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Over the past few weeks there have been references to brushstrokes, unfinished masterpieces, etc. This has not been by coincidence. But first allow me back up a bit.
My wife Dorothea was a wonderful painter that in my opinion never painted enough. Finally she set up a "studio" for herself and to teach our daughter Kristina to paint as well. She began a painting of a photo she took in Vietnam.
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| The "Unfinished Masterpiece" |
For a time before and even after she was diagnosed with Cancer, I urged... okay "nagged" her to finish the darn painting. Alas she never did.... the painting / her studio was the room she spent her last weeks in. As family and some close friends visited they'd look at the painting and comment of it's beauty.
Dorothea and I would say yes but it's not finished... All commented it is beautiful just as is and speaks so much more "unfinished." As her last weeks went on, I looked at the painting differently. Growing to admire the beauty of the "Unfinished Masterpiece"
As more spoke about it and I realized it is to be the theme for this years Gala. Especially because it is so true for all our work. Dorothea began much and added to GIBTK daily. Yes much was begun but there is so much more to do.... There is so many "unfinished masterpiece's" like Dorothea's Project Legacy", and the lives of so many kids who are growing into a "new" Vietnam with new "issues"
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| cambodian kids working the streets of Saigon |
Or like the Cambodian kids I met in a circle K in Saigon.... Honestly I am certain they are being used. We first met some of them a couple years ago. They quickly disappeared after a man (boss) saw us talking to them.
When I saw them we fed them and even fed them the next day... But guess what one more time they are gone... Not like kids to miss a free meal now is it. One more time the trafficker saw a threat to his kids (read slaves) and moved them out. These kids fueled a waning passion to strike out against trafficking and fierceness and boldness and yes (before I get to many letters) with Wisdom.
There is many, many unfinished masterpieces' some are open canvass's others have broad strokes. While others are down to finishing touches.
Allow me some Grace as I share another "Unfinished Masterpiece" My daughter, Kristina's departing journal. Dorothea's brush strokes are evident all over this fine young lady. Forgive me that some of her story was already told in earlier email but I am darn proud of this "unfinished Masterpiece" She is her mothers daughter!!!
Here's Kristina;
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| Gifted is she not??? LOL!!! |
I leave this country with the ends of my goodbye's and the infinite love from my heart. The work I have gotten to do and the people I have gotten to help will forever be apart of me. I would like to say that I gave more than I received, but that is simply not the truth. The kids gave me more hugs than I could return. They gave so many smiles and I didn't understand what happiness was until they showed me.
After all of the love, and all of the time exchanged between us, I definitely got the prize. I don't remember a time this trip that hasn't touched me. Everything touched me deeper than before, and I'm so grateful for it.
I do, though, remember a vivid time that brings butterflies to my stomach. Split up into groups, we went out to build wheelchairs for the disabled. I had done this before, so I was not expecting what happened to happen. The second that I approached a family's home, the recipient exploded into tears. He whaled and whaled while he watched us put together his wheelchair.
I looked at him and time stopped. His tears became an ocean and his eyes were raging dark storms. He looked so exhausted and so sad, but his mouth was turned up at the ends. He was so raw with his emotion and I could tell that this wheelchair was a long waited-for present. While we asked him questions, he began to cry again and again. He would look down and wipe his face with his hands, holding the whole world inside his chest. He was living, and breathing, and I couldn't imagine how hard that was.
He had been stuck in bed for over a year. After we talked, we finally pulled him into the chair. And I can honestly say that it was magic. His joy floated around the corners of his eyes, drying the tears and sorrow from his expression. We rolled him outside, and took a picture. The clouds were finally reachable for him. He could do anything with his new wheelchair. I was honored to have witnessed that event and I'll never forget how many of the emotions he made me feel, that I haven't felt before.
This trip was the craziest rollercoaster I've ever been on. I'll definitely be looking forward to riding it again next year.
Kristina Kalatschan
BBlessed
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