COCOA Vietnam News - September 2011

We returned to Australia on Saturday 17th September to visit family and do deputations in Tasmania. The last month was rather a drain with problems getting our Permit of Operation issued on time so as to renew my visa for the next 12 months. After many hassles, the problems were eventually sorted out.

I had to have a TURP procedure on my return to Melbourne this trip. I decided to have the procedure using a Green Light Laser this time, after having a bad experience with the normal TURP when I first had one done, six years ago. I entered hospital on Monday 19^th, had the procedure mid afternoon and after two nights in the hospital I was allowed to go home. The total experience was a lot better than the first one, praise God. There was less pain, less bleeding and faster recuperation after the procedure.

 Tan Phuoc Houses Program

We reported in our Newsletter a few months ago that we were considering whether to provide a house to Mrs Hoang Vy, the lady who lives next door to the family who received the new house in Tan Phuoc Village earlier this year. She was living with her 3 daughters in a makeshift dwelling made from pieces of plastic wrapped around 4 wooden poles in the ground. It had no bathroom, toilet or kitchen. It was only around 3m x 2m with a dirt floor.

We are happy to report that we met with the leader of the Village People’s Committee and Mrs Vy two weeks before we came back to Australia and informed them that we had decided that she should be the next recipient of a house. The decision was made to start immediately. Mrs Vy works locally as a builder’s laborer to support her family, as she no longer has a husband. 

                            This is what the family used to live in.                       

                             Mrs Hoa Vy (on the right in blue) receives the good news

                                                               The new house takes shape

 Tan Phuoc Village Clean Water Program

The well drilling program in Tan Phuoc Village has encountered problems. The contractor has drill two test wells so far and has been unable to find water. The decision has now been made to locate the well at another location. On our trip to the Village on the 30^th August, we visited another high school in the Village and the decision was made to drill for water there. The school had a well drilled some years ago, to a depth of 30m, but now the well runs dry in the dry season. The school has over 500 pupils, one toilet and no water in the dry season.

                                      Second drilling and still no water

                                             Tan Phuoc High School B.      

                                     One toilet for 500 pupils +  

                                                   The first house in Tan Phuoc Village now nears completion

Clean Water Program for Hon Quan Village

On August 30^th we agreed to a program of drilling six wells in Hon Quan District (formerly Binh Long District), the first District that COCOA worked in after receiving our Permit of Operation in 2004.

One well will be drilled at the Medical Centre for An Phu Village which was the first Village to receive wells from COCOA in 2005. The other 5 wells will be drilled in various locations around the District.

Yours in Christ

John and Lan