Greetings and a Belated Happy Thanksgiving! I hope and pray that this holiday season is a great one for all of you! I am thankful for all you and today I am including a note / request from a VERY SPECIAL lady. She has served GIBTK faithfully and has been nothing short of a miracle for me. Her love for the kids in SE Asia is remarkable!
Here is Linda Shaul's note; A faithful friend and board member of GIBTK:
"The 2016 Gala was a wonderful success thanks to all the hard work and many hours of volunteers, generous donations of auction items, and caring individuals that once again made it possible to fund 67 more heart surgeries for children in the new year. Thanks so much to all that attended or donated in some way.
When I read follow up stories from our staff, I am reminded on almost a weekly basis what a miracle one donation can perform. Just a few days after the Gala I read a staff follow up of a former heart patient. Her parents knew she had heart problems for many years but could not afford to pay for surgery. After surgery was performed through a donor to GIBTK nine years ago, she has been healthy with no complications. She graduated from high school last year at the top of her class passing university exams to pursue Russian and Nuclear Engineering on a full government scholarship. She is truly a life transformed. Looking forward to seeing the life changes in the 67 children that will be helped next year.
All of the children and young men and women in our six homes in Vietnam hold a very special place in my heart. They are given an opportunity to pursue their dreams, change the course of their life forever and nurture hope. Most of our children have either a donor or a "friend" in the Friendship Program. For our kids to know that someone else cares enough to answer the emailed letters they write each quarter is such an encouragement to them. We have had new children join us this year and some older young men and women finishing their dreams that would be so happy to have either a donor or a "friend" to write to each quarter. Letters are emailed and translated back and forth by staff, so it is a really easy process.
If you have a desire to either support financially as a donor, or encourage someone through the Friendship Program with no financial obligation any of the following young women or men, please contact me at linda@givingitbacktokids.org. I will be happy to send you more information on their circumstances and answer any questions you may have.
Some of the current needs we have for donors or "friends" are in the following homes:
Lighthouse- (Home for young women completing higher education or vocational courses)
18 year old young lady- first year at university studying to be a Pharmacist.
18 year old young lady- first year at university studying Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hal's Home- (Home for young men completing higher education or vocational courses)
21 yr old young man- completing 3rd year at Sports College. Will have two more years for University degree. Parents died in 2013 & 2015.
20 yr old young man- second year at university studying tourism.
19 yr old young man- second year at university studying information technology.
18 yr old young man- first year at university studying irrigation engineering
The Father's House- (Home for unwed moms and babies while moms complete their education)
15 yr. old mom with a baby boy, currently completing high school
24 yr. old expecting baby. Finished 5 years studying architecture at University. Will complete her thesis and graduate next year.
19 yr. old has newborn baby girl. Worked in a factory after failing university exam. Would like to pursue a vocational course.
17 yr old has newborn baby girl.
19 yr old expecting baby. Finished first year at university majoring in business management.
20 yr old has newborn girl. Finished two years at Polytechnic University
21 yr old has newborn boy. Studied Administration at college for 1 1/2 yr, but had to quit to help support her family and worked in a factory.
It is such a joy and privilege for me to be able to serve at Giving It Back To Kids. Hoping that some of you will be able to experience the miracle of seeing kids fulfill their dreams and transform their life.
Blessings, Linda
Thank you to all of you! If you can help support either through committing to be a friend of one of the kids Linda mentioned or can help partner to transform lives please email Linda or you can safely donate online at www.givingitbacktokids.org
www.givingitbacktokids.org
Robert Kalatschan
Giving It Back To Kids
