ministry in vietnam

The ministries in Vietnam varied widely.  We got to be with people from 13 days old to 92 years old.  One day I went to a centre where we were able to hold and feed infants.  They were so cute (for pictures check out Rubie’s blog).  Their hair stuck up in all directions and they all smiled when you picked them up.  I got to hold quite a few of them, and I fed 1 from a bottle.  Whenever you placed them back into their cribs they would cry.  They are so starved for love, they want to soak it all in while they can.  It was so much fun to be with them for a couple of hours, but leaving them in the cribs was heartbreaking.  There are many cribs in the room, each with a child that has some disability or another.  One had 6 fingers on his right hand.  Another had water on the brain.  Each child had their own special struggles, and all were left to live in this centre.  While the nurses do their best to keep up with the babies needs, there are just too many kids and not enough staff to give them all the special love and attention they need.  Any baby in that room would capture the heart of all who walk in.

In other areas of the centre there were children of different ages.  There was a whole room with toddlers with HUGE heads due to the water on their brain.  Some also have other problems such as fingers grown together,  and breathing problems.  Again, each of these children cry when you put them back into their cribs, but the smiles you get when you pick them up is uncomparable.  In another area there are older children who are able to run and play.  They have disabilities that are less severe than the smaller babies. With the oldest kids we were able to play clapping games, and even have short conversations in English.  This centre was a really good place to go and spread God’s love with the children, and even the staff who grin at you the whole time as well.

      On two occassions I went to a school nearby to the hotel we were staying in.  It was a government run school, a part of the Vietnamese education system.  It was a special school for children with learning disabilities, and some physical disabilities.  At this school the kids learned many things- including math and language.  We were able to sing songs in each class, and meet each of the children.  One of the smaller kids was our favorite.  He was so cute, and loved to play with you.  He loved to blow kisses, and give thumbs up.  His smile was beautiful.  Unfortunately, after visiting twice the government decided they did not want us to go there anymore.  They did not like us volunteering in a place that was not for charity.  The teachers there all showed a great deal of patience.  They smiled at us, and encouraged the kids to sing songs for us as well.  They participated in the hokey pokey, and seemed to enjoy our visits.
      

      A couple of mornings we all visited universities.  We went to chat with students, and eventually invite them to the coffee shop where we could talk more freely.  Most of the students were thrilled at the chance to practice English.  They lined up to talk with us and try out their conversational skills.  A few evenings a week we would go to a Christian coffee shop to speak with students there and help with English.  Here we were able to build relationships with students our own age, and become friends with them.  I really enjoyed these nights, getting to be a part of a different culture in a way we previously hadn’t been.  One of our nights there we had a games night.  We played many different games, and enjoyed the company of the Vietnamese youth.  It was Mark’s birthday and he was lucky enough to have Happy Birthday sang to him in 6 different languages by native singers.  

      We also participated with a weekly activity that the students at the coffee shop do.  Each week they go to an elderly woman’s home to make jewellery with them.  It is a fun activity for the women and they are able to sell the jewellery to make some money for the home.  It was really sad to see the conditions these elderly people were living in.  They slept on concrete beds, with only a grass mat on them.  However, the women seemed joyful enough and although they did not speak English we were able to joke around and help them with the jewellery that they had difficulties with.