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Todays note is written by an extraordinary lovely lady. She sits on the board of GIBTK. Volunteers an averages of 15-20 hours a week. Not counting the trips she makes. She is our director of HR. Please enjoy Linda's journal
"I am often asked why I go to Vietnam so often. The easy answer is-the people. They have stolen my heart and passion to help make a difference in their lives. This starts at the babies, through all the children until they graduate University and see their dreams for a better life actually come true. To be able to give them an opportunity to forever change their future and their families circumstances is awe inspiring. Their determination and hard work is what makes it happen, but hearing their stories and what they have accomplished and persevered through in their life is what truly inspires me.
Then there is the staff I get to work with, to encourage and grow in abilities, and leadership and trying things completely counter cultural to what they have experienced before. They first have hearts of compassion and are brave to step out and try new things, even when they are hard. Learning and teaching Emotional Health, Life Skills and Sex Education to our students was one thing. However, after being so successful and the government seeing what we were doing, our staff was asked to come and teach students in the public schools and University also!
There were no programs like this for students. Staff have taught me a lot. Just because something works in the US, it does not not necessarily translate in every culture. It is important for me to learn and grow too.
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With one of babies from The Father's Home. our home for "unwed mother's"
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Our staff in Vietnam is nothing short of amazing! I know I can count on them for whatever I ask or need to be done. They are working in a non-profit because they love what they do, again, even when sometimes it is very hard. We have house mothers in the homes to oversee the daily care and encouragement of the children and young adults. They become "second moms" to most and to some, their only mom. They work very hard to keep their GIBTK family happy and healthy, being a mom to 10-20 kids at a time. The children consider each other as "brothers or sisters" in their GIBTK home. Each home also has a House Manager to oversee, guide and encourage day to day living and keep things running smoothly.
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Linda with girls from The Lighthouse, our college dorm
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Because we want all our kids to be successful we have full time teachers to tutor our children in the homes, so they will have every advantage to succeed in school. We also have our teachers tutor in two Community Centers we opened to help very poor children who still live in their own home with family, but could never afford tutoring. Without paid tutoring, most kids are at a disadvantage when it comes to school achievement and being able to ultimately pass the University Entrance exam. The success of these students in grade improvement each year has brought much happiness to them and our teachers. The teachers' love for their students is inspiring.
This trip I was able to attend weddings of two former students who graduated University and have gone on to have success in their fields. It was so wonderful to see so many former students that now have happy productive lives and are also reaching out and helping others in many ways. This fills my heart with happiness.
Yesterday I met five new young men that have just joined "Hal's Home," our home for men completing their University education. They all passed the entrance exam for the University of their choice, but would have had no financial means to attend. These are such inspiring young men, that despite the odds, studied hard and passed the exam to complete their education. One is studying to be an Electrical Engineer, one working in Information Technology and three are studying to be physicians. I am looking for anyone that might want to encourage these young men over the next 4-6 years as they finish their education by replying to their quarterly emailed letters about their progress and life through our Friendship Program.
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New Young men of Hal's home, our mens college Dorm
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When I originally thought about writing a journal, I first thought I would just post pictures of the people and things that inspire and make me smile. So, I will end this with the pictures I was originally going to use to tell my story of why I am again in Vietnam and will return."
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