July/August 2006 Trip

July 2006 TRIP UPDATES

UPDATE 7

The team is back home safe and sound. And they have so many stories to tell. Come to the Sunday morning service August 20th to hear all about their adventure (and invite a friend)! It was an amazing trip!

UPDATE 6--From glocaltrip.blogspot.com

"This has been an incredible trip!!! Everything that we needed to do has been done (thank you Lord!). Everyone has stayed relatively healthy, only a couple of upset tummys and one fever issue that is better now. All water filtration systems are operational, hygiene classes have been taught to over 250 people, and school supplies, clothing and athletic supplies have been delivered to over 400 children. Countless love and candy have also been given around Vietnam. We leave at 5pm for Lao Cai and depart on the train to Hanoi around 8:30 pm. We will arrive Hanoi around 6:00 am Wednesday morning. Continue to pray for safe travel and for good health."

NOTE: Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of us.

UPDATE 5

This is an update frrom one of the Vietnamese students that helped to translate for our team. It's a neat perspective!

It's a rainy day! I'm in a hotel in Bac Ha Province. It's my first time to come here and very amazing that I have a really beautiful place in Vietnam! I'm here as an interpreter for the group from Texas/Colorado, America. They have different jobs in the states but they come here to do the same thing is helping the Vietnamese! During these days, I have chance to come to alot of places such as Si Ma Cai, Lung Sui, Ban Pho, Na Hoi, ......I have chance to meet the minority people here and talk with them. They are very hospitable! I also have chance to see the minority kids. Some can't speak the same language like my language but they left a great impression on me and they touched deeply in my heart when I talked with them. They are poor but true! I also met the important person here. I met the chairman in Si Ma Cai, I met some Head Masters of school. They also leaves me with a good impression. Everybody I meet here was wonderful! Yesterday and today I went to markets..it's Can Cau and Bac Ha market. I met a girl in Can Cau market. She is a good girl. She cut off the handle of a purse just to sell me a belt. It's really nice belt and she gave me a really good price...I didn't need to bargain! I like it and she leaves a good impression on me as well. Now, I want to say something about the people in the group. They touched deeply in my heart as well. They are wonderful! I have never met anybody like that! They come here to share their love with the Vietnamese people! They come here to help the people that they have never known with all their heart! I love the way they treat me. They encouraged me after I interpret for them. That help me alots and made me self confident everytime. They love the Vietnamese people, come here for Vietnamese, worked very hard to help the Vietnamese without anything from the Vietnamese! They help the people here to have clean water and teach them about hygiene and help others to keep their health good. They bought the water box and put it in the schools and clinics in the villages...they held classes to teach about germs, washing hands, brushing teeth...and they gave their tooth brushes, soaps, toys and school supplies...That's the most wonderful thing that people can do!!! They are the living expression of God's kindness, kindness in their faces, kindness in their eyes, kindness in their smiles and kindness in their warm greetings! I had a really great time here with this place and these people. It's the last day here. Tomorrow I have to leave here, but I know I will miss this place and the people here alot!!
Huong--Hanoi, Vietnam

UPDATE 4

The team has accomplished more than they ever thought they would. They will spend one more day in BacHa and then they are going to try to go to the village they missed (SAPA) tomorrow before heading back to Hanoi to finish out their trip. Their last task in Hanoi is to meet with some people that have worked in Vietnam for many years with water purification. They hope to learn more about their techniques to see if they will be useful to our work. Keeeeeep praying!

UPDATE 3

The team has been working hard. They have already been able to deliver books, school supplies and make key contacts in three villages. They have been received well and the people at the villages have been very appreciative of their gifts. Don't stop praying for them. There's still much to do.

UPDATE 2

On their way to SAPA, the team ran into a landslide that had just occured. They were told that the road would not open again for 12 hours so they had to turn back toward another area of work. Thanks for continuing to pray for the team's travel and work.

UPDATE 1

The team arrived safely!!!

Their first day in Hanoi was about making connections with friends and preparing for the next few days in the mountains. They purchased 4 extra large suitcases which they filled with school supplies and books. One of our Vietnamese friends helped them gather all the materials.

Now, the team is headed on the overnight train to the northern villages.

Amy Colón, Grace Parish, Angela Weigner and Brian Weigner will be in Vietnam July 30-August 11.

They will be invovled in three projects while there: 1) Delivering school supplies and books 2) Delivering clothes 3) Installing a water purification unit in a rural village.

Thank you for your prayers for their trip.