"Nightmare Battle of Nhi Ha"-Vietnam Magazine (Neil)




















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June 28 Experience of a Lifetime (Neil)

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I always experience a decompression, or deflation, period following return trips to Vietnam. It takes some days to get back on track, even with the demands of the homestead staring me in face. It's a process... There is no topping the 2018 Vietnam trip. This recent journey, with its challenges and successes, was exceptional in that it was a three-generational endeavor. Katie and 10-year-old Kira were impressive on all levels. Their input, support, and drive throughout cannot be overstated..."above and beyond the call." Katie kept me in focus, tolerated my erratic moods, and basically carried the ball with respect to keeping the blog up-to-date. Her posts were insightful and informative, prompting numerous laudatory blog and email comments...even phone calls.  Kira hung in there like a trooper, always ready for action. She didn't just "tag along", as one might expect from someone her age. Her eyes and ears were open, displaying a maturity beyond her years....
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June 19 Just In Time! (Katie)

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With just a single day remaining before our plane takes off from Vietnam, we are thrilled to share that the additional donation we received last week has lit up the faces of Mr. Vac and his family today! As previously mentioned at the end of a June 14th post , an urge came upon one of our avid blog followers to make a contribution to help the mentally handicapped family. This donation, when combined with what meager amount remained in the 2018 Humanitarian Trip Fund, allowed us to carry out goals that we thought couldn't even be considered until the next trip. If you recall, we discovered an astonishing need in this family's life. They're one of the poorest families in the Huong Van Commune, and we found that even the most basic of needs were not met. For a recap, feel free to refer back to these two previous posts: June 7 To the Village! June 11 Mr. Vac These three photos show the needs that we focused on that were deemed top priorities... Their o...
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June 22 Lucky Girls (Katie)

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Kira and I are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to join my father for this year’s visit of compassion in Vietnam. It was an eye-opening, educational, and rewarding experience for both of us. Though there are other things I am proud of him for, his humanitarian work in Vietnam is one for which I am most proud. I’m not able to comprehend fully to what extent, but I know that there is always a degree of difficulty in returning to Vietnam after his haunting 1968 experience. It takes a uniquely strong soul to prevail over those memories and emotions and keep returning to create happiness and healing in the sites that held such horror. Last night at our lodging in Anchorage, I walked into the dining room to find Kira telling a child and her mother about the people that her Grandpa helps. She spoke with such obvious pride that I had to smile. She had answers to whatever questions they threw at her as well. This has been a month that she will always remember. I’m gr...
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