Today was one of those days ... Okay maybe some would say "another one of those days"... I'm finding it hard to find words, much less where to begin writing. Honestly this day will stick out in my memory.
"Why this one?" some would ask? There are so many other significant days you've experienced, lives saved, families impacted. And today? It was "just" a celebration of International Children's day.
I saw that this dream gibtk, well simply said... it's working
Yup, but you should of been there! Some, oh so cute presentations from each one of the homes, from the kids homes to the dorm homes. There was a duet with one of the young men from Hal's home and a young little girl from Mary's. I gotta tell you the guy sang and danced great, but this little superstar gave him a run for his money.
What made this so special is that I saw generations being affected by GIBTK.
It's working...
When I first arrived at the party I was greeted by one of the first babies born at The Father's House, she gave a quick hug but no way would she pose for a photo with me!
She ran the house when she lived there. She would greet me standing her ground like an Alpha-Girl saying "this is my place, whatcha YOU doin' here?"
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| Quynh Anh, 6 years old on right, one of our first born at Father's House |
Her mom was our first graduate and waited till she graduated then married the birth father. She still is married, has a good job, and comes back for visits to The Father's house to encourage the other young moms. It's working...
A couple of the girls sang duets and solos. Diep who has always been close to me, sang a song in English about reaching for the stars and achieving your dreams. A couple years ago Diep would cry in frustration because she could not talk to me. Tonight she was the translator of choice among her friends and me. It's working...
Two of the GIBTK staff sang Matt Redman's 10,000 reasons. This has always been one of my favorites, but hearing it blasted over loud speakers in an open yard, heard by the neighborhood with several staff singing along with their arms stretched to the heavens? It's working...
Tien, is one of the first girls I met 12 years ago. She lived at Hoi Mai, then moved out and we lost contact. Then we found her and moved into the lighthouse, where she got into some "issues", moved out, came back and has changed. We have lovingly called her "trouble".
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| Walked beside Tien for 12 years now,honored as top of her class in cosmetology School |
Tonight she was honored for graduating at the top of her class in Hair Styling. She came up to me and quickly grabbed Diep to translate. Now to be clear, Tien is sorta a toughie but tonight with tears streaming down her cheeks, she thanked Karla DeSimone and me and said she will never forget us. It's working...
Many other students were honored. This past semester we have had dramatic improvements in grades and English Skills. I know it is due to taking on some full time teachers, freshly out of University to tutor and help our kids individually. Yup, it's working...
One of the girls from lighthouse came late, grabbed Diep to translate (of course) she apologized and said she was home working on homework, her college year was coming to an end and she had papers to complete.
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| "Why does GIBTK help older children?" Cause they all deserve a chance... |
She came because one of her final papers had to do with an interview of me. Many questions were the same you all have heard before. But she asked, "Why do you do this? Why, when most stop helping kids at 18 do you continue to help us?"
Smiling with tear-filled eyes, I said "Because every child deserves a chance. With my own kids I don't stop at high school. I make sure I am there to support them through the years where they will face major decisions about their lives. This is where we walk, next to our kids to help guide, guard, and govern."
She asked, "Do you celebrate other days with kids?" "Yes", I replied, "the normal, summer parties, TET and Christmas, but we really celebrate every day of a child's life because they are worth it." At this point the pad and paper drop, hugs, tears and gratitude filled the room!
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| GIBTK team doing Viet version of Monkey dance |
The last song and dance of the night was It's a Good Life! Although the girls had tried time after time to get me to join them in song and even the monkey dance, I gracefully, well maybe not so gracefully declined all of those!
When I saw them dancing and jumping to a hip hop dance tune song, It's a Good Life, I could not resist any more.
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| It's a beautiful life... doubt many could have sung this before. follow link to see them and yes me dance, well sorta ... no comments on my moves PLEASE??? :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDaS3Q4zOM |
It took no special requests to get me to dance and sing to this hip hop dance tune,
To see video follow this link. No comments on my moves PLEASE???
| It's a Beautiful Life sung and danced by Thao GIBTK team |
"It Is a Good Life!" Yup, it's working...
Today will be one of those days that I will hold onto, especially at those times I feel drained, running on empty due too many meetings and too many issues. You see today I saw that what Dorothea and I began over a dozen years ago. At the time, so many told us, even warned us that it will never work, well, IT IS WORKING!!!! Lives are being transformed for generations to come.
><((((º> BBlessed
