AMAZING! Highly honored! The U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt came to Danang and well let me let Tam tell about the day, since she was there!
|
|
| Tam with the Commander and Chief of The U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt! |
I don't know how to start this journal because I am so flooded with all kinds of feeling. It may be the feeling of happiness, being proud, being honored, and excitement to experienced what happened today at Hal's home's campus.
|
|
| U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam |
Last Friday night - my time, I got a text message from Boss, saying someone from a ship paid a first visit to our compound where Hal's home is located to see if our compound would be qualified for a big group's official visit on yesterday (VN Friday)).
I was so surprised. I had no information on that and I was not informed about their first visit, because our partner was not sure if our compound would be chosen. Plus they received a late notice from Da Nang Foreign Affair Department for this visit. The next morning, I called a friend at Da Nang Foreign Affair to learn more about this group. I did not really know how important the people from this group are until that talk with my friend. Finally, our compound got was picked out of 4 places they did survey.
|
|
| U.S. Commander of the Pacific! |
It was such an honor for GIBTK to welcome John C. Aquilino - Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet, Stuart Baker - the Commander in Chief of U.S.S. THEODORE ROSEVELT and Daniel J. Kritenbrink - the US Ambassador to VN this morning. They came to visit Hal's home campus together with a team of sailors. They were very impressed with what we are doing here. Commander US Pacific Fleet even said that he wanted to come back next year. While being in that meeting,
|
|
| With young men of Hal's Home |
I asked myself who I was to sit opposite to these VIPs at same table in a meeting??? They are very important people; they are VIPs but who I am??? It must be God's thing. GIBTK had opportunity to expose to VIPs from the US. Also, such an honor for GIBTK to welcome the second U.S. Ambassador to visit our projects. The meeting was just very short, but the most outstanding thing was happening outside the meeting room where the U.S. Navy band was playing music for the kids.
When the meeting ended, we walked out to the front yard where our kids and the Navy team were together. I had tears in my eyes watching the combined performance between Ut, the singer and the band. Ut danced while the singer was singing the song "Dance monkey". It was the best moment of the morning. All the VIPs were watching her dance. The US ambassador stood behind me and said "she is so good so I need to take a video of her" . I could not be more proud of Ut and the kids we are raising up. They are GIBTK.
After the music performance, the commanders, the US ambassador spent time talking to some kids while others in team played basketball and did crafts with others. I am sure they all had fun being with our kids and our kids had fun experience too.
It was such a great morning to end a week doing the work that matches the passion from my heart.
Sincerely; Tam
