Hello and thanks to those who took time to write. A special thanks to those that complained for not getting regular email updates.  It encourages me to hear that.

It has been hot and humid this trip and Team 1 is home now but not without leaving a "footprint" in Vietnam. And I think Vietnam had left a footprint in the Pfleger's lives. Yea God.

I am including another note from Honey Pfleger. It took some arm twisting to get her to write about her experience at Go Vop and when she sent this she said, "This is as much as I can say and you're not getting any more. It was difficult to see kids like those written in yesterdays email."

The good news is I really believe we can finally get in there and make the difference. I have set up appointments with doctors next week to discuss plans to at least help the orthopedic cases. There is real hope in Go Vop for the first time!

The teen team began at Dai Loc orphanage with the Texas contingent spending 4 nights this year. In addition, one of the Newport teens is working on his leadership project for Eagle Scouts. The project is to assemble and distribute wheelchairs.

So here are the notes first from Honey then a couple from the teens.

Tom flew home this morning and Ali & I will be leaving Saigon on Tuesday.  Although the thought of my own bed and not feeling sweaty from head to toe is appealing, I know it will be hard to say good-bye.

Yesterday was very bittersweet!  Our team went to Go Vop Orphanage where Robert & Dorothea adopted their daughter Christina 9 years ago!  Go Vop does not process many adoptions any more, as the majority (85%) of the 250+ children are mentally and or physically handicapped.

We started off in the infant and toddler rooms with lots of love, tender embraces and prayer.  It was difficult to leave because they would all cry whenever you placed them back in their crib!

I want to take you home with me!

There was an upstairs area for the children with cerebral palsy, downs syndrome and children with hydrocephalus.  I was not prepared for what I saw!!  There were little babies and toddlers with grotesquely oversized heads due to the fluid on the brain.  Yes, this is treatable if the symptoms are detected and medical help is sought right away.  But in a country where these children live in rural villages and no way to pay for the surgery needed, they are left here to die.  Many of the children had open weeping sores on their heads, non-responsive eyes and limp bodies.  Dorothea, Christina, Ali and I walked from crib to crib praying for God to take them home, to give them a new body without pain. 

Ali praying for a child...

Watching Ali lay her hand on baby "Kim's" extremely swollen and enlarged head, sores and all and begin to pray for her was too much for mom.  I was trying so hard to be strong for Ali but at that moment I wept.  I watched as little Kim's eyes took in Ali's words and presence while the rest of her body was completely unresponsive, except for her tight grasp around Ali's finger.

On July 2nd we went to the Dai Loc orphanage. As we arrived about 25 kids screamed excitedly and rushed to see us. I was shocked at how these children would come up to strangers (us) and hug us.

Dai Loc Orphanage

Many of these orphans I grew very close to during my two night stay; especially a little boy named Tom who we called "Crazy". Crazy always was holding my hand or was on my back. Even though he was really fun to be around, singing was not one of his specialties. When we played karaoke he would go up and scream into the microphone.  Everyone laughed and we had a great time.

Dylan and "Crazy"

Hope the Power Bars hold up!

Hunter with the cat

><((((º>  BBlessed