GIBTK community |
The Legacy kids all would come by to give me hugs. They loved being included in the GIBTK community. Our dream / vision is to establish Dorothea's project legacy's throughout Vietnam. Of course there is many challenges to overcome. Many which I can easily succumb to fear and stay doing what were doing.
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| Dorothea's Project Legacy kids getting on stage singing and dancing |
I just did a training on change. I used the example of Nokia cell phones not to many years ago they were the best, but did not change. Apple with their iPhone 3 was the best but someone kept pushing and now we have the current iPhone. They and other companies keep pushing. So in the same way GIBTK will continue pushing the envelope. Maturing and growing, we will work to meet the growing needs in SE Asia. Perhaps it is a good thing my background is that of a former pizza guy who loves to fish and not being highly educated in school. Perhaps its good that I don't know what we "can't" do!
Thank you for being GIBTK!
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| Ali and niko with kids from Dorothea's Project Legacy 1 |
Here's todays note from Niko
My experiences in Vietnam have been quite beautiful. From what I've been told in school, Vietnam was just another place where the U.S. had fought, but actually being here and witnessing it first hand, it is so much more than that. Vietnam is a place full of life, happiness, and culture. Culture that has been passed down from generations upon generations.
The people of Vietnam are so kind and such beautiful people, inside and out. I got to spend time with some of the boys from the orphanage and I realized that friendship doesn't have a race. Community doesn't have a race. Companionship doesn't have a race. These boys, knowing I am not good at the sports we played, knowing I can't speak their language, and knowing I'm not from where they're from, accepted me and we were all able to play soccer together.
As days passed I could see the boys start to get more comfortable with me, almost felt as if I became family, or the older sibling they could've possibly wanted. I wanted them to see that in me. I wanted them to have a feeling of security and safety when they see me.
Between Go Vap, making wheelchairs, playing soccer with the boys, going to the beach with them, and getting to know them, I've never felt such a love for somewhere I've only been for such a short time. As I leave Vietnam, I hope and pray that these boys and girls in these homes find true happiness. Most importantly, I hope and pray that they follow their dreams and believe that it doesn't matter where they come from or what happened to them in the past, the outcome of their future is determined by how bad they want their dream to become reality.
Niko
PS. Please write notes of encouragement as led. I will forward. DO you know a teen or young adult who you'd like experience GIBTK this July? Trip dates are tentatively July 17-28. There is ways that they can help raise some or all the needed funds. Costs should be under $3000 USD. depending on flight costs etc at time of purchase. Please contact me for more info.
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