My friends, 

Here I come again with a thought that keep wandering in my mind for the past few weeks that I can't get rid-off, so here it is:

For sometimes now, once in a while when I happened to listen to the Vietnamese's Radio, I happened to hear about a program that talk about the Humanitarian Relief Mission in Vietnam done by "Thánh Đường Saigon" or "Saigon Reformed Presbyterian Church" with all donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses abroad.  Mục Sư (Pastor) Nguyễn Xuân Bão of Thánh Đường Saigon is leading this efford.

Upon hearing about their work of bringing humanitarian aide to the most unfortunate people in Vietnam, people affected with the lepreosy disease (bệnh cùi), thousand of handicapped victims left behind by a devastating war in Vietnam, most of them being South Vietnamese Veterans. Many have lost limbs such as their arms and especially their legs and unable to make a living because of their handicap, I was compelled to find out more about it. 

About 6 weeks ago, I called TDSG and had a chance to talk to Mục Sư Bão, our conversation was brief but I told him that I like to find out more about the humanitarian aid in Vietnam and if I could see a DVD of his recent trip.

The DVD was free and he basically told me "Nếu cô coi thấy cảm động, xin cô phổ biến dùm".  We viewed the DVD and I have to tell you that I couldn't hold my tears, my 8 years old said "Mommy, these people are poor, they are very poor". 
With $10.00 donations we can give one month of rice supply to a family with lepreosy, with $200.00 donations we can sent a wheel chair commonly called in Vietnam "Xe Lăn Tay" to a handicap South Vietnam Veteran or a lepper, the wheel chair will carry in the back with a metal panel printing the donor name and the receiver name on it (in this case, it will be whoever the individual or organization that donate it).  And otherwise, a $500.00 donations will able them to creat a Well in the most remote area of Vietnam where no clean water are available. Again, here, they will also build a cement plate with the inprint of the donor name on it. 

Last time when I called TDSG to ask regarding donating a wheel chair, they said Mục Sư Bão will leave for Vietnam the next day for his recent mission, therefore, it will not be enough time to accept a wheel chair because of all the preparation of printing needed to be done for the name plate, they film each mission on DVD to bring it back to you to show who was the receiver of your gift.  Therefore, I just donate rice instead. 

Driving home from work late one night, I just thought about the Ai-ban Club and the possibility of our group sending a common gift to the most in need people in Vietnam, a wheel chair that can change someone life in the name of Ai-Ban Club sounds so wonderful indeed.  This idea somehow keep coming back to me even when there are times when I thought this is not appropriate to ask and it could be complicated due to the nature of our common fund contributions. But I have to let it out otherwise it keeps bugging me like an unfinish mission!  

My friends, if this is not the right thing at the right time or even appropriate to ask please disregard this email, even, you can yell at me the next time when you see me too.  But if you believe that our friendship is not a pure accident but a blessing from the man above then together we can spread the love and caring to another human being much less fortunate than us by our common gift. 

I thank you for your time to listen to my blablabla.....; we wish you all a very happy Christmas day. 

ps. Thánh Đường Saigon phone number: 714-775-8852 in case if you would like to request a free DVD, or their website at www.saigonchurch.com I will take along the most recent DVD that I received from them to our gathering on New Year's Eve in case if you want to see it.

Warmly, 
Celine.