Aug 25 2200 Vietnam Time- Hong Ha School & Ho Chi Minh Trail

Today was another busy day, that’s for sure. Khanh picked me up at 0800 and we headed towards the highlands. En route, I bought 5 high-quality soccer balls and treats for the students at the school to which we were destined. The steadily uphill route to Hong Ha is actually a segment of the old Ho Chi Minh Trail, which served as a supply route for the North Vietnamese during the war. It is a slow, winding mountainous road. 

 

Ho Chi Minh Trail to Hong Ha  

 

But we had a good, very serious, driver in Mr. Khanh:


50 km later we arrived at Hong Ha School, where we were greeted by Mr, Dang Quang Tan, principal, and Ho Viet Luong, chairman. The people of this mountain village are ethnic minorities…Taoi, Katu, and Pacoh. 50 students from very poor families had been selected to be recipients of a year’s supply of required books, writing tablets, pens, pencils, etc….sponsored by you! 

 

Hong Ha School


Khanh had organized everything in 50 individual bags, which we placed in a classroom. 

 

School Supplies & Soccer Balls

The students then filed into the classroom, after which I gave a brief talk in advance of distribution. I told them that provision of the school supplies had been made possible by caring folks from the U. S. and that I was excited to be there. You are working wonders! 

 

Greeting the Students

Ready to Get Started!


As each student appeared before me, they were handed a year’s school supply. Those kids were so polite, respectful, and appreciative. What a thrill it is for me to be in a position to experience all of this. And it all started with Son….and a war. Balancing the scales. Helping & healing. 

 


Following distribution of school supplies, the soccer balls and treats were presented to the kids. It was great. 

 

 

 




 
Mission Accomplished!

With our mission completed, we loaded into the car and headed back down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Hue. Now I’m sitting at a sidewalk restaurant about to have something to eat. Fried rice, I decided.

 

Writing & Dinner
 

Tomorrow will be extra super busy! Khanh will pick me up at 0700…an early start, as we’ll be distributing supplies to two more schools and 750 21-day-old chickens at another village. En route, we’ll purchase 10 more soccer balls (5 each school) and treats for the kids. Thanks to Khanh (what an organizer!), Vi (great photographer!), and Chi (always busy!) for helping!!!! And, most importantly, to you for making it all possible!!!

Comments

  1. GmanAugust 27, 2022 at 6:33 AM

    Neil, It's great reading your blog. Love seeing all the photos. I'm happy you finally made it back to Vietnam. Keep up the blogs!!

    ReplyDelete

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