Our last note is from the youngest of our summer team. A Vietnamese American who though fourteen years old had displayed a humble and gentle maturity. Though a quiet young lady but was easily seen that there is much depth to Elizabeth. As she was leaving she eagerly told me, "I'm coming back!" Here's her note
"October of 2016, I attended the Giving It Back to Kids banquet where I was informed about kids in Vietnam who have been abandoned by families and left on the streets at young ages. Kids who needed help, someone to love and hold, to feel useful and important. Therefore, my mom and I decided to join Robert on the summer trip to Vietnam this year. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made, seeing all these kids and realizing how fortunate I am to have everything I need and want. It makes me smile to see how positive, happy and excited the kids are when they realize that just a few people fly across the country for a visit.
On July 12th of 2018, I visited two beautiful ladies who became disabled and weak during World War 2. They both lost their loved ones and many relatives but with the help of the neighbors around, they maintained to stay somewhat healthy and happy.
The first woman we met had lost her left leg, husband, and two kids during the war; moreover, the only way for her to get around the house was by crawling. The only time she's left the house was to go to the hospital where she had to borrow a wheelchair from a neighbor. At times, she'd even have to be taken to the bus stop by a wheelbarrow.
The privileges Americans have; as Robert said, "Over there if you need a wheelchair, it doesn't matter how poor you are, you'll get one. Here, there's nothing, you don't have anyone." In the process of building the wheelchair, I tried to imagine the pain and suffering she had to go through. I felt bad that she had to live on her own.
The second Vietnam mother we visited was ninety-seven, both her husband and son died during the war. The government provides the house and pays the next-door neighbor, Loan, to assist and care for Nên. Nên has arthritis, and after her tumor, she became much weaker and fragile. She can barely walk but only became ill of old age three years ago.
When the team distributed the wheelchair to her, she seemed very happy and blessed. Her smile enlightened me from how grateful she was. This made me feel good because I would never imagine someone being so excited about receiving a wheelchair or even seeing strange visitors in their house.
In the states, you'll most likely receive a wheelchair if you've been injured from physical activities but here, it's different. I remember asking, "What's the first thing you want to do when you receive the wheelchair?" she said, "I want to go to Äà Lạt to play".
When hearing this, I felt lucky that I had a mom who would take me wherever around the world that I wanted to. I'm certain that many people have gotten hurt but still survived the war, but lots of people have lost family. The ones who survived tried to hide but most likely got hurt by a bomb. They suffer so much and just having the chance to meet one in a million feels like an honor.
We also visited a few other homes that consisted of babies to college students. I remember talking to one of the girls at Carmela's Home, I asked," Do you plan on meeting and going home to your parents one day?" she said," I'm not sure yet but I'm already home, with this family".
All this to say, this trip has been such a huge success. I've learned to appreciate everything, I've become more open and outgoing, I've met really great people and staff, the kids are just amazing, I'm so much more open-minded and flexible. This trip has definitely been a highlight of my year and can't wait for more summers to come.
Elizabeth
