Today Dorothea writes about Go Vop. I also am including a note from Honey. FYI, I watched Dorothea type this bawling her eyes out, praying and typing!

 "Today we made a visit to Go Vop, the orphanage where we first met our beautiful Kristina in 2001. I was asking her what she was feeling about going back to visit. She told me she was nervous and excited at the same time. Hey, me too! The new manager was there today, on a Sunday, to meet us! Something was evidently different from our last visit one year ago. Thanh was warm and gracious, genuinely welcoming all 10 of us. In the past I have always felt like we had to rush through here and that our presence was an inconvenience. In fact, I don't ever remember really feeling welcomed here before today.

Tommy, my son!

New adminstrator; a new season full of hope

Born without ears but can hear a little...

Last year we didn't go up to the 3rd floor. We (Honey & I) gathered Tommy, Johnny, Ali, Kristina and our staff for a little pow-wow about what we would encounter on the 3rd floor. I asked them to pray for the babies and older ones in these rooms. As we made our way through a dank hallway on our way to the staircase, it reminded me of how an asylum must look. Musty, dark and lonely were the words that came to my mind.

Our nephew John

This floor is the one where the severely disabled children live. The 1st of these 3 rooms is where the toddlers are.  Some of you may remember our past journals describing these sweet babies and children who were born with hydrocephalous. There are no funds for the shunt that would help manage this at-birth condition. Most of the others have cerebral palsy. My first instinct was to run back down the stairs! I walked over to each crib and just touched most of them on the leg or the head. I said a prayer for God to relieve their pain. Tears flooded my eyes and ran down my face as I reached out and stroked their legs.

Some were aware I was there, and for one fearful moment I thought, "What do I do if they look me in the eye?" It was like standing at the edge the high dive, thinking about turning around. I just jumped in and our eyes met! It was soooo good, so much love! I wondered how long it had been since someone caressed them with love. As I am typing this today, I get a lump in my throat and my heart is really hurting just thinking about their broken little bodies. I believe with all my heart that my God has a special place for these precious souls in heaven.

GIBTK staff member praying over a child

I walked in and over to the cribs where they were lying, touching an arm or a leg, praying for them. I came upon a boy who was very small, but he was probably a teen.  We caught each other's glance so I stopped, stroked his chest, rubbed his hands a bit and smiled. All of the sudden, his little face broke into the biggest smile and he started laughing. What a gift!

Yes, I did walk through the last room with the oldest children too. Here a boy, probably much older, was writhing in pain and moaning. I remember him from past visits. His body is bent backward so far and twisted that his head nearly touches his feet. I lost it right here, I'm so glad he couldn't see me crying. How uncomfortable is this little guy every day? When he is hurting or hungry or lonely or scared, what does he do? What about when he needs a change?  How on God's green earth have I EVER had a reason complain, or grumble, or be ungrateful for ANYTHING? I stood in the room and asked God to comfort all 238 children in this orphanage, most of who are disabled.

I am so very humbled............"   Dorothea

My daughter Kristina

Thanks and I will send Honey Go Vop email in the next few days. Pray for God's leading for all of us!

><((((º>  BBlessed