If you know Tristan, then the title of this post isn't all that surprising. It is usually just a matter of time before Tristan is physically hurt in any given situation. However, the context of this particular beating is what makes it so great.
First, this happened a few days ago. Nothing serious has resulted so I assume it is ok at this point to laugh at it. If a more serious injury had resulted, we may have to feel sorry for him or something.
Second, it actually wasn't Tristan's fault. Not in a direct sense.
While in Sapa, Tristan, David, and Sam went to get a massage. An innocent adventure, one with an expected result of relaxation. Sam and David have their massage, goes as planned, relaxed, nothing of any interest here. If you want to hear their experiences ask them. Tristan on the other hand, gets beaten up in his massage. A 90 lb. woman has left marks, bruises, and cuts all over his body. It seems that one way of working the stress out of the shoulders is to take metal dog tags and scrape them across the skin. This gave T-Lish a nice tiger stripe effect all down his back.
If this wasn't enough, she then proceeded to assume he had a headache. The remedy, extreme pinching of the temples and top of the nose. So, along with the tiger stripes down his back he also has three bright red marks on his face.
He never said stop, he never thought this odd, and in the end he somehow ended up paying more for his massage then the other participants. Tristan, you never cease to amaze us big guy.
And then David Grubbs fell in a lake later.
Be praying for us as we go to the beach with the orphans over the next few days. Should be a great experience.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Of dogs and contraband
Alright well first is a picture of me rocking a box. This box came from the manager of a hotel in Sapa. She has requested I bring it back to the states. She claims it is full of Tea and Mushrooms. Dunn has said it is legit. However, as my nervous tendency has led me to believe this is not going to go well come customs. Herbs and shrooms just screams shady.
Speaking of shady. We went and ate dog last night. Well a few of us did. Jill Roberst, Twi, Houng, David, Sam, Rachel and myself all went. It was an experience. I am actually surprised at how dog is not that bad. You would think it would be a lot worse then it was.
The shady part comes in at the dance club we decided to visit. The girls who left early had the right idea. We were out of there soon after, after Tristan did his fair share of dancing. Turns out Jill learned how to dance in Oak Cliff.
Tomorrow it is back to working. Going to the orphanage and then leaving on Wednesday for the camp. Will post more meaningful stuff about that when it happens.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Computer Lab Finished - Day with Students
We had an amazing day today. The students came from miles around the school to see the computers and the lab we set up. We spent time showing them basics, turning on the computers, showing them how to work all the Microsoft programs.
After this we quickly pointed them in the direction of solitaire -focusing on the necessary things.
The teachers hosted a debriefing meeting. This was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. The students who had come to see the computer lab all brought corn their families had grown. They shared their crops with us in an act of appreciation for what we had done. We sat around a table, the teachers and us eating this corn, laughing, and enjoying the company of each other. I was speechless. 
The kids all gathered at the school and we played games, laughing, arm wrestling, and taking pictures.
I honestly don't want to leave Sapa or the beautiful faces of those around us.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Computer Lab Finished
We finished the building project today, powering each computer up. I am sitting in an internet cafe/Sapa techno club talking to three or four of the girls who attend the school. We are going through the pictures showing them what we have done. Excited doesn't quite do justice to their emotional state.
We have had an amazing time here. The landscape is beautiful, the food is great, and the people are amazing. I don't think any of us want to leave.
We have a debriefing with the school tomorrow. Will update the blog regarding that meeting a little more in detail.
We have had an amazing time here. The landscape is beautiful, the food is great, and the people are amazing. I don't think any of us want to leave.
We have a debriefing with the school tomorrow. Will update the blog regarding that meeting a little more in detail.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Computer Lab - Day 1
Honestly, in this case, I think pictures work much better than words. So, there will be plenty. We began the installation project today, with no problems. We transformed an empty room into a classroom ready to begin offering regular IT classes to its students. Many of the children travel in from miles around the school to attend classes, and they are all looking forward to the future opportunities available to them. For those of you who helped make this possible, you can see where your money went. 
Monday, June 22, 2009
Made It Safely
Well, we made it. This is an impressive thing...
1. For those of us who don't like flying, mostly me, 20 hours on a plane is a little more than daunting. That part is over...at least for two weeks.
2. We all made it through customs with no events. Being organized is not my strongest skill. So, being in charge of making sure 11 people get safely into a country and through customs was an uphill battle.
3. Luggage. It is all here. All of it. I was having anxiety attacks as a result of the thought of having to wear the same pair of shorts and tshirt for the next week. But, it turns out all is well in the world of travel.
Here is a picture of us at DFW Airport before we took off. I don't think anyone from the group would appreciate if I put a picture of us up after the plane ride. 
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Preparing - God's Direction
This is what was written for the GVI website, per the request of Sherman. I thought it outlined some of the activities in preperation for the trip, and showed how God has already been working to make it possible.
Many of us in the quarter-life ministry have previously been to Vietnam. We would regularly exchange stories, memories, or refer to experiences we had there to describe the greatness of God. Vietnam was on the hearts of many in the group.
With this, I made the decision that we, as a community, would attempt to put together a new trip, designed with college students and young singles in mind. When I expressed my desire to those in our community the response was exciting.
Like any trip of this magnitude many signed up but the obstacles of life began to prohibit some from participating: money, work, other commitments, etc. Money always seems to be the biggest hindrance to someone going and doing. Trips like these cost enormous amounts of money and for a group of broke college students this fact was especially true. Added to the regular money we had to raise to get ourselves to Vietnam was the money needed to complete our project. We have many young, techie types and educational types in the group. Merging these two skills into a project was an easy process as GVI had an opportunity for us to build a computer lab in the region of Lao Cai. Of course, building this computer lab required money beyond the normal money we needed to raise. It was a daunting task.
God was at work from the very beginning. An individual approached me who was not able to go to Vietnam for various reasons but wanted to give the money that he had saved for his trip to the group to use however they needed. This huge donation came from an unlikely source and made it possible for multiple students to meet deadlines when they thought they were going to have to back out of the trip. God was providing.
The next step was raising money for the computer labs. We have a girl in our community whose background is in marketing and fundraising, so we brainstormed with her. She had amazing ideas, and we came up with plan after plan that for various reasons just never seemed to take off. It was during a regular community gathering that we all arrived on the idea of spreading out the fundraising events, and allowing people to use their talents and ideas to go about this process of getting the necessary money. We have a guy whose family owns a gymnastics training facility; he opened it up one Friday night and allowed parents to drop their children off for a donation and we had a gym night for them. Many of the other members of the community came and helped at this event, spending time with the children and making this event possible. Along with this we had a UFC fight night where we cooked out and invited people to come and donate what they saw fit. This worked in two ways, one it provided a fund raising event but it also provided us, as a community, an event where we could invite people outside of the church who could then learn what we were doing and why. Finally, my wife and I hosted a dinner where we invited over family friends. We provided a great dinner, that cost us very little to prepare, and explained what we were doing and asked them to think in terms of if they went out for dinner what it would cost and donate that amount.
These three events provided us a way to raise the money, and as a second benefit, a way to encourage people to think about what they could do to help and get people who were not physically going on the trip to still invest time and energy alongside those who were. We were all able to see God at work in providing for individuals and for the project for which we were going. Finally, it brought us together as a community, allowing each to participate and feel invested in the vision.
Many of us in the quarter-life ministry have previously been to Vietnam. We would regularly exchange stories, memories, or refer to experiences we had there to describe the greatness of God. Vietnam was on the hearts of many in the group.
With this, I made the decision that we, as a community, would attempt to put together a new trip, designed with college students and young singles in mind. When I expressed my desire to those in our community the response was exciting.
Like any trip of this magnitude many signed up but the obstacles of life began to prohibit some from participating: money, work, other commitments, etc. Money always seems to be the biggest hindrance to someone going and doing. Trips like these cost enormous amounts of money and for a group of broke college students this fact was especially true. Added to the regular money we had to raise to get ourselves to Vietnam was the money needed to complete our project. We have many young, techie types and educational types in the group. Merging these two skills into a project was an easy process as GVI had an opportunity for us to build a computer lab in the region of Lao Cai. Of course, building this computer lab required money beyond the normal money we needed to raise. It was a daunting task.
God was at work from the very beginning. An individual approached me who was not able to go to Vietnam for various reasons but wanted to give the money that he had saved for his trip to the group to use however they needed. This huge donation came from an unlikely source and made it possible for multiple students to meet deadlines when they thought they were going to have to back out of the trip. God was providing.
The next step was raising money for the computer labs. We have a girl in our community whose background is in marketing and fundraising, so we brainstormed with her. She had amazing ideas, and we came up with plan after plan that for various reasons just never seemed to take off. It was during a regular community gathering that we all arrived on the idea of spreading out the fundraising events, and allowing people to use their talents and ideas to go about this process of getting the necessary money. We have a guy whose family owns a gymnastics training facility; he opened it up one Friday night and allowed parents to drop their children off for a donation and we had a gym night for them. Many of the other members of the community came and helped at this event, spending time with the children and making this event possible. Along with this we had a UFC fight night where we cooked out and invited people to come and donate what they saw fit. This worked in two ways, one it provided a fund raising event but it also provided us, as a community, an event where we could invite people outside of the church who could then learn what we were doing and why. Finally, my wife and I hosted a dinner where we invited over family friends. We provided a great dinner, that cost us very little to prepare, and explained what we were doing and asked them to think in terms of if they went out for dinner what it would cost and donate that amount.
These three events provided us a way to raise the money, and as a second benefit, a way to encourage people to think about what they could do to help and get people who were not physically going on the trip to still invest time and energy alongside those who were. We were all able to see God at work in providing for individuals and for the project for which we were going. Finally, it brought us together as a community, allowing each to participate and feel invested in the vision.
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