Julie does such a fabulous job of blogging our adventures. I’m glad many of you have expressed your appreciation of her work. I don’t know how she does it, because it is exhausting being here (between the 12 hour time difference … and we are never here long enough to really adjust), and the chaos of the city, the language, money, directions etc. I try and do my part (and I believe I am a worthy travel partner J), but I know there are many things she automatically takes on that I don’t have to worry about. I certainly could do them, but it would add more stress. So, Julie Wilson – thank you for all you do. You are the best!!!
I don’t know if this is my last trip to Vietnam. There have been other years I have felt it was the ‘last one’ and yet here I am again. However, as this one comes to a close, I feel like this chapter may be over.
On my first trip here I intended to simply meet the kids Julie had sent pictures and videos of, and experience a truly unique and different culture. Multiple trips were never on my mind. South east asia was not a bucket list item. And here I am – my sixth trip to Vietnam (I think six - I should check I guess).
I never truly understood why I kept returning and yet all I can say is it was a ‘calling’. It has felt ‘right’, there really wasn’t a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’. For some mysterious reason, I believe God simply put it on my (our) heart that this was what He wanted us to do. One time I remember saying to Rusty – why am I (we ) doing this. We make all these arrangements, spend this money, invest this time, for a few days/hours of spending time with these kids. I’ll never forget his response. Well, if you do it for one week and there are 51 other people that do it for the other weeks, then those kids have additional love year round.
And Erin just said something that hit me as well. We were talking about coming in and out of these kids lives and how you can go online and see people who believe this is doing the kids an injustice … popping into and out of their lives. Of course the ones we have come to know (“our kids”) are sad when we leave, but isn’t that true in anyone’s life? When all of our family gather together during the holidays or on vacation, I’m sad when everyone goes back to their lives, but I’m thankful for the memories I have stored up. And we give the workers at the orphanages so much credit. I could not do what they do day after day after day. By being there we give them a bit of a break too. Who knows – maybe our trips here have been less to do with the kids and more to provide support to the workers. It really doesn’t matter whether we are here for the kids or the workers, when all is said and done – I can’t begin to express the love and joy I have felt from spending time with everyone (yes Long – for sure, you too!!).
And especially on this trip there was also so much joy to reconnect (really just with smiles and hugs since we can’t communicate) with the workers. Hugging is not expected in Vietnamese culture and yet there were many, many hugs upon arrival and departure.
