Visitors

LOVE was blessed by visits from Birgit, the G4Kids director and sponsor from Germany, and Mark,  (a sponsor from Australia who is assisting another sponsor to build a new house for a family. Thank you both for all you are doing for our Vietnamese children.

Birgit’s Visit

Mrs. Birgit spent most of the time of her trip seeing the G4Kids-sponsored children, talking with them and surveying their situation. Her many photos will be very fantastic and encouraging gifts for the European sponsors. In addition, she had a cozy and very interesting time with the 12-graders while discussing plans for their future careers and options, and then they were given a Success card together with best wishes from their sponsors. LOVE sends many big thanks to Mrs. Birgit and all European sponsors for the kind-hearted good deeds, she and you all have been doing for needy Vietnamese children and we hope for a continued long-term stay with them and us.

Mark’s Visit

Xin chao (hello)!!!

My name is Mark Smith. In January 2014 I have returned to Danang to meet with the LOVE organization for the second year in a row.

Last year I worked with Phuong and other volunteers to repair homes of some poor families.

This year I have contributed some financial support with that of another sponsor and LOVE to build a new house for a needy family. This project was promised years ago but never enough money was at hand to start and complete the house. It is now nearly finished.

When I was in Danang last, I noticed how many students wanted to talk English with me. I found that Vietnamese children are taught English in school by Vietnamese teachers who themselves have trouble pronouncing English words. Most have quite good English grammar just poor pronunciation. Vietnamese students in general are quite shy and do not feel confident to approach foreigners to talk in English.

I have talked to Phuong many times in the last 12 months and suggested I would like to make myself available to sit and talk English with university students.

When it was posted on Facebook we had a very good response from friends of Phuong. In total I sat and talked with about 12 students, most of which came back at least twice. I am sure that many more would have taken the opportunity but many students were sitting exams and preparing to return home for TET.

I have to say that taking the time to speak with these young people gave me great pleasure. All were very keen to improve their English skills. I am not an English teacher so there were no formal activities, just a very casual chance to speak about themselves and Vietnam.

It was great fun for everyone involved (I hope).  I even received an invitation to visit the home of a student. It was an honor for me to travel to an isolated village and meet her mother.

I wish to thank all the students who took their time to meet with me.

If you are coming to Vietnam I strongly recommend that you set some time aside to speak with the students. You will find it very rewarding and it will give you an insight into the lives of young Vietnamese people.

Once again I am thankful to the people at LOVE for their support of the less fortunate people in the community.

Chuc mung nam moi (Happy New Year)

In Hoi An

In a Student House

In the family of my sponsored child

Shy children peeking at Mark

Shy children won over and now, friends forever

Contributed some money for this house

Our children receive stipends for 2 months in January in advance of Tet festival and Tet money for gifts from G4Kids.

Trinh Viet Nghia

Le Thi Ha

Dang Kim Duyen’s family

Phu Cong

Thanh Binh

Kim Cuc

A variety of Tet gifts including new jeans, T-shirts, dresses, shoes, Tet jams and more were bought by children and families. Some of them even eagerly tried the new clothes on.

Sad moments as two of our families had deaths - LOVE with G4KIDS helped with funeral costs.

Relatives and neighbors in the village say goodbye

The children say goodbye to their dear father the last time

A Sponsor contributed some money

(1 Cor 13:3 NKJV)  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

(Mat 18:2-5 NKJV)  Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.