Are Your Eyes Open Yet?

Today we went to SS4, to begin developing new relationships. A lot of us thought it was going to be hard to develop new relationships, after being so attached to the Birla kids for the past 4 days. Before we even got off the bus, we could hear the kids singing, and one of the translators told us the song was about a girl who was looking for some one to love her. Immediately, it became clear that just like the Birla kids, all these kids wanted was for someone to love them. The rain and another group spending time with the kids allowed us to visit the babies. Of the whole experience, visiting the babies was the hardest. There were eighteen babies, and a couple of them were barely three weeks old. To make things even worse, we found out that most of them were abandoned and left there. Even still, the idea of this abandonment frustrates me. I try to view the glass as half full, and think that maybe they will be given a better chance at life, but how do you abandon something so innocent? I don’t really know what to do with babies, but still I and several others tried to show them as much love as we could, if only for a short time.

Once the group of University students finished up, we were finally able to meet the kids. We played some icebreaker games, and passed out beanie babies to the winners. Just like the kids at Birla, some of the kids began to find the person they wanted to hang out with. Clint actually found a kid who used to be at Birla orphanage; which, helped break the ice with some of the other kids. It was in poking them, giving high-fives, playing games, and asking them basic questions that made everything go better than everyone thought.

From there we headed to Minh’s farm; which, was much nicer than everyone had anticipated. We were greeted with a banner above the gate, and Vietnamese hats when we got off the bus. We were given the freshest green tea we have ever had, flan, yogurt, and milk. From there Minh’s mother greeted us, told us the history of the land, and let us know that it was Minh’s birthday. The whole experience was humbling, this guy who most of us barely know, cares more about our enjoyment, then us trying to do something for his birthday. I can’t tell you in full detail how beautiful this farm is, the view from the foot of the mountain was almost like being in Sapa. Most people who group up in these situations let it all go to their head, but this was the most humble family that I’ve ever met. His mother, a well known scientist, at one point even washed one of the ladies in the group’s feet. Again, there’s so much of the Vietnamese culture that I will never understand. We were fed an awesome meal, and then some local villagers sang and allowed us to do their traditional bamboo stick dance. (I don’t know what it’s called, but it was fun). It was overall a very humbling experience, knowing that I could never fully return the favor, and will probably spend my entire life in pursuit of being that humble.

Finally, after we got back to the resort we were staying at, we took communion together. It wasn’t so much the communion that was extra special, but what happened after. Some of the translators asked to see some of my photos from the years before, and one asked to read my previous blog. This time allowed me to share a little bit of what had been going on in my life, become closer with the translators, and explain to a degree why I love Vietnam so much. Still, the best was being able to read a portion of John with one of our close friends of 5 years here, and explain a little bit more of God’s love to her. It’s hard to help someone fully understand how much God loves them, and is looking out for them. How do you erase the fear of that person possibly loosing their family if they convert. I can only show them stories in the bible, tell them personal stories, and try to live as an example to help them out. This experience alone, was worth every penny of this trip.

While every part of me is physically exhausted, my mind is racing. We have talking about how people have been spiritually attacked this trip, and mine is much different this year. I have mental images of everything that happened over this past year, and fearing what lies next after I return home. There’s so much potential for next year, as I get ready to graduate, at some point in 2010, and all the doors that will open after that. The having to mind the wrongs I have done, and step up where I have failed before is definitely going to be difficult.