an open letter

(in the hopes that it will pull on at least a few heartstrings)

hey everyone

in just over a month's time i'm returning to Viet Nam to pick up where i left off in august. i'm filling in as operations manager for about six weeks and then will be helping to run one of our placements in the south central provinces in the new year. i feel i need to tell you, in case you don't already know, what's keeping me here.

this boy, Phuc, has changed my life. the first day i met him i was afraid of him, afraid of his deformity and disability, of all i didn't know. now i know i should have been afraid of what he would do to my heart! he has changed everything and awakened in me some unknown feeling that can only be akin to maternal love. he isn't the only child i will be helping when i get back, but he was the first one to break into my heart and you know what they say, the first cut is the deepest...


this child has nothing. owns nothing. does not understand the concept of material possession or desire for such things.he celebrates loudly and joyfully the smallest things that we have all taken for granted everyday of our lives; being picked up, held, talked to, loved, just touched. every pore of his tiny nine year old body exudes the purest happiness and love, lust for a life we could never conceive of.

so this is why i'm staying. Phuc and all the children like him that GVN Vietnam is helping. and they're here for you to see in all their technicolour joy and sadness.
it's three and a half minutes of your life, please turn up the volume and watch. please.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRIHm6lv5bI

if you think there's anything you can do to help them or to help me help them, i'd love to hear from you. it doesn't have to be the $30 a month, it can be a contact who might be able to help, a one off fiver or tenner or something much bigger than all of that. (for example, one or two of you have mentioned parachute jumps, i'm liking that kinda thing! ;)
we always always always need more volunteers too, you could join us even for just a month and who knows what you could do...

even though i'm travelling right now i haven't forgotten these forgotten children.and now i'm hoping that once you've watched this video that you won't forget either.

i'm sorry, i feel like i'm always asking and so many of you have been so good already...but these children can't ask you themselves

love and luck

eadaoin