Recently we received a special gift to update the library at Promise House. The library had outdated books and many old, worn books. We wanted to give the children a library they can learn from and enjoy.
Chau and Kristen spent many afternoons over a period of two months buying all the books. The Promise House library is now the home to encyclopedias, books to learn English, books about science, comic books, picture books, fairy tales, novels… you name it, it’s there.
A few of the categories.
Chau and Kristen put a lot of work into the library.
Going through the old books.
Checking out the new books.
After all the books were purchased, Chau, Kristen, and some of the older girls cleaned out the old books, wiped shelves, and organized the new books by category and with a call number.
The long process of putting call numbers on all the books.
Just a few more books to categorize and the library will be complete. Once it’s complete, we will go over rules about how to take care of books, how to check them out, and how the library is organized. After that, the library is open! In the meantime, we can’t keep the kids out of there, they are so curious and eager to look at all the books!
Tam and Nghia found these masks in an old storage box. Too funny!
On July 27 we will be returning to the U.S. Our time in Vietnam has totaled almost 2-years and they have been some of the most rewarding and transforming years of our lives. For every story that we’ve shared on this blog, there have probably been 5 more that we just never had the time to write about. So much has happened and we have had the opportunity to be a part of so many peoples lives. We are looking forward to returning to the U.S. but are sad to leave so many wonderful things behind here in Vietnam.
We have been so blessed by the number of people who have faithfully and joyfully contributed to our work in Vietnam. It is difficult to ask for money but because of your generosity, we have rarely had to do so. However, we are asking for your financial support just one more time. Kristen and I need financial support to provide for our return flight to the U.S. After that, we just ask that you would keep us in your prayers as we will need buy a car, find jobs, a place to live, etc. We have finally managed to establish ourselves in one culture… now we must reestablish ourselves back in the U.S.!
Our friend Robin informed us that Twister was available here in Da Nang. At first, Kristen and I only joked about trying to play Twister at Promise House but then we later realized that it would actually provide for a great English lesson (hand, foot, left, right, colors, etc.)
We tried to keep the game hidden because the children are always so excited and eager to see new things but we needed them to focus on the English lesson first! Kristen put together some sheets/posters to help illustrate the vocabulary needed to play Twister. Once the children realized that they needed to know the vocabulary in order to play the game, they were a little more attentive.
Eventually, we rolled out the colorful mat (which was so much smaller than I remember as a child) and with the help of our friend and translator Chau, we kept the children off of it long enough to explain the game.
Listening to the instructions
It took them a bit to get used to the rules. At first, we forgot to explain that you had to keep your hand on the declared spot until told otherwise. Each time we called out a hand/foot and color combination, they would just casually put that hand or foot down and probably thought, “What a silly and simple game.” Once they realized that they had to keep their hand/foot in the same place they smiled and laughed as they realized how the level of difficultly would increase with that new rule. We played in groups of 4-5 children and soon they were stretched out, tied in knots and falling on top of each other.
Lance and Long playing
Trieu trying not to fall over
So far so good
Here is a short video clip.
It is always so much fun when we can introduce something new to the children at Promise House. Tony, who founded Orphan Voice, was just telling me a story today about visiting one of the children’s home before they came to Promise House. In a small one-room house, the teenage brother was taking care of his younger brother while their mother left for weeks at a time for work. She would come every few weeks, drop off a bag of rice and leave again. The older brother was struggling to keep them both fed. Many days, it was just a small fish and some rice to be stretched out for two-three meals. They were both complaining about always being hungry. The younger boy had a small piece of broken plastic that he carried around with him as a toy. Most of the children you see in these pictures have a very similar pre-Promise House story which is why it is so wonderful to see them laugh and smile.
Y, Dung, Nghia, and Thao learning the basic knit stitch.
A few weeks ago I was wearing a scarf that a friend made for me to Promise House. (Yes, it was that cold here… well, in the 60′s at least, but it feels that cold). Y asked me if I made it. I told her that I didn’t make that one (it was crocheted and really nice!) but that I do knit. I asked her if she wanted to learn, and she excitedly said yes!
Nghia and Lai practicing with their chopsticks
Now, I’m not a pro, but I do know the basic stitch, how to cast on, and how to cast off (and more recently I’ve learned the purl stitch). The Tuesday after I talked to her I brought my knitting stuff, she was so excited! We went up to the girls room and a small crowd followed us. I didn’t have any extra needles for them, so we just used some chopsticks from the kitchen (not as easy because they don’t have a pointed tip!). In the end I ended up teaching six of the kids (five girls and one boy) how to knit. Nghia, the boy who was learning, was actually really good and caught on fast. A few days later I bought them all real knitting needles.
Kristen teaching Lai
The Thursday after I taught them, we came to visit in the evening (as usual) and the girls we practicing their knitting in the TV room. By Saturday, Thi had finished her scarf and wore it when we went to the beach to play games.
Thao practicing knitting
Next lesson, the purl stitch! (and casting off, Thi finished her scarf her own way, but it didn’t quite work).
Kristen was a bit puzzled about what to do for my birthday this year since my birthday fell on the first day of the Lunar New Year – the biggest holiday in Vietnam. For the first day, the entire city basically shuts down and nothing is open. So Kristen’s gift to me was to make me three delicious, home made meals. Now, that’s pretty special in of itself, but it is even more special when you rarely get “western” food. For breakfast she made me an omelet, for lunch pizza and for dinner tacos! Thank you wife!
That cake I am holding was made in a rice cooker! I know, who knew?
Today, the second day of the new year, we woke up to one of the most beautiful days we’ve had in the last 2 months. We decided to go for a walk on the beach. (We have this week off in celebration of the Lunar New Year).
They only added the English a few months ago. Good to know.
This lady brought hats out to these three girls playing on the beach.
Despite the beautiful day, there were just a few of us enjoying the beach.
I never get tired of these boats.
The greatest wife ever.
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*A side note about blogs and keeping up with them.
I know many of you are already well aware of these tools, but for those of you that are having trouble following multiple blogs these can really help. I have over a dozen different blogs that I try to stay up-to-date with and Google Reader/NetNewsWire keep them all in front of me on one page.
You just need a google account to take advantage of Google Reader. Just add the website’s feed from whatever website or blog that you want to follow and it will automatically show you new updates in your Google Reader. NetNewsWire (Mac only)
For those of you that are on Mac, Net News Wire is an awesome blog reader. It is an actual application that you can keep open on your desktop and check for updates. I love it. Even better, it syncs with your Google Reader account.
For some of you this may be common knowledge, but for others, these tools are a great way to keep track of multiple blogs. Just thought I would pass it along.
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