Pictures of our Team

No one serves over here by themselves. The most special people are always nearby, even if only in your heart. Sometimes, they're over the mountains and down south, or a bit farther up to the northern provinces. This is a picture of "Team Vietnam", taken during our orientation. They represent schools in Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Haiphong, Quy Nhon and Dalat. A few are members of the permanent ELI country staff.

They come here from all over the USA and Canada. We consider them to be our new family in Vietnam. Like me, some have seen the country before; that means a great deal to me. When you think of us, please remember them too.

When folks like this get together, strange things can happen. Did you know Motown has a new overseas group? Check out the Vietnam Silk Sisters! That would be Caroline, the gal from Galveston with a smile as big as Texas...Susan, the blue eyed Italian from Michigan via "Bahston", Mass., and Adrianne, our Hanoi teammate from Philly, who always has a song! You go girls!

Now that all the training and orientation work is completed, it's time to go to work. We've all said our goodbyes as we headed off to points north and south. Next in store is a bunch of hellos, or, "chao's", to our new students.

This is why we're here. For the next 4 1/2 months, I'll teach English language speaking skills to somewhere around 135 different students, all in their first year at the Hoc Vien Ngoai Giao, here in Hanoi. They represent the next generation of Vietnam. It's a privilege to be their teacher, and hopefully a friend.

This journey is about sharing life; their world and ours too, is about to become much larger. The Vietnamese people are all about relationships. Nothing gets done here until you get to know one another. Seems slow to us Westerners, but when it happens, you kinda like it! Along on the journey are some gracious Vietnamese faculty members who are now my colleagues. While we teach here, we will be learning so much more.

We've all sung the little Sunday school song, "red and yellow, black and white...we're all precious in His sight!" Amen. So be it. Thanks to all of you who helped us get this far, and are making it possible to stay.