Our Trip to the House of Love
January 2009
by Nathaniel Abel, Director of Development at Brittany’s Hope Foundation
by Nathaniel Abel, Director of Development at Brittany’s Hope Foundation
This summer, I developed a deep attachment and vested interest in each and every child at the House of Love center in Cam Ranh, Vietnam. They have touched my life and will always be in my heart.
Upon graduation from Elizabethtown College, Alex Sahd, a board member, and I traveled to Vietnam during the summer of 2008 to live with the children of the House of Love and teach English. Education is a vital component to a child's wellbeing and I am proud to have provided opportunity for the children to grow and learn.
Naturally, I was greatly anticipating visiting the center again in January 2009. In preparation for this trip, Brittany's Hope invited sponsors to bring in Christmas present for their child. We had an overwhelming response and thank you to all who participated.
Candace Abel, Elizabeth Abel, Mai-lynn Abel and myself arrived in Cam Ranh our second day in Vietnam. We were greeted at the airport by Alex Sahd, Sister Agnes, Sister Anne and some of the children of the center. Alex Sahd was spending a week visiting at the House of Love. When we arrived at the center, the children ran to the car excited to see all of us. We spent the remainder of the day visiting with the children and the Sisters.
I enjoyed returning to what I now consider my second home. I slept at the center so I could spend every possible moment with the children. I rose at 4:30am to attend mass with them (and I am not a morning bird) every day, and then enjoyed the buzz of the children as they began their morning chores. Utilizing a board which displays the daily chores, I loved watching and helping them sweep the floor, prepare breakfast, mop and sanitize the baby room, and help bath and feed the babies before dressing and heading off to school. I would watch with delight seeing these wonderful children happily doing their share of the work or cuddle a crying toddler. I spent every free moment enjoying laughing and playing with the children, and being reminded once again of what a loving and united family the children of this center really are to one another.
The last day at the center, the festivities began. Candace had brought mini Christmas stockings, glitter and glue for the children to customize their own stocking to hang by the "fireplace." The stockings were then filled with candy and other goodies. In the meantime, I was in the kitchen mixing icing to decorate gingerbread houses. The children broke into groups and worked on the houses. As usual, I think more candy ended up in their mouths then on the gingerbread houses but that is part of the fun. It was splendid to share some of our cultural traditions with them. When all groups were finished, we left the houses dry for judging later. The children then lined up to check their stockings and receive gifts from Brittany's Hope. It was great to see their smiles.
Later that evening, I had the privilege to hand out the presents the sponsors provided for the children. It was tremendous to see the wonder on their faces. They are just so hungry for love and the presents were special for the children. I tried to capture the reactions as best I could. They smiled, some got teary eyed, and others had such a reaction that made me doubt if they had ever received a gift.
Thank you to each and every sponsor for bringing love and happiness to these wonderful children. By simply supporting your child, you give them the realization that they are not alone in this world. Your child will feel loved knowing there are people outside of their world of struggle and poverty that care if they succeed in life. I invite all sponsors to reach out and share with your sponsored child. It will be appreciated.
Thank you -- Nathaniel Abel
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Upon graduation from Elizabethtown College, Alex Sahd, a board member, and I traveled to Vietnam during the summer of 2008 to live with the children of the House of Love and teach English. Education is a vital component to a child's wellbeing and I am proud to have provided opportunity for the children to grow and learn.
Naturally, I was greatly anticipating visiting the center again in January 2009. In preparation for this trip, Brittany's Hope invited sponsors to bring in Christmas present for their child. We had an overwhelming response and thank you to all who participated.
Candace Abel, Elizabeth Abel, Mai-lynn Abel and myself arrived in Cam Ranh our second day in Vietnam. We were greeted at the airport by Alex Sahd, Sister Agnes, Sister Anne and some of the children of the center. Alex Sahd was spending a week visiting at the House of Love. When we arrived at the center, the children ran to the car excited to see all of us. We spent the remainder of the day visiting with the children and the Sisters.I enjoyed returning to what I now consider my second home. I slept at the center so I could spend every possible moment with the children. I rose at 4:30am to attend mass with them (and I am not a morning bird) every day, and then enjoyed the buzz of the children as they began their morning chores. Utilizing a board which displays the daily chores, I loved watching and helping them sweep the floor, prepare breakfast, mop and sanitize the baby room, and help bath and feed the babies before dressing and heading off to school. I would watch with delight seeing these wonderful children happily doing their share of the work or cuddle a crying toddler. I spent every free moment enjoying laughing and playing with the children, and being reminded once again of what a loving and united family the children of this center really are to one another.
The last day at the center, the festivities began. Candace had brought mini Christmas stockings, glitter and glue for the children to customize their own stocking to hang by the "fireplace." The stockings were then filled with candy and other goodies. In the meantime, I was in the kitchen mixing icing to decorate gingerbread houses. The children broke into groups and worked on the houses. As usual, I think more candy ended up in their mouths then on the gingerbread houses but that is part of the fun. It was splendid to share some of our cultural traditions with them. When all groups were finished, we left the houses dry for judging later. The children then lined up to check their stockings and receive gifts from Brittany's Hope. It was great to see their smiles.Later that evening, I had the privilege to hand out the presents the sponsors provided for the children. It was tremendous to see the wonder on their faces. They are just so hungry for love and the presents were special for the children. I tried to capture the reactions as best I could. They smiled, some got teary eyed, and others had such a reaction that made me doubt if they had ever received a gift.Thank you to each and every sponsor for bringing love and happiness to these wonderful children. By simply supporting your child, you give them the realization that they are not alone in this world. Your child will feel loved knowing there are people outside of their world of struggle and poverty that care if they succeed in life. I invite all sponsors to reach out and share with your sponsored child. It will be appreciated.
Thank you -- Nathaniel Abel