April 2009 Newsletter

Love Of Vietnam Expressed

Helping the poor and needy

Web page: www.loveofvietnamexpressed.org

(1 John 3:16-18 NKJV) By this, we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Official Newsletter of LOVE

April 2009

Looking to the Future

At 71, I want to insure that the work and ministry of LOVE will continue to serve God long after He takes me home. Also, because of the rapid growth of our work brought on when God began to expand our financial base of contributors to an international field that includes 8 countries. I might add I do not ever plan to retire (how can a Christian retire from serving God - we just fade away) but, with 2 young children, I do want to spend more time with my family. We will begin the following changes over the next 2-3 years.

But first let me remind you that LOVE started as a small agency supported mostly by family, but in the past 2 years we have grown in both scope and donor base. We now have more than half our support coming out of Europe with supporters in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, England, the U.S. and Canada. With Chi expecting our second child and me over 71 years old, I must think about the future of LOVE.

1. Chi and I will continue the day to day operation of LOVE (the field work, etc.), with me giving more and more responsibility to her over the next 2 years. My daughter, Julia, (she is the listed president of LOVE on our corporate-by-laws) and her family are now in Malaysia and will join us in the future. Julia, who now does the legal work and accounting, will take over the administrative operation of LOVE, and she and her husband will greatly increase the ministry of LOVE.

Julia (Hong) was born in Da Nang before she and her family fled to America. At the age of 12, she moved under my care. Timothy (Tuan), her husband, was born in Nha Trang. Their 4 children are also with them.

2. There is also a great need to increase and expand the board members of LOVE. I have prayed and asked the Lord to show me those who can greatly help guide the ministry of LOVE into the future, long after I am gone to be with the Lord. It is time for others to join this work. I also believe this board of directors will greatly help us expand our vision and improve our outreach to the poor and needy in Vietnam.

Please pray with about this and about our new members to be added to the board.

Of Concern

Since the start of the Sponsorship Program, our over-all financial contributions have grown rapidly, but our regular donor base has fallen nearly 70%. This means that we will have to make deep cuts in our Scholarship Program that many of our unsponsored children are on, and our Rice Program, which benefits children, handicapped and the elderly.

In April, we will begin to announce to those under the Rice Program that this program will end in May. Cost savings is about $300 a month.

We will also announce to our scholarship children that they will not receive scholarships this summer, will not receive school uniforms for next year, and many will not receive scholarships next year. We will continue to look for sponsors for them. Cost savings is about $1000 a month plus school uniforms and supplies in August of $2000.

Sponsors Needed

Right now, there is a needy child living in poverty who is waiting for a caring person like you. We have many children who need sponsors.

To see these children, or to fill out an application go to our web site by clicking child. Without your help, many of these will not finish school. For just $25 a month you can see that the child you choose will break the cycle of poverty by getting a good education, and better food, clothing, and shelter. For more information about these children or an application form, you can also contact Reggie, who lives in Danang.

Please pray that we can find sponsors for all our children, and put your prayers to work by sharing the need with your church, Sunday School Class, civic club, etc.

PLEASE HELP

Share your love and faith

These children urgently need sponsors who will support a child for $25 a month or the whole family for $40 a month, and will pray for them, write, and encourage them.

In March

A doctor at Danang Hospital called us to help Thao to have braces so she can walk.

Thuy Khue, 3 years old, has McCune Albright syndrome with precocious puberty. Medication is a heavy burden for the family

2 bicycles were given to 2 poor students whose bikes were stolen

Tran Thi Thu Duyen

Area

Hai Chau

Birthday

August, 26, 1997

Gender

Female

School Level

School achievement

Excellent

Favorite Subject

Literature

Favorite Pastime

Singing and playing with dolls

Number of Siblings

Mother's Occupation

Odd jobs

Father's Occupation

Massager

Family’s monthly income

$70

Children in school

Tran Thi Thu Duyen

Total in the Home

About me:

My father is blind and he works for a massaging place and his income is very low especially in the winter time. We used to live on a small boat but 3 months ago we were forced by the government to move for our safety. My mother lost her job since then. My mother is not educated and could not ride a bicycle so it is very hard for her to get a job. Besides, she has to take care of my baby brother. My younger sister has to leave us to stay in a loving home for her benefit. There she gets free food and education. She only comes home to visit 2 or 3 times a year. I am in second grade now because I go to school late. My parents did not have money to send me to school. I am very happy to go to school and I am doing well at school. I hope you can help us.

Family members:

Pham Mao (1970)- Father
Tran Thi Sua (1968)- Mother
Tran Thi Thu Ngan (1999)- Younger sister (staying in a children’s home)
Tran Van Khanh (2001)- Younger brother
Tran Thi Thu Linh (2007)- Younger sister

LOVE’s comment:

This family now is living in a small rented room (8 m²) for which they have to pay $22/month. When we visited the family, we figured that the boy, Khanh, would have eye problems. So we took Duyen, Khanh, and Ngan to have their eyes checked and all are affected. It cannot be treated and they will go blind before they are 20-yr.-old. Duyen told me that she loves dolls but she has none to play with. The children in the home do not have any toys or comic books for entertainment.

They need a bigger place and the father would like to have Thu Ngan back at home

Visiting new cries for help

LOVE note: we are coming across some of the most needy children that I have seen in 10 years.

(Ezekiel 16:49 NKJV) "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

(Psa 41:1-3 NKJV) Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please check the information by clicking on children or contact Reggie.

Contact LOVE

Sponsor a child

Tax - Deductible Ministry Gifts:

Donate by Mail

Make checks out to

"Love Of Vietnam Expressed"

and mail to:

Love Of Vietnam Expressed

c/o Sally McKee-Brown

308 West Church St.

Mount Airy, NC 27030