Well, we landed minus one suitcase; Ali's... and oh yes Honey is still remembering things she had in it, too. Seems like Honey's tag got on the wrong suitcase. We have now tracked it down in Bali. There was an email address and the owner of the suitcase we got is pregnant and worried because she had a lot of important things in hers. So hopefully in a day or so Ali will have her things back. What brought tears to Ali was the thought of the gifts she had packed away for the kids.

   Saigon is not as hot as I feared it would be, but still really humid. And hey we get to go out and shop for new clothes! I have to be honest, I am tired. Usually I come in a couple days before the rest of the team and get rest but not this time. Once again my back is hurting, and being honest I began to wonder if the "sparkle" of this thing called Giving it Back to Kids is wearing off.... A lot of miles and lot of wear and tear.

  Our day went quickly and though we usually spend a few days in HCM we left for Danang the next morning, my back no better. My mood was tired if I am honest. As we got off the plane it was HOT! And then..... the kids of Hai Chau were there. Screaming Robot, Robot, (that's how they say Robert) They had drawn a big picture of me with them around me. (Of course I am much more handsome, right?) On the poster it said Robert our father, and that sparkle is back. In fact my tears are flowing as I type.

I know it is not the shopping or hotels or food... But it is the kids. IT IS THE KIDS! It is what God has called me and my family and yes all of you that are part of GIBTK to serve. It is the kids that make it all worth it. It is about transforming children's lives! How lucky, no how blessed am I to have heard that call. That call my precious daughter hears, The one she says is Vietnam calling her.

Why? I ask.  How quick is it all brought back to me.

  We are fortunate to serve these kids. So many of them hurting and parentless or maybe worse being the child that is picked to live in an orphanage and the siblings get to stay with the family. A couple weeks ago I was walking the beach seeking God. I felt as though God was telling me that I had lost sight of the vision. So here I was surrounded by "my" kids and I remembered the thing we do that is most important. And that is to give an unconditional father's hug to these children. Hug I did and boy did they hug back.

Friends, the sparkle of this thing called GIBTK is back! With a vengeance! We are going to impact kids lives. Keep us in prayer; we need it. Please take a minute to write because it means a lot to us.

from Dorothea:

"It is exciting to be back in Vietnam! Thanks for taking the time to read and follow along with us. I sat in the van this afternoon on the way to Sandy Beach thinking about how some things have changed and how some others, never change.

I will never tire of all the little smiling faces and tiny hands that push in for a high five or a crushing hand shake when we come out of the baggage claim area at Da Nang airport! Ooooo, lots and lots of hugs all around and flowers, ALWAYS flowers! I love it!  Tommy and Johnny are smiling and liking it very much that they are the tallest ones in the bunch! I love that our kids and Johnny are happy to be back again!

  Pretty good resemblance of Robot, no????

Looks like Robot....No? YES!

After our eyes meet, I love the going to hug each other time! I especially love going for the ones who hang in the background, they are waiting for their hugs too!

 

The Danang GIBTK staff

I was reflecting on growth as we met some new staff members today. The seed that was planted back in 2002 is flourishing with fruit; fruitful with staff, fruitful relationships with children, and fruitful with the expanse of God's ever present love. Wow! There are 4 teams coming in with GIBTK in the next several weeks. In a week or so there will be a few coming together for a day or so. What is especially thrilling for me is that those in the majority are YOUNG people whose hearts have been touched to come on a trip!

This proves to be an exciting trip! Don't go away we'll be right back with more!"

><((((º>  BBlessed