Viet Nam Medical Mission 1997

If anyone asks me why I'd lead a medical team to Viet Nam, I would say it was out of obedience. My initial intention was to return to Viet Nam as a member of a medical team, but God had something else in mind. It was a struggle at first for me to accept that He wanted me to lead, to be responsible for the lives of the team members in a communist country, a country that I had purposely tried to lose all contact of its culture, ethnicity, and people when I was growing up. God had opened the door, a perfect opportunity for service, and I was chosen. It was up to me to accept or refuse His offer. Well, I accepted the Call out of reluctant obedience, with only one request that He would be my Cloud by day and my Fire by night.

As it worked out, most of the team members had the same Call to Obedience. The date was set, but we were not sure exactly what we were going to do. We were invited to Vung Tau for the first week, Tay Ninh and Duc Hue for the second week. The hosting doctors would tell us our tasks when we arrived. Talk about the blind leading the blind. I have to give God all the Glory and Credit because I didn't know how these people still wanted to come with me, eventhough, I could not give them definite answers. All I could say to them was "Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape." There were so many unknowns, yet we all went like Abraham not sure of where we were heading but trusting God, the All Knowing, the Omnipotent, the All Powerful God. As we packed our bags, He promised to give us Strength like Samson, Wisdom like Solomon and Power like Elijah.

Around 3 AM the day of our scheduled departure flight to Viet Nam, I was awakened by my mom. She was frantic, trying to tell me to hurry upstairs to talk to my uncle who was calling from Viet Nam. "You can't work in Vung Tau", he said "because they don't have the approval from the city officials. Are you still coming?" I surprised myself by answering calmly, reassuring him that we were still coming. God said that He was, is and ever shall be IN CHARGE, and it was His Trip. I knew that He was doing something Good, His Way. I shared this new information to the group at the airport in San Francisco before our flight out of the States. Everybody had checked in by this time so I knew they could not back out now. If they were bothered or worried by this new development, they didn't show it. What was there to do except to wait and see what God was going to do. I thank God for their maturity and relationship in Christ, and for His Peace and Promise.

As our plane touched the ground in Viet Nam, I knew we had reached the point of no return. Whatever about to happen was in His Sovereign Hands. We got our 22 boxes of medicines and supplies through customs, the task was nothing short of a miracle. They wanted to know what was in the boxes, which boxes contained the medicines, how much each medicine cost and for the treatment of what disease. Were there any anesthetics, narcotics etc.? They wanted to keep the medicine boxes and wanted us to translate our lists of content of each box into Vietnamese. After two hours and many silent prayers, they allowed the boxes to go with us. We thanked our Father for His Provision and left the airport to our awaiting relatives. Now, who is who?

In short, this was our schedule which God had set for us. We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City Sunday afternoon. We went to Vung Tau for sight seeing and rested on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday, we worked in two villages around Duc Hue and saw about 300 patients. Thursday and Friday, we were to work in a suburban of Bien Hoa, but because the village officials did not contact the medical authorities of the region for permission, we were asked to leave, after we had already examined 55 patients. That was OK because everyone was very tired, exhausted from the previous days of work. We dusted our feet and went on our way. On Thursday, we also visited the Psychiatric hospital in Bien Hoa and was able to get Sandy, a psychiatrist, a return visit for Saturday to work with one of the psychiatrist there. Saturday, some of the team members returned to Duc Hue for a half day of clinic. We saw about 80 some patients. Sunday was the day of rest and everyone took advantage of it. That afternoon we drove to Tay Ninh to settle in for next week task. We were up and ready to work at 7 AM, but because they were not ready for us, we went site seeing till' noon. They met us then and took us out to a village where we held our clinic. We did a full day of clinic on Tuesday at another village and it was here where we were interviewed and taped by the local TV crews, of course without our consent. We saw about 300 patients during our stay in Tay Ninh. Sandy and Tammy spent Tuesday with a Psychiatrist at the city's training hospital. This was when Tammy passed out from exhaustion leaving Sandy on her own with a dictionary to communicate. We left for Ho Chi Minh City that night since Sandy was leaving early for the States on Wednesday. The team sent her off, then returned to buy gifts for the 317 deaf and mute orphans who we were going to visit on Thursday. Friday, we went to the leper colony with our van full of 770 bags of gifts. As a conclusion of our tour in Viet Nam, we visited the Burning Bush clinic, the first Christian clinic set up by South Korean Methodist church, to donate our leftover medicines and supplies.

As we sorrowfully said good-byes to our friends and relatives on that Saturday afternoon, I cannot express how Good and Awesome Our God is. Despite the missing luggage of two of our members for four days, despite the night in Vung Tau when we thought our lives were in danger, despite the two hours sitting in the police station and having them tell us that we could not work in their city, despite the heat and the unsanitary conditions, we all left with the desire to return someday, short or long term missions. The trip was made complete when one of our new friend came to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior. We felt the prayers of the saints throughout the trip and the power of those prayers in our lives daily, as God accomplished His purpose through us.

We are all Called, few are Chosen. Who will be obedient? I am glad that I was obedient to the Call, and I will never be the same again.

Huyen Tranberg, MD

Dear family and friends,

First, I thank all of you who had been faithfully praying for us as we traveled to Vietnam. You have also been valuable team members of our mission trip. Without such strong support at home, this trip could not have been as blessed as it was. We have witnessed great power through your prayers. I thank each of my teammates who heard and answered God's calling. Without obedience, there would not have been a team. I thank the Lord for His faithfulness and His promise that He would never leave nor forsake us. He definitely used this experience to draw us closer to Him and to trust Him in everything. On a mission, we always hope to bring God's blessings to other people, yet we are the ones blessed tremendously. I would like to share the blessings so that you might taste the fruit of your faithfulness.

I recall my first glimpse of Vietnam from the airplane window. I felt as if I was watching a scene from a war movie. Old helicopters were parked on the grassy plains, and rusty shelters lined the runway. A chill ran through me. I was a bit nervous as if coming home to see an old friend from long ago. I wasn't sure of what to expect or how to feel. Having been gone for nearly twenty-three years but having no recollection of this land and its people, I was surprised to feel strong emotions well up inside. This would be no ordinary experience.

This mission trip had many challenges. Some foreseeable, and some not. I was reminded that all was in God's plans whether or not it was in ours. The Lord made it clear from the very beginning that this whole project was all His. I know now that it is only a fraction of God's greater purpose.

I was awed at that thought that we were half way around the world. This was my chance to reconnect with my roots and my people. I didn't think much of it at first, but throughout the three weeks, I sensed a growing affection for the people. Now, I understand what great affection the Lord must have had when He calls us "His People."

The three weeks opened my eyes to the things I had heard, yet had not seen about Vietnam. Most of us don't step out of our homes each morning to meet poverty right in the face. I saw the despair in the people's eyes. Yet, it was a blessing to see hope in their eyes when they met us at the clinic and walked home with a few pills in hand. Needless to say, we have it really good here in the States, and I shall remember not to take the things the Lord has given me for granted.

The medical work we did barely scratched the surface of their needs. But, we were hopeful when we were told that they walked away smiling. The six hot and humid days in the villages were exhausting to our bodies, but we were rewarded with special meals by the host of the clinics. Snake and wild boar are delicacies of the region, so we considered ourselves well treated to be served these at our meals!

We took two days to visit the orphanage of deaf and mute children and the leprosy colony. It was a Kodak moment when the children all came rushing to the bus to receive us with smiles all over their little faces. That day, I was at my weakest point in health, but seeing the enthusiastic children renewed my strength. They were so well cared for by the Nun and her helpers. Their lives were well structured, and they are taught to make beautiful embroidery. The leprosy colony was another sight to see. The people were so happy to receive their small packages. I learned that in giving, I was receiving much joy!

Throughout the trip, the Lord's presence and guidance was evident. He calmed us in our fears and broke through our frustrations. He gave us peace among one another. When the tension was high, he gave us laughter. Numerous times, He humbled us and brought us to our knees to praise Him and to worship Him even for the stumbling blocks that were in our way. He taught us that His blessings would overflow only when we were in sync with Him and with one another. He gave us a neat and diverse team, and I am thankful for the friendships that developed. We met a new friend in the two weeks, Long. And now, he is a friend in Christ. The timing of the Lord was just right, of course. Long prayed and accepted Christ on the Friday before we left. It was very neat to see how the Lord worked. Our one teammate had been battling sickness for most of the second week. By Thursday, she could barely eat and was nauseated. But, it was over her mealtime prayer that led the two into a conversation about Christianity. The Lord lifted all weakness from her body and she witnessed with full energy! That night, however, Long mentioned to Huyen that he didn't want to convert. It simply would be too hard for him in a family who is all, except for one uncle, Buddhists. Friday, the Lord bugged him all day and gave him no peace until he finally gave his life to Christ on the bus ride home. Amen! All of Heaven rejoiced with us! We could say, "mission accomplished!"

With this, I conclude my letter to you. I would be encouraged to hear from any of our readers of this newsletter. Or even better...come join the mission. Next year, when I return to Vietnam, I can say, I am coming home to an old friend.

Because of God's Love,
Hanh Tran
Wheaton, IL

My first mission trip to vietnam, the trip that took me about 4 months to decide whether I should go or not. At the beginning, I did not want to take this trip, so I kept on giving myself several reasons for not going. Then I prayed about it seeking God's answer. The answer came to me when I was working for the Billy Graham crusade in San Antonio last April. It was a little voice inside of me telling me to go to Viet Nam. So I obeyed that voice. From that moment on, I began to get very excited about the trip.

I thank God for calling me to be a part of this mission. One of the most joyful moments that I experienced during the trip was to witness to Long, a 16 years old teenager and also an assistant to the bus driver. One Thursday morning, after visiting the orphanage, the only thing I could think of was to go back to the hotel and rest. I was a little tired because I hardly ate anything in the last four days, after the dinner at Tay Ninh. But on the way back to the hotel, we stopped for lunch. I decided not to order any food, except a drink. Huyen was very nice, she encouraged me to eat something to get my strength back. So she shared some of her food with me. I prayed over the food before I ate. As I opened my eyes after praying, I realized that Long was imitating me. He thought I was sleeping. So I told him that I was praying and not sleeping. I explained to Long why I was praying, at this point I realized that this was an opportunity for me to tell him the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. Few days earlier, I learned that Long believed in evolution, and to him God did not exist. As soon as I began talking to Long, I could feel my strength coming back.Before this, I did not feel like talking to anyone. I just wanted to wait for everyone to finish their lunch so we could go back to the hotel. All of a sudden, I was very talkative as I was sharing the Good News to Long. I thank God for Huyen and Tram being there to help me when I could not explain well to Long in Vietnamese. During our conversation, Long seemed to be very receptive, but he did not respond to us. The following day, on our ride back to the hotel from a farewell dinner at Mr. Chanh's house (Trinh and Huyen's uncle), Long asked me what he had to do to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Huyen and I told him what he needed to do, then she helped him pray the salvation prayer.

After praying for Long to accept Jesus Christ, we were all rejoicing and thanking God for giving us the chance to tell Long the Good News. I thank God for His love, faithfulness, and everything that He had done for us. I thank God for giving me the easiest job in this mission. My job was to translate for Dr. Sandy Eames. I really enjoyed it. Although, there were a few times I could not understand what the patients were talking about, God always sent either Hanh or Tram to help me out. I thank God for providing us a luxurious living condition in Saigon. I thank God for all my new friends on the team, and in Viet Nam. They are all wonderful people.

I would like to thank pastors Gene and Sue Lingerfelt from Cathedral of Praise for praying for the team and myself. I'd like to thank them for teaching me the uncompromising Word of God, not only for me to have an overcoming life, but also to strengthen and prepare me for the work of God. Thank you to all my friends at Cathedral of Praise and the Vietnamese Church in Fort Worth for praying for me and for your words of encouragement. God does work miracles through prayer.

A special thanks to my family in San Antonio, my sister and her family in Fort Worth for their financial support and helping me to get ready for the trip. Above all, God alone deserves all the glory and praise. He is an awesome God, and He is able. Without Him, this trip would be impossible for us.

"'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord". Zec 4:6

Tammy Dinh
Arlington, TX

Diary Viet Nam Trip 1997

DAY 1, Friday, September 26
Jackie left for Viet Nam at 9 am. The group from MN met at noon to check in the 18 boxes of medical supplies, and returned to leave for Vietnam at 5 pm. The group met up with the rest of team members in San Francisco at 10:30 pm. We needed to check for Hanh & Annlia's carry -on bags that were delayed during transfer in Dallas, at midnight...hmm! We flew out without them at 1:30 AM.

DAY 2, Saturday, September 27
We're somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. Jackie arrived in VN at midnight.

DAY 3, Sunday, September 28
Group devotional in Taipei at 7 am. The team finally arrived in Tan Son Nhat airport at 11:30 am. Jackie met up with the group at the airport. The medical supplies were divided up to 3 different vans destined to the hosting hospitals at 2 pm. We checked in to Van Lang hotel, District 1- HCMC at 3:30 PM and went out to dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 4, Monday, September 29
We left for Vung Tau and spent a day at the beach since our schedule had been changed. We went out to eat and visited the market. That night we had "Trouble" with the police, they wanted our passports.

DAY 5, Tuesday, September 30
We left Vung Tau for Duc Hue, stopping at a relative's house for breakfast unknowing that we were late for Long An clinic at Duc Hue District. Clinic was chaotic and our poor Jackie became ill from the heat. It rained in the afternoon, thus making the road muddy. After clinic, we walked ankle high in mud carrying boxes with the guide of a few flashlights to the bus. The local officals fed us dinner.

DAY 6, Wednesday, October 1
We returned to Duc Hue, held clinic in Binh Thanh & Binh Bac Village, treated 150+ patients. Lunch and dinner were hosted by the locals. Clinic condition was better. There was a baby blue pit toilet, that everyone refused to use.

DAY 7, Thursday, October 2
We held clinic at Binh An Village, Thuan An Binh Duong District and we were asked to leave at noon because we didn't have proper authorization. We treated 45 people. Tanya was sick and stayed home. We visited a Psychiatric hospital then went to the airport to pick up Hanh & Annlia's luggages which costed them $40 in extortion. The night stroll at Ben Bach Dang & the ice cream feast at Baskin Robbins were great treats.

DAY 8, Friday, October 3
Free Day. We went sight-seeing and visited the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Post office, Ben Thanh market and Tay Son (lacquerwares) Company. We had a thank you banquet and ate duck feet and pig's intestines amongst other authentic food.

DAY 9, Saturday, October 4
We returned to Duc Hue District, Long An Province for half a day clinic. We saw 94 patients. After that we visited Hiep Hoa, and took cannoe rides to a burial ground belonging to Trinh's relatives. We went visiting relatives from house to house. Major industry for the region is sugar cane.

DAY 10, Sunday, October 5
The Sabbath. Sandy and Trinh went to church at 155 Tran Hung Dao. The team then left for Tay Ninh a 4 hours bus ride. We were punctual, leaving at 3PM on the dot!

DAY 11, Monday, October 6
We were up and ready for clinic first thing in morning. They were not ready for us thus suggested that we sight see till' noon. We visited Cao Dai Temple, the reservoir and park including the Buddist Temple. Clinic started around 2 PM in Tay Chau District, we treated 115 patients.

DAY 12, Tuesday, October 7
Another clinic day in Tay Ninh, we saw 177 patients. Then we left for Saigon late afternoon.

DAY 13, Wednesday, October 8
Free day. We went to the book store, Xuan Thu and shopped for the orphans that we're visiting tomorrow. Sandy flew out early for the States, and Don left with his uncle for a visit in Long An.

DAY 14, Thursday, October 9
Deaf and Mute Orphanage in Thuan An Binh Duong, 317 children. The Director is sister Pham Thi Nhiem.

DAY 15, Friday, October 10
Ben San Leper colony, District 3- HCMC, population 770. The Director is Le Van Truoc. We were craving for a western taste and went looking for Annies Pizza. The address was a demolished building. Thus we had lunch at the New World Hotel, $4.95 Buffet.. We visited the Burning Bush Clinic to drop off supplies. Farewell party dinnner was held at Mr. Chanh's house.

DAY 16, Saturday, October 11
Annlia and Hanh left for Danang at 7AM. The rest of the group left for home (US) at 11.00AM.

DAY 17, Sunday, October 12
Jackie left for Korea Sunday morning at 1:10 AM .

Two months ago, I went with a team of doctors and nurses to Vietnam on a medical mission trip. Ostensibly, a trip to bring much-needed medical services and supplies to the impoverished villages and hamlets of South Vietnam, this mission trip turned into a two-week odyssey filled with life-changing discoveries, humbling experiences, and unforgettable memories.

We spent most of our time working in small clinics that were situated on small dirt roads in the middle of vast expanses of farmland and rice paddies. Our first day of work basically set the tone for the balance of our trip. When we arrived at our clinic in the village of Duc Hue, located in the heartland of southwestern Vietnam approximately 15 kilometers from the Cambodian border, we found over 100 people waiting for us. They had gathered several hours earlier, enduring the blistering heat of the merciless noontime sun, filled with anticipation. Within minutes after we unloaded the rather large cache of medicines from our bus and set up our logistics, the people began pressing in on our reception table. Almost by magic, the crowd rapidly doubled, as legions of the poor, sick, and lame made their way to the clinic, with some of the elderly walking several kilometers for a chance to be treated by Western doctors. As the hours went by, the burgeoning crowd grew larger and larger, as did the buzz of excitement. Many people told me that this was the first time that doctors from America ever came to their village. One elderly lady, who stared at me from her fragile and weary eyes, even told me that the last Americans that she saw in person in her village were American soldiers during the war 35 years ago.

This scene was repeated at every location that we worked. We encountered many people whose lives could almost literally be held in their own hands. The jagged lines that were written onto their frail, thin faces told a story of hardship and meager poverty. The years of toil and struggle were carved into their weatherworn hands. Each person had their own unique story, stories that I could never find in any history book or journal. I was touched daily by the genuineness of these people, who reached out with their own simple affection and trust. During one busy stretch of work, while I was trying to listen to five people who were all clamoring for my attention at the same time, and also squirming in discomfort because my shirt was soaked with sweat as a result of the humid and cramped conditions, two elderly ladies quietly stood behind me and used their large straw hats to fan me while helping to push back the crowd.

Whether it was an old widow whose voice trembled with every breath, or a battle-weary man whose face was etched with the scars accumulated through years of labor and toil, I felt as if these people were a part of my life, as if I perhaps had some distant kinship with them. Each time I looked into their eyes, I wondered what they were thinking, what their dreams and aspirations were, what I could do to bring any small amount of hope to their faces. Many of these people could not afford any medicines, so they let their illness linger for extended periods of time. Those who had enough money to buy medicines often took whatever the local village doctors told them to take, usually without questioning. This odd combination of poverty and blind faith revealed a fragile side of humanity that I had seldom seen before. For these people, especially the young malnourished children, life each day seemed like a dangerous dance with destiny, dangling so precipitously close to the edge, like a puppet hanging from worn-out strings.

Despite the hardships and lack of bare necessities, the people displayed a strong sense of resiliency. I was amazed by their resourcefulness. I wish I could have only half of the strength that they had to endure their surroundings and press on with their lives, as meager as it seems. Through this clearly evident will to survive, I could feel the hope that each of them held for a better life, inspite of the limiting conditions. Hope, in these situations, is like a flame flickering in the face of a daunting wind. Each day, the most unforgettable memories were of the huge smiles that broke out on each person's face as they were examined by the doctors and received their medicines. They clutched each package of vitamins, pain relievers, and eye drops as if it were a chunk of diamond. While the medicines are simply temporary items that will not ultimately cure or heal these people, I like to think that those precious packages carried the message, hopefully life-changing, of hope and reassurance ... that we cared for them, that God ultimately loved them and did not ignore them.

For me, these smiles were precious gems that transcended cultures, like treasures unearthed from the ancient ruins, touching at the very core of my own humanity. The most difficult part of each day's work was leaving at the end of the day. The ride home was always one of melancholy sadness for me. My body was nestled comfortably in the cushioned seat of the van, with a comfortable bed only one hour away ... yet my heart remained in the small ramshackle houses on the edge of the riverbanks. During these long rides, my mind often drifted to the words of St. Francis of Assisi, "Go and preach the Gospel. If necessary, use words."

Now, several weeks removed from this trip, I still feel some of those melancholy stirrings within my heart. And I thank God for those, because they remind me of the magnitude of this trip on my life. I thank God for using this trip to break my own arrogance and prejudices toward my own people, and for allowing me to be touched by the personal lives of the village people. I thank God for bringing me to my homeland to see the need of the people, and for using this experience to NOT let me forget about them. Hopefully, through our work, the people were able to see the love and grace of God, and perhaps begin thinking of a better future in eternity. I am most grateful that God brought me to a far away, a place that at times seemed bleak and dark ... and showed me how to light a candle in a dark room. Though faraway, by God's love and His grace amazing, the land, and its people, became much closer to my heart.

Donovan Le
San Jose, CA

My Dearest Family and Friends,

It didn't seem to be difficult to return to our daily routines in the United States. It seems as though I never left the country. But it feels great to be able to flush toilets instead of pouring water. My perspective on life has been altered. As a whole, I have changed. My experience in Viet Nam was an awesome journey. What I saw and did was an eye-opener as it was predicted before leaving the states. I must tell you what my eager eyes have seen and what my ears have heard.

Before I start, I have to ultimately thank the Heavenly Father for giving me the blessings of my eyes and ears, and an open mind to grasp anything. He has provided us with an abundance of blessings throughout the trip. He has brought us home safe with a different view of life. There were some points of our trip that we felt danger. But through daily intense prayer and devotions, we placed great faith and confidence in God that He would keep us safe... and He did. God has obviously revealed His sovereignty throughout our journey. Part of the journey was to seek what God had to offer. It was our turn to accept Him and His ways. It was easy for to go on this medical mission because we wanted to obey Him. It was my duty to go. I am so glad that I listened.

I also have to thank the family and friends who gave us support. Whether it was through prayer or money, I deeply appreciate your kindness to support me and my group. I never prayed so much in my life, but the prayers were awesome because they were answered in mysterious and divine ways. We knew then that God has been with us from the beginning. In the midst of the communist government and feeling unsafe where we went, prayers were what we relied on. Our hearts knew that your prayers were working. We felt that power of prayer. It sure goes a long way when we believe in the Lord. I learned to have faith in Him no matter what the situation is. The trip was a success in three ways. One, we were able to provide medical care among different villages despite the government hassles. Whether it was through medicine, by our physical touch, or by simply providing attention they yearned for, we hope that they saw the love of Christ through our work. ( I have to remind you that Christianity in Viet Nam is not favorable. Buddhism is the primary religion). Two, we had a 16 year old boy commit to Christ the night before our departure. God was surely working in him throughout the two weeks we spent with him. We were not allowed to share our faith among the villages due to strict government policies. Third, I returned to United States with complete satisfaction, that I felt so close to God. He prepared me to enter in a "whole new world" by sending the right people to me. Through him, I entered Viet Nam with an open mind. I came back with a whole new perspective on life. I took love for granted and what I had. People of Viet Nam live so simply by fulfilling the necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, and family. We tend to forget and not appreciate the basics because we have so many distractions in the United States.

I am very thankful for what I have and the many blessings God has provided. I would not mind returning to Viet Nam or go on other mission trips. I am reminded to return to the simplicity of life because it draws me closer to God. Please continue to pray for me and my growing faith.

In Christ's Love,
Annlia Tronca
Rochester, MN

In October of 1997, I went to Vietnam on a medical mission trip. Since it was my first trip home in over twenty years, I had much trepidation in my mind and heart. Although it was for a short-term, I learned and received so many blessings from God. Because I am not a doctor, I did not know what my role would be, especially in the two weeks before the departure date. I went and entrusted my faith in God to use me in any way that would please Him.

While visiting from one village to another and traveling along the bumpy and rocky roads, I often looked out the van window and observed the scenic countryside. I experienced a jolt of discomfort at the materialism I take for granted. I saw people living in poverty, especially in their simple thatch houses that were built along the river banks and side roads. I wonder how they survive. It was disheartening for me to see these people in their living conditions. It was as if an unknown infliction had ached through my heart, resulting in a thrust of pain that subsided in my body. Having the privilege to do take-ins and meet the people on a one-to-one basis, I will forever remember the frail looking, elderly men and women who have developed lines on their faces, revealing a sign of severe hardship in life... and especially, the children who have polio or are malnourished. It planted unforgettable images in my mind.. ones that continue to inform my prayers for these people.

In the last two days in Saigon, the most rewarding and blessed experience out of this trip was the opportunity to visit the deaf and mute orphanage. I had been looking forward to this moment after having seen so many patients at the local clinics. During the ride to the orphanage, I became anxious, wishing if we could reach our destination a little faster. As soon as we arrived at the orphanage, all the kids, bowing low with great politeness and respect, came rushing out to greet us. Yet, seeing these children for the first time, a feeling of helplessness also hit me hard. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be in their world, not able to speak or hear. At the same time, a sudden rush of excitement and joy came over me as they gathered around me with these radiant smiles on their faces. They uttered a few words which I could not understand. Nevertheless, I sensed that they were ecstatic to see us. Their warm and friendly welcome conveyed their sincere receptiveness and loving nature. They were so well-behaved and disciplined. I felt so relaxed around them. I felt an urgency to reach out and hug them all. I appreciated my time with these precious children. Although the visit was just for a few hours, I will always treasure those short, yet one of the most joyous moments of my life. I am more convinced now than ever that I must return and reach out to these little ones, to help them grow and most importantly, to introduce them to Christ. These children are full of zest for life and to see them grow up not knowing Christ would be a great loss.

As I returned from my trip, I often experienced a poignant sense of loss. Perhaps it was because coming into contact with the poor and destitute. It was the camaraderie of shared travel, the people from the villages, and a sixteen year old boy named Long who accompanied us and later on accepted Christ as his Savior. It was the emphasis on Jesus in work and play. I witnessed how God unfolded His plan to change Long's heart from the first day that we met him and to our final moment of farewell. I am still in awe by His work... how a stern, reserved young boy had transformed into a confident, friendly, and happy person in Christ. It was so transparent to see signs of God's presence. His mighty hands had protected and reigned over us from the beginning until the end of the trip. I feel like losing something, yet I have gained so much. All in all, God indeed has allowed me to form wonderful personal contacts with the people ... perhaps more intimate than others in the past. I have seen Him at work in another culture and society. He has removed my pre-conceived biases against my own country, painting me only a picture of love and positive images. It is my hope and prayer that God may continue to use me and grant me the wisdom to discover ways to boldly communicate to the people His eternal concern and love.

Thanh-Truc Nguyen
San Jose, CA

REFLECTIONS * REFLECTIONS

* Aren't we there yet?
	We've been called to be a people of prayers,
	of fervent petition, compassion and care;
	We arise to meet this call,
	to share the light of Your glory,
	Your mighty deliverance,
	the power of Your passion for people everywhere.
	Hear the cry of Your people,
	as we call on Your Name;

That song was my prayer since we left Taipei "Oh God, come, pour out Your mercy." Sitting in the middle section near the isle of a 747, you couldn't see much from any window, unless the plane is tilting to the sides. As our plane descended to an altitude of 17,000 feet, Ho Chi Minh City (the old Saigon) and its subcities appeared in the midst of the lushes green vegetation (Yeah, a tropical city with tile roofs, "forever" green shrubs, almost like Hawaii). Close up, the city appeared ancient and its buildings were deteriorating and in desperate need of restoration. As the plane pulled in from the runway, visible from the windows were the old hangars covered in black smoke, some were left partially standing for the world to see. A ghostly sign of what once was a glorious past. After 22 years, I was finally home...I'm home... As the excitement grew my fear grew double, and my anxiety grew in triplet portion (Oh boy, I'm...we all are on this blind faith rollercoast, so hang on and enjoy the ride. Which box did we pack the eject button?.. it's in Tay Ninh..no, it's in Hanh's carry on).

* Good morning Saigon (the balcony scene): Awaken by the ringing of bells from the nearby cathedral at 5:17 AM (5:17 PM yesterday in Minnesota), curious to the noise below, I went out to the balcony. From the 6th stories, I had full view of Hai Ba Trung street and beyond. Vendors setting up their shops on the sidewalk, as pedestrians and motorists headed toward the direction of the ringing bells, mass had started. I heard the sound of hymns reverberating in the air. From above I could pick out the tourists from the locals by the way they dressed and rode their scooters. Usually, tourists wore shorts and T-shirt riding their Honda very cautiously. In Viet Nam, vendors hauled everything on their Hondas. Often, I saw families of three and sometimes four on a Honda weaving through traffic. The first morning in my home town seemed a bit strange. The city quickly came alive as the darkness lifted for the morning dawn. I couldn't stop my wandering eyes from viewing this large canvas of people and activities. I noticed a xich lo (bicycle-taxi) pulled up next to a pedestrian then quickly pull away (the price wasn't right). Another one pulled in at the curb, negotiation began again, shortly, the woman hopped aboard and slowly she vanished from my view. As motorists buzzing and Honda honking in the street below, it is going to be another profitable day in the market for unique service providers and street vendors.

* Why are we here? I asked this question while walking in a starless night, ankle high in mud carrying a medicine box from the Health Commune to our bus. This was the end of our first day of work. Everything that could possibly go wrong did. We were unintentionally late, so the people in the village had been waiting for half a day in the beating sun. Whatever happy mood they were in this morning had changed drastically. The bottle neck in our strategy was in the pharmacy for there were so many prescriptions to fill, but one had to go through our one sheet index that indicated which of the 22 boxes the medicine was in. Integral to the flow of traffic, pharmacy was cut off from the rest of the the team members because of the layout of the clinic, so that whatever the doctors prescribed they couldn't find or didn't have because they were in the boxes that went to Tay Ninh. Thus, medicine substitutions or any kind of medical shortage were difficult to convey between the physicians and the pharmacists, besides the trouble in reading the hand-writings.
By late afternoon, the inside and outside temperature felt the same. All the doors & windows were blocked by bodies of people, whose curiosity made them permanent fixtures of the room. We were trapped in these rooms with no cross ventilation and with little water. Around late mid afternoon the weather had shifted, new cloud formations began and zillion droplets of rain came tumbling down forming puddles in our room. Yup, we began to experience roof leaking and the invasion of the little furry creatures (tiny baby chicks) that flocked our space, this was their refuge from the rain. A short while later, one of our team member went down because of heat stroke, then all source of electrical power went dead. We were left in the pitch dark trying to pack up and the people were not happy to leave because they had not been seen. So we bid our farewell and promised them that we would return on Saturday morning to pay our dues! Exhausted but very gratisfying, we boarded the bus!

* The lesson learned: As our plane made its final preparation for take off, I sank in my seat, and closed my eyes. Images, like a mother & child begging on the beach; the crippled beggar crawling in the open market; numerous homeless children lying along the sidewalk during our night stroll; the straw huts with tall antenna; the wrinkled hands that touched me; and the teenager boy named Long who the group had poured their hearts & souls because he was near and tangible. Some-how if we had made an impact in his life, we made a difference on this mission trip. Yes, compassion came with a price and required long term commitment. All the medication and supplies that we brought only bring temporary relief to the people of Viet Nam. What they needed is the everlasting love, and salvation through Jesus Christ. I thank God for the Rochester twins, for their bubbling joy. They truly are soldiers of faith (even in borrowed clothes). I thank God for Sandy and Jackie for their unconditional love (love for them has no cultural boundary & no language barrier). I thank God for Tram & Tammy, who conquered their fear of unsanitary condition & of sickness (they overcame their physical barrier with love). I thank God for Tanya because of her, I am financially worry and debt free on this trip. I thank God for Don, with his openness had brought his concerns to the group for discussions. For my sister, Winnie with obedience led us to take this leap of faith (yup, to a point of no return)... I thank God for family members, without their connections this trip would not be a reality for us. This song came to mind and peace entered as I slept:

	I will never be the same again , I can never return
	I've closed the door, I will walk the path, I'll run the race.
	And I will never be the same again.....
	......There are higher heights, there are deeper seas
	Whatever  you need to do Lord, do it in me
	The glory of God fills my life
	And I will never be the same again

It finished (yeah, this trip is, BUT..!)
Trinh Ngoc Tranberg : )
Maplewood, MN

Impressions of Medical Mission to Vietnam

Everything happens for a reason. This simple statement has led my life and guided me down each path along with a few detours along the way. The trip to Vietnam was designed long ago by divine intervention. Paving the network of roads, allowing me to choose the path that resulted in this temporary stop along the road of life. The Medical Mission to Vietnam.

I traveled to Vietnam for intense personal reasons some not yet realized by the capacity of my intellect. While my faith in God is very deep and faithful I find it difficult to be a type of "charismatic evangelist" instead believing that loving Humankind and earth is to be close to God. My life experiences have led me to be aware and respectful of the different religions and cultures of the world. Knowing our supreme being is watching over us and that we all have a thread of communality.

It is with this belief, I went to Vietnam providing humanitarian aid thus fulfilling the role of serving God. The God I know that has been there for me and watching over me all of my life.

The trip started out on a cool day in September. My sister Nancy delivered me to the airport and to bid me bon voyage. I had no fear, no apprehension, I knew what I was doing was right.

The plane ride was not a lonely one with an interesting cast of characters to keep me company along the way. It was waiting for my connection in Korea that a little loneliness crept in while waiting for my flight to Vietnam. But yet, I still had the confidence and the strength of the mission to buoy my spirits. Even with an almost empty plane void of females except for a few flight attendants and myself, I still did not feel alone. I was happy to end the journey of flight after the more than 20 hours in the air. As the plane taxied, I contemplated where my friends were that had accompanied me eight years previous on my first visit to Vietnam. I contemplated where my newly acquired friends were, some of whom I had not yet met. Looking at my watch I realized they must be over the Pacific ocean by now. It was time to disembark. For some reason we were not allowed to get off the plane directly at the terminal but instead had to deplane on the tarmac to the waiting bus. Flashing lights and a few armed uniforms took me aback at first but yet I still felt completely safe. The hot tropical weather hit me like a blast from a well stoked fire. I remember my friend Professor Jon's words about Saigon "it has changed so much since we were there in 1989". The newly arrived passengers all scurry to the immigration line to get checked in. My friend Minh's words ring in my head "do not slip a "tip" in your passport. It usually means you have something to hide". I hand my passport over to the official and we exchange smiles and courtesies. I am relieved I take Minh's advice. I look around the airport and realize the airport has changed so much from 1989. Modern conveniences abound along with the duty free shops resembling the airports that we take for granted in America. I retrieve my luggage and proceed to customs. Now I am nervous, I was not sure what I should declare and am concerned I would be taxed or worse yet have things confiscated. The customs woman demands to know what I have in my three pieces of luggage. With a look of aloofness, I tell her "Oh um clothes, food, stuff." Omitting the nebulizer machine, 48 boxes of crayons,45 packs of gum and two dozen Frisbees packed into my bulging luggage. I am also worried that if the luggage gets opened the cornucopia of medicines I brought along for my personal use will cast suspicion of whether I was opening up my own pharmacy. I know the customs woman was a little irritated by my seemingly stupid and confused look on my face. I was directed to the "cultural" desk where you generally and arbitrarily get "taxed". Only this time I am only required to submit my signature that I forgot. I figure she must have chalked up my protruding suitcases to my decadent American lifestyle. In two minutes I am out the door, hoping at this hour of 1 am, my prearranged driver would be there. I am relieved to find the concierge waiting along with a driver, holding a sign with my name. I am starting to feel a little important and the decadent American. The ride to my hotel was short interspersed with conversation and wide eyed wonderment at the buildings along the way. At the hotel I settle into my room of rosewood walls. I am excited and find it hard to sleep, for tomorrow is when my true journey will begin.

The day dawns beautiful and sunny. I am glad to have received a few hours of sleep. I do not want to be late getting to the airport to meet up with the rest of my medical mission team mates. I wait among the crowd outside of the airport for no one is allowed into the airport unless you have a plane ticket. I wait standing in the heat for a couple of hours. I am glad for the shade provided by the canopy in the waiting area. The time goes fast watching with amusement the competing taxi drivers jostling for position to get closer and closer to the door. The Security Guards endless pushing back the line but then letting them get closer. It was like watching the ebb and flow of a tide. I watched with intensity as wave after wave of newly arrived people came from the airport. I was here a short 12 hours before and did not get to witness the crowd of anxiously waiting friends and families. People would sneak peaks at me probably wondering what this tall white American was doing here alone. I am reminded by one kind driver to zip my back-pack closed where I had carelessly left it open by about one inch.

Finally I hear my name. I am relieved to see my fellow team mates had arrived! The pace picked up at this point with the loading and negotiating of the 20 plus boxes of medical supplies and medicines. I hugged a few and introduced myself to those I had not met and only knew by voice. I felt somewhat lost in the bustle of activity so I started to snap pictures of the scene. Thus the journey began.

I loved Vietnam. It was my second trip and so very enriching for me I can only hope that those we gave medical treatment and comfort received as much enrichment as we had. The Vietnamese people are cordial and very respectful. I am frustrated by my ignorance of the language and try to communicate in other ways. While the country is very beautiful there is also much that needs to be done. There are beggars in the street that are children, the elderly, the handicapped. I want to reach out and touch to give what I have. But to do this is not good idea for then you may be overwhelmed and hounded. There is much bureaucracy. Yet I see great potential for this great country. I see hope and the realization of many in regard to a more free economy. It is a country of poor and rich. With glaring examples of both. During our clinics I attempt to interact with some of the locals because I know this is important. I touch, I smile, I laugh. This is my way to attempt to communicate. I am rewarded with huge fantastic grins and waves. I wonder what they thought about this big goofy American who appears to be pretty well fed?

I fall ill at the first clinic, I stagger into Huyen's concrete cell like exam room, nauseous and heart palpating, the blood pounding against my skull. She takes my BP as I sit next to a patient on a wooden slat bed myself now the patient. My BP is unusually high for me, I ask for ice to lower my temperature. I hear the motorcycle start and drive off in search of ice, I hear Trinh in another room asking if there is medicine available for me. At this point I feel my body transcending itself the sounds a distance away perhaps in a cave or muddled as though I am sinking below the surface of water. It is then I am brought into focus by a chorus of sweet angelic voices of "hello, how are you" I look to my left and see the faces of smiling young boys and girls peering in at me through the barred windows. I respond back and we repeat this exchange endlessly. I remember their laughter, their sweetness and their limited English as they watched me with my head transfixed into a retching position into a ziplock bag. I feel guilty for falling ill because my teammates are working so hard in the heat and I am sick. The ice I place against my neck and forehead cools me, I fall to the side and wake up to the stinging mosquitoes, the angelic faces are gone with the enveloping darkness of sky. Were they my guardian angels sent to watch over me? I am going to be ok.

Clinics after that first day were a breeze. Enjoyable, fulfilling and full of promise of helping the people. I am impressed at some of the facilities for I expected less. We had electricity and water and a spirit that transcended all. My hope is to return some day to aid in a project to enable the people in the countryside to help themselves. Perhaps teaching basic hygiene, midwifery, inoculations, first aid or CPR. Equipment, medicines and medical supplies are limited in the villages.

After we finished our medical work Huyen arranged for us to visit a leprosy colony. I was very apprehensive to visit not knowing what to expect. I have little knowledge of Leprosy and hope to learn more. I was very impressed with the conditions at the colony and more so with its Director. My heart breaks to see the people afflicted with this disease and I want to reach out and touch but I am afraid. Again I am rewarded with the spirit of this group and staff, their smiles and waves. I am so happy that we were able to bring them each a package consisting of noodles, bar of soap, box of cookies and a towel. Hanh is able to leave a collection of baby clothes that we know will be put to good use.

Our group also had the opportunity to visit an orphanage. We found the orphanage clean, well organized and devoid of personal effects for the children. As our bus pulled up we were rewarded with the excitement of children jumping up and down and waving. I felt like we had just pulled in with Santa's sleigh. I realized at that point the children of the orphanage were all deaf and mute, all 300 plus. We were warmly greeted by the nuns. They treated us to a reception of the children singing to us and "signing" to us. We responded with "applause" our hands silently fluttering in the air. I asked what the orphanage really needed and was told hearing aids and cloth to make clothes for the children. The boys learn woodworking, the girls are taught sewing skills.

Another enriching experience was the visit to the Psychiatric hospital. The patients were all dressed in a deep sky blue apparel. At first the patients were apprehensive of us during our short tour of the locked courtyard. They seemed to be attracted to me but it could be I was lagging behind the group and was accessible to conversation. It started out as hellos and pretty soon our group was treated to the most beautiful acappella singing by one of the women living at the hospital. The singing overjoyed my heart.

In conclusion I would like to add the following commentary. This trip far exceeded my expectations. It personally enriched my life due to the interaction with my fellow team members and the people I met along the way. I had a built in emotional support group from the start from my fellow team mates. Our group needs to give itself credit for the love and acceptance of each other and the open communication we had. I truly feel like a new person from this enriching experience. I haven't figured out what it is yet. But I feel like I have a renewed "sense of self". I feel more of a commitment to my home and work to be more disciplined in my every day tasks. To those that know me, procrastination should be my middle name. I want to strive for higher goals and not "sweat" the small stuff. I hope our group will remain close and strive to keep our relationship with each other going strong! I am excited to follow the next road that God will lead me down.

Thank you to my family and friends for their thoughts and prayers and a very special thank you to my Mom!

Jacqueline Kearns
Saint Paul, MN

Geography: Covering an area of 2029 square kilometer. Rural regions make up about 90% of HCMC and hold around 25% of the municipality's population. The other 75% of the population is crammed into the remaining 10% that constitutes the urban centre. Politically, HCMC is divided into 12 urban districts (quan) and 6 rural districts (huyen). The 12 urban districts are: District 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, Binh hanh, Go Vap, Phu Nhuan and Tan Dinh. The 6 rural districts are: Binh Chanh, Can Gio, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Nha Be and Thu Duc.

Population: Officially, 4.5 million. In reality, six to seven million. Many of the illegal residents actually lived legally in Saigon prior to 1975 but their residence permits were transferred to rural reeducation camps after liberation. These people and now their children & grandchildren have simply sneaked back into the city, though without residence permit they cannot own property or a business.

Climate: Being only 1.5 degree north of the equator and 5-10 metres above sea level. There are two main seasons: wet (Summer- May to November) and dry (Winter- December to April).

* I think everyone enjoyed the time of exploring Saigon to get a feel for the city and see the various socio-economical conditions. I especially liked the group walk with Long at night through Sai gon and a few hours at Ben Thanh Market
* More than I had expected...just right for resting in between work days.
* But I do wish we could of gone to the Palace and Museums, Pagodas wish list if time

* As it turned out, I think it was beneficial to everyone's health that we had more time to rest then we originally planned. The long days (bus ride, work, loading/ unloading boxes, late night preparations) made people realized that they had to take a rest..which was one reason why nobody got sick.
* I was expecting more time, but I was glad we only did what we did. It was more exhausting than I had expected.
* It was a good combination of work and breaks. I think if we pushed it more we would have been stressed and cranky and would not have been able to help the people in the way we did.

* Yeah... I really enjoyed my role. Was great opportunity to talk with the people and hear their life stories. I think we had the right people in the right roles/tasks at the clinics.

* Great
* Good
* There were many unknown factors so that it was a bit confusing and frustrating at times. But overall, we adapted well to the changes.
* Very well organized; much work and thought was put into this mission, mostly by Huyen and Trinh Thank you for organizing it.
* Good, given the fact that the team was composed of people who came from different parts of the country and did not know each other very well. The really terrific points about the organization: very well prepared, everything was written down and photocopied before we left, finances and records well kept, you had some terrific connections. Boxes of medicines were well prepared.
* As good as it could be because it was a pioneer project. Now we have connections, which is great.
* Pretty organized, outlines good, maybe increase communication to why something working out a certain way to avoid misunderstanding (if any).
* The overall organization of the trip was: considering the whims of the various local government officials and the unfamiliarity with hotels, villages, road conditions, and influential contacts, the overall organization was great. The Tranberg's relatives and Dr. Hong were instrumental in organizing the details from purchasing medication to determining which villages to serve.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you, Greater Love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a sevant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to You. You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear much fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. John 15: 12-17

Huyen Tranberg, M.D.
Fax/Tel: (612) 731-0835
Email: huyen.tranberg@cl.nmmc.com