I think it might be...'Love' - Journal from our donor Larry Commins

My wife Chris and I have visited the Projects and Homes established by GIBTK in Cambodia and Vietnam several times now, and each visit just compounds the love and respect we have for the organisation itself, the staff and leaders, and of course the beautiful kids and young adults who are blessed by the tireless work of GIBTK.

Larry and his wife - Christine in this trip

We are here again with a new group of 6 other people from our church in Ipswich, near Brisbane in Australia. Each new place we visit finds me recalling the often repeated words of Robert (Kalatschan) that you cannot put a price on a simple hug with the kids.

A wonderful time in Cambodia with his six companions

We were able to meet again with the boys in New Hope Home in Cambodia. We see some faces there that have been completely transformed since we saw them last. There are now smiles and bright eyes which have taken the place of the blank expression of apprehension and mistrust, and so many hugs I can't count them! And even while all this is happening I start to wonder about all these 'hugs'. Why are they, and the time we spend with them, so powerful? Why do they mean so much - to us and to the boys?

Moments of Larry playing guitar and singing with the members at New Hope Home

The next day we go to Marlene & Vera's Home where the girls stay, and there it is again. We spend several hours just being together; hearing some of their stories, singing worship songs or the song from the latest movie that means so much to them. We exchange some simple gifts, play some games, and I even attempted a group dance with the girls after they dragged me to the floor - it wasn't pretty but I would not have missed the opportunity for the world!

Intertwined with emotions are joyful moments with the girls at GIBTK's HOMEs

A few days later we are in Vietnam, and meeting with a group or 7 families with young children who need urgent life-saving heart surgeries which the families could never afford, without the funding and organisation provided by GIBTK and its generous donors. Yep, there are more tears of joy and lots more hugs, and again I'm thinking about why this all means, and matters, so much?

Heart patients in Vietnam

Well, for me at least...here it is. All the hugs, the tears, the fun, the games, the faithful perseverance of the staff, the generous donations, the joy on the faces of the parents and grandparents who hear that their little kids are going to get a new chance at life, and all the many, many other things that GIBTK contributes to - it all comes from people caring about someone other than themself, and just being prepared to do something about it - however grand or simple. I think it might be...'Love'.

If any are interested in helping financially it can be done safely at:

www.givingitbacktokids.org

"We highly appreciate you and thank you for transforming lives"

Robert Kalatschan

Giving it Back to Kids

www.gibtk.org

robert@gibtk.org