Cathy
Visiting Vietnam has connected me with the past and future. The past because it is the place where my dad died 41 years ago as a pilot. The future because connecting with orphans, exchange students, and young people is the hope of tomorrow. Before the trip, GVI was just a phrase I heard at Northwood. Now I can picture the importance of Glocal Venture, Inc. and put names and faces with our work. Even though our family has been involved with local work through home makeovers, feeding hungry children in Haltom area, I now have an expanded global vision through trips to both Mexico and now Vietnam. I had been skeptical how a few days could make a difference, but seeing joy, appreciation, and friendship blossom, I was profoundly impacted. At first, an encounter with a 14 year old girl who seemed distant and forlorn. I wondered if I would see her smile? After a quick exchange of names at our bus rest stop, our paths quickly intertwined at Do Sonand I quickly saw a bond form and grew to love both she andher sister (and many others). Through prayer, physical labor, affection, and monetary support, I can stay close to them and the heart of Father. And who knows-maybe a trip back sometime.
Visiting Vietnam has connected me with the past and future. The past because it is the place where my dad died 41 years ago as a pilot. The future because connecting with orphans, exchange students, and young people is the hope of tomorrow. Before the trip, GVI was just a phrase I heard at Northwood. Now I can picture the importance of Glocal Venture, Inc. and put names and faces with our work. Even though our family has been involved with local work through home makeovers, feeding hungry children in Haltom area, I now have an expanded global vision through trips to both Mexico and now Vietnam. I had been skeptical how a few days could make a difference, but seeing joy, appreciation, and friendship blossom, I was profoundly impacted. At first, an encounter with a 14 year old girl who seemed distant and forlorn. I wondered if I would see her smile? After a quick exchange of names at our bus rest stop, our paths quickly intertwined at Do Sonand I quickly saw a bond form and grew to love both she andher sister (and many others). Through prayer, physical labor, affection, and monetary support, I can stay close to them and the heart of Father. And who knows-maybe a trip back sometime.
Debbie
Before I left home for Vietnam, I had invisioned what this trip would look like. I would be seeing the sites of a different country and I would be helping out with some kids at an orphanage and maybe pick up a souvenir or two. Well I have experienced an amzing country and I have bought probably many souvenirs, but what I expected to happen with "working" at the orphanage just is not exactly what I had in mind. Isn't it amazing how Father works? Instead of me doing something for the children, they did something for me! They gave so much. From kids who had so little material belongings, they had such big, giving hearts. They gave with their joy, smiles, touches, hand holding, hugs, and happiness they showed from the simplest things that we did for them. These kids who had nothing, even gave tokens of their love, whether it was a flower, or a small toy they recieved from the carnival. Or maybe it was in the way they served me at meal time.
It encourages me to stop and examine my own life. How did I appreciate and share with others? What makes me smile? Who do I care about enough at home to share my Father's love with? These children gave us their hearts and they stole mine. I will forever be changed!
