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August, 2001

Greetings to all my brothers and sisters,

Psa 37:21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. Psa 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed.

What an awesome statement and promise can be found in the verses above. I can testify to its truth as God has not only fulfilled it, but continues to bless me and my children. Another part of this chapter I am living proof of. His Word is:
Psa 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.

I shall continually praise Him. I want to thank all of you for your prayers and sacrificial giving. When we visited one home to interview the family to offer a scholarship, we found 4 walls of a house. The roof was gone and they had taken pieces of the roof and made a lean-to against one wall. They have lived like this since the great flood of 1999. When we approved the children for scholarships and told them we would repair the house (a step of faith because we do not have the funds), the grandfather (old, blind, and sick) had a child lead him to me, and in tears, fell on my neck and begin kissing me until his daughter pulled him away (see two pictures below). Those tears of joy are for all of you who pray and help. The next week we visited a home with 4 children that was destroyed by fire and joined with others to help them rebuild before the rainy season comes.

The first four members of the team from Operation Blessing arrived on Saturday, July 28. Five more arrived Thursday, August 2, and the main body of doctors and nurses arrived Saturday the 4th of August. There is a total of 46 on the team, and with the addition of camera crew, there are over 50 - the largest team ever in Vietnam. Things have started well at the Eye Hospital where they will do 12 cornea transplants in addition to many eye surgeries. Equally well is the work at Da Nang General Hospital where one neural sureon and one ENT are working. Unfortunately, the main body was not able to work Monday because of problems with customs in Ho Chi Minh City. Some medicines arrived late Monday and the general practice doctors were able to begin on Tuesday. There have been many problems and restrictions. For one, the number of Vietnamese translators were reduced from 70 to 26.

My visa has been extended only until August 29. My Vietnamese partner, the Street Children's Program of Da Nang, has yet to get permission for us to work together in Da Nang. Please pray we get approval quickly from Foreign Affairs here, and from Hanoi. It does not look good. Many NGO's are having the same problem here and in other areas. I need a miracle. If I am sent back to the states, we will still help the poor here through my assistant, Miss Ha. Funds will be much lower if I have to use some to return to the states so soon. Please pray.

We are helping 50 children with monthly assistance and many others with medical assistance. We now have over 20 children waiting because I cannot free up more funds until we know about the visa. Remember that every penny of your support goes to help the poor here in Da Nang. Half of my retirement is used to support me here, and half is donated to the ministry to help the poor. Please pray and help if you can. Whatever you do, pray. The spiritual warfare here never seems to let up. Da Nang is where Christ was first introduced to Vietnam. I believe it is the key to all of the nation. This is also where the most poor of the poor are (the central region). It is where the first church was founded. My tears never cease for the people.

Blessings,
Reggie

BULLETIN: L.O.V.E. is in need of funding to continue its commitments. Please consider organizing a fund-raiser or asking for a special love offering at your church, prayer group, or other Christian organization. Donations are only tax-deductible in Florida until incorporation is complete. An exception to this would be any funds received from a church. Please prayerfully consider a greater commitment to reaching the lost in Vietnam.
God bless you, Tina (L.O.V.E.'s Communications Officer)

The message below is from Operation Blessing International:

Medical Services
Hundreds of Vietnamese Treated In First Four Days. A brain tumor was causing a patient to lie in a comatose state for several months. No hope was in sight until OBI volunteer neurosurgeon Bert Park agreed to take the case. Yesterday, Dr. Park and his surgical team successfully removed the tumor from the patient's brain. While recovering in Da Nang General Hospital's post-op, the patient began responding and waking up!

Due to some unforeseen logistical snags, the clinic team is working without the majority of the normally available dental and optical equipment/supplies. Even with limited resources, dental, optical, and general medical volunteers are pulling teeth, conducting eye exams, and assisting those with aches and pains in the Hoa Vang District Hospital. Vietnamese men, women, and children in need have received over 800 free medical services!

In the Da Nang Eye Hospital, Vietnamese medical professionals watched the team ophthalmologists closely as they learned how to perform cornea transplants! The eye team was also busy doing sixty-seven cataracts surgeries, five strabismus corrections, and two glaucoma treatments.

As team unity grows and new friendships blossom, they will continue to do what they came to do...serve the Vietnamese people with love.


Medical Team Departs For Groundbreaking Vietnam Mission!

It's the rainy season in Vietnam. The dreary weather doesn't get a few medical professionals in Da Nang down. They know OBI's volunteer medical team will soon be performing free eye, ears-nose-throat, and neurosurgery, as well as providing general medical, optical, and dental services to thousands of people in need.

Imagine not being able to get a lifesaving surgery or not being able to help your malnourished child because all you could afford was basic shelter and food. Local Vietnamese English language newspapers report the government hopes to improve child nutrition, and goes on to say that iron deficiency is a major problem. It is also common for hospital patients to have to bring their own medical supplies and medicine. This is difficult because according to the World Factbook 2000, 37% of the Vietnamese poplulation live below the poverty line.

In order to alleviate some presssure, OBI has sent vitamins, medicines, and surgical supplies to Vietnam. Any items not used or distributed during the 2-week mission, will be left with Vietnamese medical professionals.

Three Vietnam veterans are a part of the OBI team, including mission leader Dwight Lohrenz. This is volunteer translator Jack Ernest's 28th trip back. "When Dwight and I went to Vietnam the frst time during the war, we took M-16s, but now we are returning with healing hands," he shares.

After going with OBI to El Salvador and the Philippines, Peter Banus is now bringing his wife Kay for the first time. As a healthcare business administrator, Peter will assist Vietnamese doctors in improving the admitting and discharge process. "I want to give something back to the Vietnamese that we were not able to do during the 'Vietnam conflict' - freedom from disease and pain," comments the veteran! Kay will assist in medical education and care for pediatric patients.

You can join in on the excitement in Vietnam! Every week come back and read about the many lives touched every day!

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