Nguyen Van To Blind School

Back in Hanoi we were led through the back streets of Hanoi into what looked like a large home to find we were being entertained to afternoon tea by the Director of the Nguyen Van To Blind School, a project Samaritan’s Purse has been supporting for many years.

We were introduced to eight “star” students whose accomplishments ranged from being top academic students to gold medal receivers in the recent Asia Pacific Games.  The school and students were obviously very proud of their achievements.  However, nothing could prepare us for the concert provided by the students as they sang and played musical instruments. There was much giggling in preparation and thunderous applause at the finale.  Of course we could not resist giving a little impromptu performance but I don’t think our musical talents matched those of our hosts.

The school uses Perkins Brailler machines which cost $1000US each.  The students share because there are not enough to go around.

Coming Next:  Farewell Vietnam

Sapa and Ethnic Minorities

Sapa is the most beautiful region in Vietnam, very close to the China border, mountainous, picturesque but, sadly, situated in one of the poorest provinces, Lao Cai.

The beautiful clothes of the ethnic minorities are brightly coloured and headwear is often a feature.  It was difficult for us to identify the various ethnic groups but there are well over 20 in the region. 

Farming and tourism are the main occupations and it became a game avoiding the women and girls (where were the boys and men?) each place we stopped.  They sold silver jewellery, woven bags, scarves, etc and were VERY persistent with very good memories.  We quickly learned that if we said we would be back later, they would be waiting.  It was all very good humoured and connections were made easily.

Coming Next:  Ngyuen Van To Blind School

Baguette et Chocolat

After an overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (a real adventure) imagine arriving at 6am on the doorstep of  Baguette et Chocolat café in Sapa with freshly baked pain au chocolat, baguette, croissant, steaming hot coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, yoghurt and honey.  Yes this was a real treat. 

More importantly what a blessing it was to see the results of the changed lives of those (many of whom came from Lao Cai province, one of the poorest in Vietnam) working there.  Baguette et Chocolat is a project attached to Hoa Sua School (previous blog).  One young woman has been doing the accounting for eight years and her smile told her story.  None of this would have happened without the support of Samaritan’s Purse (see photo).  For anyone venturing to Sapa, Vietnam you might be interested to know there is a small hotel also run by Hoa Sua School attached to the café and the cost is $25US per double per night (including breakfast).  What a bargain!!

Coming Next:  Sapa and Ethnic Minorities

Hoa Sua Vocational Training School

Imagine living in one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam near the China border and being given an opportunity not only for vocational training but for a career that would enable you to work in some of the best restaurants in Europe or to return to your home province and share your skills.

The chef is a graduate of the training school, has worked with some of the best chefs in Belgium and returned to Hanoi to share his skills with the students.

Such is the place of the Hoa Sua school in Hanoi.  There scholarships are granted (20 through Samaritan’s Purse) for training in Patisserie, Bakery, Asian and Western Cooking, Front of House and Housekeeping.  There is also a separate program for the disabled and deaf of embroidery and tailoring.

Doing Laundry

The training school provides cakes and breads to restaurants in Hanoi as well as having their own bakery shop and restaurant where the skills of 

the trainees are refined ‘on the job’.  A separate craft shop in the same location sells the beautifully intricate embroidery and tailoring. 

Two deaf students learn embroidery

Coming Next: Baguette and Chocolat

HIV/AIDS Hospital

One of the most challenging moments on Discovery Vietnam was visiting an HIV/AIDS hospital in Hanoi.

We were warmly welcomed by the Director and staff as Samaritan’s Purse had been providing milk for 20 of the dying patients as that is all they can eat/drink.

There are no photos of this project for obvious reasons but we had the privilege of visiting the ward where there were about 20 men who were in the last stages of HIV/AIDS.  Many of them are outcast from their family because of the stigma still attached to the disease of HIV/AIDS, a few were shackled to their beds because they have been sent from prison.  No words can express the filth and sense of hopelessness in that place. 

In Cambodia Samaritan’s Purse runs the HIV/AIDS Prescription for Hope workshops.  Let us pray that this opportunity opens up in Vietnam.

Coming Next:  Hoa Sua Vocational Training School

Bio Sand Filter

Just a reminder that every 20 seconds, one child in our world dies from water-borne illness. This would wipe out a whole primary school class – every 10 minutes.

In Vietnam we visited a man on the way to a distribution who was keen to show us his water filter.  He was very proud of the way he had his filter under shelter in a clean and protected environment and that he could easily access clean water by a series of pipes and buckets.   He was also very quick to tell us that his family had fewer incidents of eye infections since the water filter had been installed.

You can learn more about Samaritan’s Purse Turn on the Tap Project and order resources for your organization to promote clean water at www.turnonthetap.org.au

Coming Next:  HIV/AIDS Hospital

The thongs

Occasionally I am asked whether the items in the shoe box are “useful”.  I guess we all have a different opinion of what is useful but there is a boy who came to the OCC distribution in Thuong Trang kindergarten who can assure you that one item in his shoe box was indeed “useful”.

When he opened his box he had a pair of beautiful new thongs.  Imagine our surprise when, of all the children at the distribution, he was the one who had one broken sandal.  He immediately kicked off his sandals and put on the thongs – they fitted perfectly. 

Obviously God knew well and truly beforehand who needed that particular shoe box.

Coming Next:  Turn on the Tap

Hard work

With the new Discovery format not only do we participate in OCC distributions but we also visit Samaritan’s Purse projects and were even put to work.  I am not suggesting that we made a huge difference but we certainly provided entertainment value to the locals who gathered to see what we were doing.

Evidently it is unusual to see men working alongside women in Vietnam – we were glad that our men adopted the Aussie way!!

Coming Next:  Thong Story

OUR boxes handed out

As you can imagine there is much joy in equipping Pastors, church workers and government officials to reach out to the children of their nation however, nothing quite matches the excitement of seeing a shoe box gift from your own region being delivered.

I saw one carton of 5-9 girls shoe boxes handed out (one from Amy and her Mum, Sharon from Trinity Christian School) and recognized two shoe boxes that had been lovingly prepared by my Regional Co-ordinator from Gungahlin and her two daughters.

It is good for you to know that your shoe boxes DO reach their destination.

Coming Next:  Time to work

From Beanies to Bears

I suspect every OCC distribution is the same world over.  Every item is met with great enjoyment and excitement but there are some that seem to feature time and time again. 

Beanies

Pencils

Musical Instruments

Soft toys

Coming Next: Boxes from ACT/SNSW delivered personally

Ann "Picasso" Prunty

At Dinh Dong Kindergarten in Ha Nam province not only did we hand out shoe boxes we were also called upon to put our artistic skills into practice.  That could have been a disaster except a talented artist had drawn the outline of  Disney characters (no copyright here I am sure) and we were handed pots of paint, assorted paintbrushes and strict instructions not to divert from the original colours (much to the frustration of those among us who are truly artistic).  I was happy to paint Dumbo true to ‘life’ with the exception of the toenails – a little artistic licence please!!

Not only was it fun but this was the first test the team had been set working together considering we did not know each other until four days previously.  As team leader I can say they passed with flying ‘colours’ as each set to his/her task and the end results delighted not only the Samaritan’s Purse Vietnam staff but teachers and students as well.  

Coming Next: From Beanies to Pencils

Shoe Boxes

Despite the warnings that we would be subject to government authority at each of the OCC distributions we were shown great favour and warmth and the smiles on the faces of those in authority and the warm welcome of all gave us confidence that we were exactly where God wanted us to be.

Needless to say the smiles were only surpassed by the hysterical shrieks of the children.

At Ding Dong Kindergarten not only did we hand out shoe boxes but put our artistic skills into practice!!

Coming Next:  Ann "Picasso" Prunty

More contrasts

Coming Next: Shoe Boxes!!

Vietnam - a land of contrasts

I had the privilege of leading Discovery 2009 to Vietnam with 14 OCC volunteers from each state except Tasmania and the NT.

In the true spirit of the countries to which OCC sends shoe boxes, Vietnam has been ravaged by wars and the resulting economic damage and poverty has led Samaritan’s Purse to work throughout Vietnam distributing OCC shoe boxes and in four provinces with various projects.  In the coming weeks I will take you on some of the journey with me.

Some of the contrasts we observed included:

Coming Next: More contrasts