1	Vietnam Trip June 21^st – July 3^rd or 4^th, 2004
2	LAX: June 22^nd 2004.
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4	Some of our first views of Vietnam!
5	Our hotel is in the distance.
6	The first meeting and ceremony with Mr. Hi and the others.
7	The Soc Son School. What we’re here to do!!
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9	The kitchen for the workers (The actual workers, not us J.
10	The workers restroom.
11	Orphanage
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25	At the Historical University of Vietnam.
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27	One of the many gifts Mr. Hi gave Bill Hoyt.
28	"Where is all the work..." Where is all the work at you might ask? That is a great question. The initial plan, was for us to work 6-8 hours a day and have a 2-3 days of sight seeing. That is what we were all prepared to do. But no one in our group was prepared for such high heat and humidity. We were told that we were in the middle of a heat spell … so work for us Americans would be kept to a minimum. So our work was about 1 hour per day. That is all they would let us work and frankly I’m not complaining J From their perspective, it would be a terrible thing if one of us were to suffer from heat exhaustion … so they took it easy on us. Again, I’m not complaining. So the purpose of our trip changed significantly … we ended up making dozens and dozens of friends. Friends might be a bit mild, we cemented significant relationships between Americans and Vietnamese. We were a selfless presence willing to serve and love them. And when you look at it like that, love will outweigh paint and building any day!! So that was our purpose, to befriend, love and genuinely care for people we have never met before. And it wasn’t one sided, they cared for us as If we were kings and queens. So every smile you see in these photos counts, not towards an earthly building … but hopefully something much more important than that!!
29	Everyone is small compared to me.
30	All team members received a beautiful inscribed plaque.
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32	View from one of the restaurants we were invited to. The night before last.
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34	Mr. Ching and Hiedi.
35	Ceremony night with the group from St. Johns.
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37	Jarrods always trying to show off to the ladies!
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39	Scooters everywhere!! They carry, pigs, chickens, water bottles, art, coal, hay, plants and other people!
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41	Visiting the Hope Center: School for disabled children.
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43	Friendly faces EVERYWHERE!!
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45	Bing was one of our interpreters!! She’s super cute J
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47	Daily Life: Women buying and selling.
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49	David and Ryan interviewing a young girl.
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60	One of the beautiful gardens in Vietnam. Compliments of Mr. Hi.
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70	These little statues are all over the garden we visited!
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77	Beautiful Art work is all around you.
78	Thanh graduation! She was also our interpreter.
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84	Downtown Hanoi! Plenty of shopping.
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86	Scooter parking lot
87	A little ice cream café. They have awesome desserts!!
88	The puppet show was very cool
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94	Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
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96	Ho Chi Minh’s Tomb.
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107	One of many Pagoda’s.
108	Workers making silk prints
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110	Beautiful landscapes surround you in Vietnam.
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112	Ha Long Bay.
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120	View from one of the islands at Ha Long Bay.
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122	A little rain and the street flood.
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124	One of my new friends Hung and his Mom.
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127	Thanh’s BDay part at Al Fresco’s … American Cuisine.
128	One of the daily meetings with our hosts.
129	The real workers!
130	Dedication Ceremony.
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134	This is the building that we (you) helped paint and fund.
135	Worksite
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145	A gift from the Peoples Committee of Soc Son District.
146	Everyone signed the plaque covers. That were given to Bill Hoyt.
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148	Bill & Gwynn Hoyt from Unireach … the put it all together! Thanks!
149	The Hanoi Hilton “Historic Prison” built by the french and used in the American/Vietnam War.
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153	The flag lowering ceremony.
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155	View from the top of our hotel.
156	"I’m not sure if you..." I’m not sure if you listen to or sing worship songs regularly. One night we we’re in our hotel room, singing our hearts out. We had to do it in a hotel room, because we couldn’t do it outside … we couldn’t worship freely in the midst of His creation. I’ve never had to deal with that before … God for me was right. In Vietnam He isn’t a right. He’s more of a luxury for rich and poor alike. I learned that I should never get used to God. God is truly amazing: He is always interesting, always loving, always forgiving and always in the business of saving … Maybe its unfortunate that we can speak freely about God. The sad part is that I live in a country where I can speak freely about Him, but I don’t. Thank you. Samer Feel free to forward this link to anyone.