VLH Newsletter June 2010
Vietnam Mission 2010 Summary JUNE 2010
June 1 – 16
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we had forgotten how oppressive the heat and humidity can be even in the evening hours. It would indeed challenge our team of 7 as we made our way through our days meeting with hospital and university directors, visiting our three orphanage clinic projects, teaching healthcare classes, holding Bible study and planning for the future of Vital Links in Vietnam.
Each day became another challenge. Surprises came to remind us that, “Even though we think we know what is going on and have everything figured out, we don’t.”
Hoping to focus on the important issues of our mission there, we listened very carefully to all the needs shared by the directors of 3 hospitals, the University of Medicine-Nursing, and 3 orphanages. Each had many ideas about collaborating with Vital Links far into the future. In so many ways, they remain as our hospitals of the past, lacking funds, education, textbooks and equipment. We have tried in our small way to help them move forward with improved healthcare. We again delivered needed medical equipment, supplies and textbooks due to the generosity of many donors. They appreciate it and we can see many changes in our 14 year history with their healthcare system. Gifts of quilts, baby hats and beanie babies found children and adults receiving them with smiles.
The most exciting proposal came from Dr. Dung, Director of the ENT Hospital. She wants to collaborate with the Vietnam Nurse’s Association and the hospitals of all Southern Provinces bringing representatives together for annual nursing updates presented by Vital Links. This may be the best plan to make the biggest impact on nursing in Vietnam. Also former team members plan to complete a Nursing Educator Course at the university next May 2011.
The biggest surprise was to find our new dining room at Be Tho Handicapped Orphanage complete and furnished. Sister Vinh took a leap of faith as she anticipated our grant funding from Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation to make it happen.
The orphanage conditions had deteriorated with more children (140), less attention to hygiene and safety, and not enough staff. Where to begin? That evening we received an e-mail from an occupational therapist requesting to spend 4 months volunteering at this orphanage. Talk about God answering our prayers and fulfilling our needs!
Our physician, Dr. Hang, suggested placing her physician’s assistant at that orphanage for a few months to begin the task of screening, immunizing, treating children and teaching staff. Our project manager will take an architect there to find best way to utilize the space they have available as the government will be taking the front third of their building to widen the street. We pray that with God’s help and the grant funding we can make a difference for these children.
Note: Huong, the little girl with healed heart defect, is doing very well and enjoys normal childhood activities now.
Our three pharmacy students from Oregon were outstanding young people. They taught Bible study and presented classes on Infection Control, Medication Safety and Medical Terminology to 2 hospitals and University of Medicine nursing and pharmacy students. They brought donations of resuscitators and school supplies.
We are so very grateful for our project manager, Pham Thanh Van; our project physician, Dr. Nguyen Nu Hang; and our dentist, Dr.Nhuong. Without their dedication to the orphans our job would be nearly impossible. They work for very little pay and gladly give up their free time to serve the children.
We spent an evening at the church of Dr. Hang with their youth group. What a delight! About 40 eager young people listened to our mission in their country and played some games with us to learn English. They thrilled us with Christian ukulele music taught by a missionary from Singapore.
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Our Bible study evenings had good attendance and we enjoyed the fellowship of both old and new friends.
Our visit with Sister Sumalee from Tien Binh Orphanage brought much sadness. There is turmoil between the local bishop and the fact that Sister personally owns the land that the orphanage has flourished on since 1972. We ask for your prayers for her and her staff as they seek a satisfactory legal resolution to this problem.
The Community Health and Dental care project at Sister Huu’s School and Orphanage in Lai Thieu has been successful for the past 7 years. The children are much healthier and thrive in a clean, safe environment. They now will have health insurance for their children through the school system so they can receive any care needed. Meetings with University of Medicine Dental School director gave us hope that they will visit Lai Thieu providing them with dental care. Our dental chair there is old but still useful and
will be donated to the orphanage for use by other organizations. By the end of 2010 we plan to conclude our project there.
Of course our mission trip would not be complete without our visit to the homes of Dung and Han both 15 yr. old. These young ladies were baptized by our team last summer and attend their local church. Dung has been offered piano lessons by her church and is very excited. Their English has continued to improve with weekly lessons by Khanh. We enjoyed their Birthday party and they received gifts from their sponsors.
The day we returned home the devotion for the day was based on this verse.
Isaiah 65:1
"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name,
And I said, 'Here am I, here am I.”
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you that help to make this mission go from impossible to possible every year!
Philippians 3:14 “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me!”
Your 2010 Vietnam Mission Team
Pediatric Hospital #1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Danny Tran, Vincent Dang, Binh Tang, Dr. Cam Phuong-NICU, Eileen Doench, Roxena Wotring, Carol and Tom Miles, Ms. Vo Kim Sa, RN, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Vice Director
Website: www.vitallinks99.org
Vital Links for Humanity, Inc E-mail: vitallinks99@msn.com
PO Box 1496 Office: 715-479-7612
Eagle River, WI 54521 USA Cell: 480-818-0890
