August 2022
It certainly has been an interesting period during the years 2020 through to 2022-3. I was in Vietnam down the Mekong ,to see the wedding of Dieu Huynh a friend of Suoung and myself. It was early March 2020 when I tried to leave the Mekong. I normally travel by sleeper bus. The dreaded Covid - 19 had just stated throughout the world. So the bus company in full panic mode, wouldn't take any westerners on their buses. I was forced to pay one of Dieu's friends to drive me back to Vung Tau, as I was leaving for Australia two days later. I arrived back into Australia just before the closure of some flights and the 14 day quarantine period here in Victoria, Australia
This of course eventually stopped all travel throughout the world. I had a sponsors tour organised for 2022. Although some travel restrictions had been lifted by then it was still questionable what was open or still closed, so it was decided not to go ahead.
The profiles in the 2020 & 2021 years were completed via Suong and emails. Wasnt easy although we did get through.
In August 2022, I did go to Vietnam alone, and along with Suong we again visited all the centres to catch up with the children. Certainly a bit of movement with the chidren, as many families were forced to move back to the family homes.
It was certainly an interesting period. At least we were again travelling. Travelling thoughout Vietnam with Suong seemed very much back to normal.
Another piece of bad news arrived in June 2021. Sister Minh Hai had passed away. She was the person who started the Tu An Buddhist Pagoda. She never refused any baby that was left outside the Pagoda, as many babies were abandoned during the years. She was a most beautiful person. She visited Australia many years ago and I had the good opportunity to meet her and share an hour with her over a cup of tea.
Over the years of visiting Tu An she really loved the way DOVES supported her children, and loved Suong for her contrbution over the many years.
(Below the two faces of Minh Hai. Young and beautiful, the carer of her children.)
In 2022-23 Suong was diagnosed with breast cancer and recieved many doses of Chemotherapy & Radiation. A lot of money was raised by a lot of friends throughout Australia to help with her very high medical costs. Eventually having an operation. It was certaily a very bad period for Suong.
Arriving back to Vietnam in August 2022, I met up with a friend Clarrie Cockburn. He always stays at Suongs hotel, although through Suong's illness she has stopped running her hotel.
Suong has finally had her last radiation treatment. She was also turning 50 in a few days, so we had a small party to cellerbrate this special day. Clarrie, Kathy Le, (Suongs daughter) & (Blue) Ian Anderson & myself purchased a laptop for her. As Blue wasnt there, Kathy took a photo of the three of us and somehow superimposed Blue into the photo. She placed this as a screen saving. Suong was extremely happy to recieve it. (Photo below left Suong's laptop, Below right photo taken at Matildas Hotel. Blue wasn't there, note jumper on Blue)
A group from Adelaide, that Suong always looks after were also there for her party. A great deal of seafood was consumed and a few drinks, then a birthday cake to celebrate this special girls birthday. (Below centre the children of Tu An helped Suong enjoy her birthday with a birtday cake)
Suong, Clarrie & myself went to Tu An Orphanage in middle of August to take the normal childrens photo etc.
After our greetings, Sister Dieu Thoa had all the children seated on the floor. Called Suong to join them. They then bought out a birthday cake for Suong, they were all singing happy birthday with so much joy and love, then gathered around her as she blew out the candles. One of the most enjoyable moments I have seen in Vietnam. Suong was still feeling very ill after her last dose of Radiation, however this made her feel a million times better.
(Below left Sister with the latest baby, below right the children already for Suong's surprise birthday cake)
After the surprise cake it was down to the photo taking and school results being recorded. There had been a lot of movement at Tu An. A lot of the teenage girls were moved to another Pagoda. Although numbers didn't go down as we had 19 new children about to start school, and of course join the sponsorship of DOVES. It was sad not being greeted by Sister Minh Hai, she always made you very welcomed, normally with a baby in arm. The children loved her, as she treated them all as her own.
As Suong was still having the effects of her treatment, she couldn't travel by sleeper bus, our normal way we travel to all our centres. Mr Viet a brother in law of Suong (my pick up from the airport also) would drive us. Clarrie decided to also join us.
The first destination was to Suongs village. We stayed in a new hotel in the town. (Photo above centre) On arrival extremely heavy rain greeted us. In the evening we visited Suongs relatives. They made us most welcomed, and were certainly happy to see Suong as it had been many years since they caught up. Food and drinks and a great evening. (Photo above left)
The next day it was to the book store to get pens, pencils, books etc. for the children. (photo above right) The market to buy treats and candy. Then off to her village to be greated by her sisters and the children. The treats were put into bags.
Photos were next and school reports taken. A couple of new children were taken onboard. Then treats given to the children, group photos taken and off they went to there familes around the village.
We enjoyed lunch then, back to the hotel as Suong needed some rest.
(Photo below left Children from Suongs village.)
Nha Trang was our next destination a week later. Again we stayed at Asia Paradise Hotel. The hotel is 12 stories high with about a dozen rooms on each level. The hotel had only 13 rooms let and we had three of them. The normal great breakfast was now only Pho and eggs. A big let down.
The city had approx 70% of shops and resturants closed. Most Russian & Chinese had vacated the city during COVID. It was very sad sight to see.
In the morning we met uo with Chau Vo, a person who loves to help when we are in town. We were on the way to Kim Son Pagoda via the market. Suong was asked if we could purchase a blender for them. (Photo right with other goods)
Phanxico requsted a washing machine, so first stop was the electrical store. After much debate what to buy them, also trying to get a discount, we chose a Samsung washing machine and a good blender for Kim Son. DOVES could finance that as we do not pay the same rates for their education at Phaxico as other centres. Although from next year that changes as the Government has decided they will no longer give them any grants.
Unfortunately the machine cannot be delivered until the next day.
(Above photo left shows the Vietnamese enjoying the beach at Nha Trang during the evening. Above right the children at Cho Moi with Sister Bao Van, Suong, Peter & Chau Vo)
After our visit to the electrical store it was to Chau Vo's parents at the market. This year the moon cakes were out, so we bought one for each child along with candy & treats, and other essentials.
Fruit and small treats were offered to us as we prepared to take the Photo's & school reports. A couple of new children were welcomed into the DOVES program. It was time to goodbye and straight of to Phanxico.
Phanxico is an all girls, from years six through to year twelve. They all make you feel welcome. The girls although they cannot speak english ,still love to communicate with you.
A few years ago a very large hurricane ripped through Nha Trang, doing a lot of damage to the city and Phanxico also recieved a lot of damage. Although they were going to do a lot of development, this brought it forward. All the old toilet & shower block was removed including the childrens sleeping areas. They built a new room that is certainly great for the extra education they recieve, and any other activities.
A big welcome to DOVES was written on the black board.
I took photos of the washing machine that DOVES purchased. Sister Thanh Nga was truly excited with it when shown. She showed us the area the machine was to be placed, so everyone would have easy access to it.
Again photos & reports were taken. This process is carried out in a smooth organised way, working down my list. After lunch (pre purchased) prefer when girls coked the food, treats given to the girls, then we said our goodbyes.
Before I left I spoke to the Head Sister of the church. She was really great to talk with. Spoke how the Church wants to move the sisters every few years, how it improves their knowledge etc. Spoke of the American war, and other topics. A great ten minutes.
(Below group photos of girls at Phanxico including the new class room or used as a general purpose room, new washing machine for Phanxico)
We left after breakfast for Da Lat. Had lunch on the way at a new resturant about half way. Very nice meal was had by all. After checking into our hotel Clarrie called to see if I would like a drink. We started looking for the place I have had a couple of beers in past years, unfortunately closed. So we walked back towards our hotel and found a very good placed next door to where we were staying. Our driver Mr Viet also joined us. Suong was resting after the large drive, until one of her friends from South Australia, Maurie Denton who was also in Da Lat, gave her a call. Suong came down to greet him and his friend. A very special evening developed.
The next day it was off to Ta Nung Catholic Orphanage in Da Lat. The first stop was the market. We were doing the shopping, as Sister Bernadette was in retirement. Suong bought what she required although we had another stop at the supermarket, not our normal shopping, where she bought a box of 25kgs of chicken legs as well as other produce. This was certainly a different request of food they normally buy. The 3 million dong we give each centre can be spent in any way they see fit.
On the way we called in to see Sister Bernadette who we had just been told she was forced into retirement. The Church wanted her to retire at 70, she refused, staying on until her 80th birthday a few days earlier. We shared tea with her. She started telling her life story to Suong who briefly interpreted to me. She started the Orphanage 50 years ago. Many twists and turns in her life as she explained it to Suong. It has been her whole life dedicated to the her children and the Catholic Church. Although I really didn't understand what she was saying, it was great being part of it. I took a photo with her, shown below. Sister Bernadette is very small I needed to bend over to get down to her.
The new Sister that has taken over from Sister Bernadette is Sister Thi Kim Thuy, who has worked at Ta Nung for many years.
The children unloaded the car and Clarrie & Suong started making up the bags of treats. Another cup of tea then down to business. Photos and school reports. Another two children also joined DOVES. Ta Nung have just started taking in babies. The babies come from young Catholic girls, who are cared for by the church during their pregnacy. The girls are young and don't want to keep the baby, so they sign it over to the church. It will then be cared for, until the child turns 18.
After a nice lunch, treats were given to the children, and group photos and a bit of fun with some of the children.
Before leaving Sister Thuy mentioned that the Catholic Church had a boys orphange in Da Lat and asked if we could call in and talk them. So we said we would. Good bye to the children for another year.
As promised on the way back to our hotel we called into the boys orphanage. We were met by the head brother Joseph Chinh. He introduced us to the 22 boys, one of them grabbed my hand and took me on a tour of the various rooms. He showed me all the drawings pinned to the wall. Then taken to the class room. A very happy young boy who didn't want to let go of my hand.
We had long talks with Joseph, trying to work out what if anything we could do for them. DOVES had lost a few sponsors through Covid, so wasnt sure if I could find sponsors for another 22.
Joseph gave me a booklet about the St Micheal Home that listed all the boys names in it with a photo. It was decided I would take a photo of the boys in the same order in the book so I knew what photo belonged to what boy. We left them after having good feelings about the place.
While we were driving back to our hotel I got a call from a man I met in Vung Tau, where he said he was keen to sponsor. When I mentioned to him about this new orphanage he quickly said don't worry they are all covered. We were speechless, he later sponsored ten boys, that alone was a tremendous effort. So we told Joseph DOVES would take the boys on.
After a quiet night we headed for the long drive back to Vung Tau. Suong was tired, although the radiation treatment was at last wearing off and giving her a bit better quality of life.
Clarrie went back to Australia a couple of days later, with myself going a week later. Great to get back to Vietnam and always great to get home. Another great trip, See you next year Vietnam.
