Past Cultural Events

Mission Trip 2009

Vietnam TET Holiday Orpanage Party

by Art and Barb Weisser

We arrived in Vietnam after a long, long flight that makes you feel like you have been riding a horse for a month. Fortunately, going west to east energizes me. Most of our time was spent in Camh Rangh working in three orphanages and the convent. We stayed in Nha Trang in the evenings. The sisters asked us to stay one night at the convent. We woke in the morning to the lilting sounds of the sister’s prayerful singing at 4 A.M. It was beautiful. Mass was at 5:30 A.M. Our quarters at the convent consisted of two twin beds with mosquito netting. They didn’t want us old duffers to have too much fun.

Sister Binh (mother superior) had supper with us and she poured us both 333 Beer. Of course you have to be considerate and eat what your hostess provides. She did not imbibe and maybe that was why we had twin beds. Only one beer come on (cam an is thank you in VN).

Barb and Art Weisser, medical supplies We addressed all the sisters’ medical problems with the meds we brought. The two major problems were dizziness from not drinking enough water. This is very common in all hot climates not necessarily because of availability. The consequences are low blood pressure dizziness and constipation. Acne was the other problem in an age group 20 to30. They didn’t complain about it but it stood out. The cause was unclear.

We brought over about 110 lbs. of medicines kindly provided by New Frontiers Health Force. They not only provided the meds free, their volunteers sorted them into appropriate doses and inserted standard directions for example Ampicillin # 30 one 3 times a day in a single plastic baggy. All done by non- denominational church volunteers. Boy did that make providing medical care easier. Many thanks to all that helped and prayed for us too.

Art Weisser

We went to 3 orphanages and treated not only the orphans but people living locally. The orphanages are run by the sisters and they are neat and clean. At one orphanage the sisters go to the local hospital and retrieve all aborted fetuses. They bathe, dress, name and pray over them and provide them with a dignified burial. One day while cleaning one of the fetuses it began to cry. She is now 6 years old. I am challenging some clergy in the USA to do the same. Please feel free to do the same.

Art and Barb, Vietnam We always feel blessed when we do this kind of work because we feel GOD at our shoulder. He shows us not only medical needs but the joy in people who have so little by our standards.
We support two girls at one of the orphanages, Lan and Thao. We had never met Lan. We had special time with them. We bought them swim suits, a first. Took them swimming, another first and out to eat. We bought them a new outfit for everyday wear. Most of all we hugged them and they hugged us and there was much joy and laughter. Other than us, they have had no one to hug them and make them feel special. The four Sisters have 40 orphans and 70 day care children to care for. Not much time hugging. We also were able to share with the other orphans, playing with them and hugging them. To those who donated to the TET party you were able to buy toys for the orphanage and individual orphans. We had a grand party and gave them the traditional red envelopes containing a few dollars. The plastic chairs that they sat on were all broken, so you bought new ones. You also bought materials to aid the sisters in teaching English to the children.