My Love returns

What a sight for sore eyes! The last 6 weeks have given her skin a more golden hue and her hair is as gray as mine.

Yesterday, she arrived at SEATAC about 11:00 and cleared customs in less than an hour. We gathered the luggage and made our way back home. Stopped by Costco for some groceries and a hot slice of pizza; yum!!!

Here is a picture of our Thursday group from Nov 19th, courtesy of my friend Doug Greene.

We talked some about the language and she assures me that she can (and will) teach me to converse in Vietnamese during these next 11 months before our return. Our friend Bao has promised to study English too. I guess time will tell.

I've mentioned the school we want to convert into a reading room for the local kids. We still don't have permission from the government, but thought I'd share this picture of it. I really don't think the building is in such bad shape. It just needs a face lift and some paint; and maybe some electricity and water and septic...





Speaking of the kids and our Thursday get togethers. Here is shot of yours truly preparing the popcorn for my little friends. The popcorn and candy is fun and I enjoy doing it. The kids seem to like it too.

We have assurances that these will continue in our absence. I hope so. There is no way to know how much a single act of kindness can affect the life of a child. Imagine the opportunity to sow good seed into their lives every week. What a privilege.

Reflections

I'm still sorting thru my thoughts about the trip but here are some preliminary observations. I'll need to work over my priorities for the coming year.

It is clear to me that the area we're in offers much in the way of opportunity to serve. This comes with some mixed feelings however. I am more aware than ever of how backward the culture is, and how great is the need. We will need to refine the scope of our plans or we will be overwhelmed.

Developing ability to communicate in Vietnamese is clearly one of my highest priorities, for without it I am sort of a fifth wheel. With it our effectiveness would be more than doubled.

I'm challenged to accept what I would call barbarity or cruelty. I refer to the lack of what I consisder basic care for animals. Then there is the inattention/neglect of the children.

The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.

Homeward Bound

Bags are packed, ready to go... Checked email and chat with Michael in the states.

Last night we had dinner with Anthony and Kieu, Richelle couldn't come. Then took a ride on the river boat. Got back around 9PM and collapsed into bed.

Tuesday Morning got to the airport around 9:30 - 10AM for my 11:30AM departure on China Airlines. Requested a better seat than the one I had before and got bumped into business class at no charge for the trip to Taipei. What a treat! Made a similar request for the longer trip from Taipei to Seattle and was pleased to be moved to as seat that was still coach, but had an empty seat beside it. This seat had an armrest that could be raised out of the way allowing me to partially unfold my legs; not perfect but better than expected.

Arrived in Seattle the same time I left Saigon; 11:30AM Tuesday morning. Cleared customs in short order and started looking for my ride. Some how we missed each other for an hour and a half. Finally connected around 13:00 and drove home. Quick meal and into bed. It's odd how you wake up and think you're still in VN the first night.

Wednesday, waded thru a mountain of mail (mostly junk). Slept most of the day and then went to Dad's and visited til the evening. Barbara and Karen prepared a smoked Turkey and man did it taste good Thursday at Bob & Linda's. Didn't get home til 22:00 (10PM) pretty tired.

Loaded my pictures from the trip to the internet. Here is the link.

Monday Morning

We got up and met Richelle for breakfast near the Ben Thanh market. It was good to see her again and catch up on her experiences and insights. She has great stories to tell and humorous observations, as well as weighty comments about the problems of this culture. We plan to gather this evening with her and Anthony & Kieu.

Then we went for a haircut, shave, shampoo and facial massage. Anh got great treatment and lots of it(sans the haircut and the shave). The gal who cut my hair couldn't quite figure out how to make both sides about the same. We finally gave up and reasoned that we could have it fixed if we stopped her before she'd gone too far. She started to dry shave me; WHOA big fella! We switched off to another girl and she gave me the TLC I was looking for. But prices in this part of town are too high; it was about $5 USD.

Today we need to confirm my flight out tomorrow and pack whatever impedimentia is going with me. I'm hoping my uneasy stomach will straighten up and fly right this PM.

It occurs to me that I haven't filed my after action report on our second Thursday (last) story time. We had between 40 & 50 kids show up. There were also half a dozen adults. Anh had purchased toothpaste and brushes and she distributed to the older kids, but they went really quick. Of course we had a big supply of popcorn and candy. The story was about Jonah and the great fish. The program runs for about an hour but they kept coming and didn't leave until about 6:30. Some of the late comers came because they heard we were giving stuff for free. While we want to be generous, we don't want to establish a precident of coming at all hours for handouts. So Anh nipped that in the bud in her own tactful way. The kids here are for the most part unruly, and poorly behaved. I think it is from lack of training in the home.

Back in Saigon (again)

We just got into Saigon and are checked into a small room very close to the center of town. The drive was long. They always are unless you're unconscious. We are here because my flight leaves Tuesday and I need to be on it.

Before leaving this morning, we visited Anh Vu (the captain of the hamlet). Getting there was mostly off-road travel and that isn't easy on the Attila motor bike. I think I probably exceed the design load for the bike... Anyway, they have a small, very humble home but they extended their hospitality to us. That included tea seated on the ground and then a hard boiled egg for each of us. I didn't have the heart to tell them that I hate hard boiled eggs, so I smiled and down the hatch. I declined the second egg by explaining that my doctor wants me to stay away from eggs.

We also took a tour of another 2 hectare piece of ground. I'm starting to feel like a land baron... We will soon need to figure out what to do with all this dirt. Anh probably already has plans. That's the kind of girl she is.

The way people drive here never ceases to amaze me. And I've seen lots of it. I don't think I could describe it adequately; you just have to see it to believe it.

I have not been able to blog as frequently as I had planned. Our house is about 10Km South of Phan Thiet and we don't go to town every day(that's where the Internet cafes are located).

The last few days I was tasked with building a dog house. I had a hammer and a hand saw to work with. We got it done with the help of Anh Vu. Don't you just love a volunteer? He thought my cross bracing was too extreme so it still wiggles a bit. The dogs don't seem too impressed with it. They still camp out on the porch at night.

Also we built a trellis. Rustic is the word that comes to mind. Another one is crude. Our building material consisted of concrete posts for the uprights and eucalyptus trees/branches for the cross members. Of course the cross members hardly ever were long enough so we wired them together to extend their length. It is designed and built with short people in mind, but Anh seems happy with the results.

Am trying to make contact with Richelle but don't have her new cell #.

Will blab more later.

Catching up

It's been quite some time since I had the combination of time and opportunity to update the blog. Of time I have lots, but our house is 10km S of town and I'm often without wheels. Also we have had many visitors. Anyway, since there has been so much time elapsed I think this post may struggle for organization.

Today is Thursday - At three o'clock the neighborhood kids will come and hear Anh tell them a story. Last week it was about Moses and the Exodus and there were about thirty kids. We treat them with popcorn and candy and try to teach them about hand washing and brushing teeth and also introduce some simple English. Last week it was counting 1-5 and 'How are you', 'Fine, Thank you'. They seemed to enjoy it. We give a prize for the one best able to recount the story they heard. I think Doug will be joining us today.

Impound of Hanh's bike - One evening the house keeper loaned Hanh's motorbike to her son. He proceeded to town without a helmet and got the bike impounded. They originally said for thirty days (major bummer). What I learned is that when your bike is impounded here, you not only loose the use of it during the time it's impounded, but the police steal parts from it. What you get back may not be near the bike you had. At times like this, money can come in handy. After two or three days and the paying of some money, she was able to reclaim her bike. They tell me that in December the helmet law will be universal. How that works remains to be seen. Most don't wear them.

Miss Stinky (Co Hoi) here is a picture of the queen of the pups. She is the largest and most aggressive of the 5 puppies. As a result, she is the best fed, because she either steals or intimidates the other dogs.

There is another dog I call 'Skinny' because his bones show. I was not sure initially if he would live because he didn't look like he'd been getting any food. We've been arranging separate dining for Skinny and he seems to be responding. Now he plays and runs and is developing a round little puppy figure.

There is also a really small dog I call 'shorty'. He is irresistibly cute. He gets special dinner seating as well.

Last night we went to dinner with Doug and Mai Greene. I'm enjoying getting to know them. We seem to hit it off right from the start and never lack for things to talk about. They have been coming here since 1990 and so have many interesting tales and observations to share.

Networking - There is a grapevine here that you would not believe. Our friend was in Phan Thiet trying to get a taxi to our house which is near a resort called "Hon Gio". She mentioned Hon Gio and the driver asked if she was looking for the house of the Viet Kieu (That would be us). Here they call Vietnamese that have lived abroad and returned "Viet Kieu" (sp) One gets the impression that everyone knows we are here, and that we are the hot news topic. Go figure...

Internet Cafe - I'm using a different one today. Like all the others I've been in, it is primarily a place for teen aged kids to waste time either playing games or instant messaging. Nothing that would pass for productive time. When I asked about the ability to upload some pictures, the young man asked if my wife was Ngoc-Anh. As it turns out, his name is Bao and he attends the same CMA Church as us. One nice thing about this place is that it has AC and is fairly pleasant. There is currently a lull in the gum chewers and the noise has subsided.

Dick and Dung - We heard good news about Dick's health. He was suffering abdominal discomfort and went to the French hospital in HCMC to be treated. I was told that they'd discovered an ulcer, but Dick tells me that they found nothing.

Hanh has concluded her business and come to reclaim me. So I guess I better wrap this up for now. I'm only going to be here for another week.

Back in the pink

It's Sunday morning and just to bring you up to date, we travelled with our friends from Nha Trang back to Phan Thiet. Then most of us came down with one thing or the other. Any way, it was a few days wasted. The weather has been around 30 C and the humidity is high. So high that it makes the horizon indistinguishable.

This morning we came into town to attend church and then grocery shop and internet cafe. Unfortunately blogging will be very brief today as we have a busy social schedule. Guests are waiting at the house now.

We met an American at church named Doug Greene. He is living in Phan Thiet with his wife Mai (pronounced My). They have been coming here since 1990. I think we will be fast friends and we are already making plans for next year. They live in Oregon during part of the year and snowbird it here. They came to our house and snapped this picture at lunch in our house.