December

Lan and I visited Binh Phuoc on the 20^th and 21^st of December to check the progress with wells and houses.

                      An Phu Village Medical Centre well

                                     Tu Ly Hamlet well

Binh Phuoc Association of the Disabled, Orphans and the Poor

We were also invited to attend a Ceremony at the People’s Committee building in Dong Xoai Township for the Binh Phuoc Association of the Disabled, Orphans and the Poor at 7.30am on the 21^st.

At the Ceremony, as representative for COCOA, I received an award given to COCOA for Service to the Community of Binh Phuoc.

At another Ceremony to be held in Dong Xoai in February, after the Lunar New Year Festival has finished I will be given Honoury Membership of the Association.

        Receiving the Service to the Community Award for COCOA

Christmas

As is the custom nowadays in Vietnam, Vietnamese celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve, with most of the population celebrating Santa Claus and enjoying lots of gift giving and parties.

       Christmas decorations in HCMC City Centre

January 2012

Vietnamese Lunar New Year (TET) occurred on the 23^rd of January this year, along with many other Asian countries. Vietnamese who live away from home usually travel back to their hometown for TET. The population enjoys one week of festivities (the official holiday is 4 days) during which time they will visit friends, family and workmates to wish them all the best for the New Year, so there is a lot of visiting, eating, drinking and playing cards during this week. People carry wads of “red envelopes” with them, in which they have placed new bank notes (lucky money) as they are expected to hand these out to the children  wherever they visit during the Festival. Several weeks prior to the Festival it is the custom to visit family, friends and employees and give them gifts. Employers also have to give their employees a bonus every New Year, the minimum being one months salary.

TET Gifts for the Poor

Every year at the occasion of TET, the People’s Committee has an obligation to provide gifts for poor families. COCOA has also been requested to provide gifts for poor families during this Festival. This year 12^th January, we gave out 250 food pack gifts with the value of 250,000 dong ($12.50). As TET is a week when they don’t have any work and food prices are elevated, so this food pack helps them subsist until the holiday is finished. Three Villages were targeted this year, Dong Tien, Dong Tam and Tan Phuoc.

                  Dong Tien Village TET Gifts for the Poor

                         Tan Phuoc Village TET Gifts for the Poor

Handing Over Ceremony of two houses

Two families in Dong Tam Village received an extra TET gift this year. Each family was blessed by receiving a new house.

         Two houses handed over for TET in Dong Tam Village

Cancer Support Seminar

It is difficult to know what the best diet is for anyone living with cancer. There is a lot of information on the Internet which is helpful, but for poor Vietnamese who have little understanding of English, it is especially difficult. Through the Binh Phuoc Association of the Disabled, Orphans and the Poor I was able to organize a meeting of People Living with Cancer in Dong Xoai Township on the 13^th. There were 20 people who attended and they were very interested in the ideas that I put forward. Correct diet goes a long way towards slowing cancer growth and assists in maintaining the immune system. In February I will be putting out a monthly newsletter for the Association to give to the cancer patients, to keep them updated and informed on ways to improve their health.

Binh Phuoc Association of the Disabled, Orphans and the Poor, Cancer Support meeting

                                     for People Living with Cancer

Yours in Christ

John and Lan