11.30.09 –by Guest Blogger: Steven V. Pham, a 2nd year biochemistry major and premed at UCLA, is the President/Founder of the MEMO UCLA branch, part of a larger MEMO group.
I was born in America and had never visited the home of my parents. To the Vietnamese community, I was “Viet Kieu,” a Vietnamese expatriate, and walking around the country, people reminded me of my status. It made this first trip to Vietnam difficult: I no longer completely fit someplace, to one people, my family and I are immigrants, and to another, I am American.
I went to Vietnam for the first time this summer of 2009 with a medical mission trip named “Medical, Educational Missions and Outreach.” Together, a group of students and doctors had the opportunity to go to hold free clinics to provide medical help and orphanages to provide financial help. For two weeks, we volunteered in Vietnam, but it was not until the fifth day that I truly felt at home in Vietnam.
That day, I was still afraid, afraid of not being accepted, of being stared at, treated differently. We were going to an orphanage and I knew there would be a language barrier. I was anxious about what was to come.
The day we went to the orphanage, it was during the Vietnamese tropical storms. Never in my life had I seen rain come down so hard. It was only noon and the entire countryside was dark gray and gloomy.
We ran from the bus to the Buddhist temple, holding umbrellas, backpacks, and ponchos over our heads. When we got there, the monks stood on the wet floor barefoot, smiling at our arrival. As we looked anxiously around, we were told that the orphans were still at school, that it would be an hour before they returned.
While we waited, the monks cheerfully stood by us making sure we were comfortable. One began to talk to some of the volunteers and me about the orphanage and his life. Because I could only understand and not speak Vietnamese, I merely listened to his wisdom. As the conversation began to go deeper into ideals about forgiveness and friendship, I felt calm; the heavy rhythmic rain behind his words separated me from my fears and doubts. The monk never acknowledged our differences, only our similarities. Our conversation ended when the children arrived. Their bodies were soaked from the heavy rain and they greeted us with a bow. I had faced the judgmental sneers and comments in Saigon, but here, we were greeted with hospitality and welcome. I felt at home and the purpose of this mission trip came to me: we were helping our own people, to help them get past the hardships of life. I was no longer a foreigner in this temple. As we left, they stood in the rain and waved to us goodbye, giving us each a small Vietnamese dumpling as a parting gift. As I ate the snack on the way back to our hotel, my body felt happily warm and comfortable, whether it was the dumpling or the experience, my mind already had the answer.
MEMO Mission 2007:
There are many other wonderful philanthropy projects featured on VTP. Please check them out under Initiatives category
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MEDICAL MISSION: On September 2009, a group of doctors, health professionals, and student volunteers will travel to Vietnam to hold free health clinics in villages in Binh Dinh. We will conduct preliminary needs assessment, administer vitamins for the severely malnourished population, treat patients to the highest ethical standard, and sponsor referrals to those with needs beyond our capabilities.
HOPE PROJECT: Through this project we hope to give children an opportunity to have a future. Funds raised will be used to help orphanages provide the necessary healthcare for these children in addition to sheltering and caring for them. Funds will also be used to buy school supplies, clothing, and provide an education to these children.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: There are 21.6 million people in Vietnam living in rural poverty. The only way they can rise from their current living conditions is by attaining a good education, however, many children are unable to because of lack of money. Their families cannot afford to keep their children in school and they need to beg in the streets. Please consider sponsoring a child and helping them escape poverty. A donation of only $60 will allow a child to stay in school for an entire year.
HEART PROGRAM: We will bring surgeons to Vietnam to provide children with congenital heart disease with life saving surgery. Last year we were able provide surgery to 3 children that could not afford treatment. They are now living normal lives.
For more information, please contact MEMOatUCLA@gmail.com.
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