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From Karla DeSimone:
Meet Chip Chip. Reality shows are so popular. If Chip Chip had her own reality show, she would set all time records. Chip Chip is 7 and tiny in stature, but do not be fooled. Chip Chip rules the Hai Chau house!! I asked Chip Chip what her real name was. She promptly took my pen and paper and wrote in the straightest script, Phuong Uyen.
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| Ah with girls at our homes in Cambodia |
You can tell the time the house mother spends with her. Chip Chip makes the Hai Chau house a home. She smiles constantly. She talks in this rapid, almost scolding voice as she does chores with the housemother. I giggle recollecting as Chip Chip pulled the inside out pant legs of one of the many pairs of pants from the hamper. I do not speak Vietnamese, put I am quite certain she was saying, "How many times do I tell them to pull the pant legs so they are right side out?"
I thought it was genius to have one of the older boys at Hai Chau escort Chip Chip to school each day. I can just imagine this shy boy, walking with the ever chatty and confident Chip Chip, and how that daily encounter makes his day and fills him with self worth as he is trusted to ensure Chip Chip arrives to school safely. Any trace of a cloudy mood would immediately give way to brilliant rays of sunshine in her presence.
 There is a scrapbook that the Buchanan family made and gave to the children at each of the GIBTK homes. Chip Chip loves this book. Huong tells me she looks at this book, or should I say scrutinizes this book every day after school. She puts her face down, almost grazes the pages with her sweet face. One page particularly captivates her. Chip Chip rapidly flips to the page with Dorothea and says in her sweetest Chip Chip voice, "Dorothea." Over and over, just so she was sure I understood... "Dorothea," "Dorothea." Everyone will remember Dorothea's love....Especially Chip Chip.
From Kathie Michie:
Looking back over the last 18 days, it's hard to put into words. From Dorothea's memorial service to getting home, I can
see God's touch every moment along the way! Safe travels, slower but constant pace, and meaningful relationship building opportunities every single day...precious!
If there was a word I would use to describe this women's trip, it is "intentional." Not just our intentions, but God's intentions as this trip unfolded! We bonded as a team starting each day with devotions, praying and preparing the day just ahead. We didn't look far ahead, as I don't think we could have imagined how God would weave it all together. We all had time to teach, share, guide and mentor every day! God built the message as we shared about being unique, fear vs faith, islands of shame vs grace, comparisons, and most importantly love and writing affirmations for others every day!
We talked a lot about these real life principles and had the time to "be with" - my new favorite thing to do! Remembering through tears Dorothea who impacted our lives deeply, followed by hugs and sharing about her life, laughter and taking many pictures of every little and big encounter! I cherish my one on one time with so many and feel like I was able to nurture many friendships and begin new ones with the girls and staff! Can't forget the amazing guys at Hal's Home! They are so
inspirational!
As I watch Tam's leadership style blossom and learn about each staff member's work at GIBTK, I see such growth and optimism. From our special time and talks with Anh (who was our guardian angel this trip), to fun talks with the girls in Cambodia, to our hospital visit with Thuy to visit little ones who need heart surgery to save their life for so little money, to my special time with the Lighthouse girls...You can't make up those life changing experiences or even explain it adequately!
We are so grateful that many of the women involved with GIBTK shared a story of transition to transformation and we were able to give these in a book format to the girls in Cambodia. One of the women shared - "You can be anything you want in life; God made you special and you can do great things for God; He loves to fulfill your dreams! Don't stop dreaming." These are faith-filled words. Remember, you can be anything you want...with God all things are possible!
Matthew 19:26 - "Jesus looked at them and said, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible to those who believe "
I'm so grateful and in awe that I was part of this unique and special GIBTK trip - continuing my journey of being transformed by His love!!
From Kelly Winn-Boaitey We've come full circle.....
When we left LA for this trip, we mostly had our minds on the loss of our sweet Dorothea. Also, the immediate task at hand....follow thru with our trip to Vietnam in order to honor her and to be with the staff and children at such a hard time. Both the children and staff as well as our team of four had time to process a lot.... Grief, pain, sadness---all of us together. It was good and everyone seems to be on a path, albeit slow, towards peace.
Now I sit here in Ho Chi Minh, waiting to leave for the airport. Yesterday was Go Vap Orphanage and the hard images of children
suffering in excruciating pain are still in my mind. Right before Dorothea passed, when she was experiencing pain throughout the nights and days, she said she focused on the faces of the children at Go Vap.... Almost like a long
distance unity and compassion for their pain.... Till the end, Dorothea was thinking and praying for others, in spite of her circumstances.
GIBTK was born out of the original trip to Go Vap that Dorothea and Robert took to meet their daughter. There, the vision was birthed to help children and to change a nation.
It is happening on a HUGE scale now and frankly I am FLOORED at how many children's lives are being transformed by the work being done here. Our team is committed, even as we prepare to leave for now, to walk out Dorothea's original commitment to those children at Go Vap and now, to many other children and
adults.
Until next time my friend.... You will always be in our hearts and minds. Both here and at home. Thank you sweet friend for accompanying us on this journey ---- we felt you every step of the way.
From Camella Binkley:
My three amazing teammates have described our trip so well. It was a trip that I know was appointed by God. Although the timing ripped at our hearts - it was clear that we were on assignment.
One thing I know - love, and grief transcend our differences. We were honored to bring comfort to those who loved Dorothea - both young and old, and everything in between. In so doing our hearts were healed a bit also.
The trip was a promise made to my friend, Dorothea - To love the children of SE Asia and to bring hope to the broken, the "throw aways", and the disadvantaged. But the story doesn't end here.
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| Camella wore Dorothea's favorite Vietnam shoes through most of the trip!!! |
We will be Dorothea's hands and feet. I compel you to join us on the journey.
"...whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31
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