Hello again to everyone back home. Robert has asked me to tell you what I have witnessed here in Vietnam. The weather is generally hot, humid, and dusty. Small motor skooters and bicycles scurry about the streets in massive numbers. There are open sewers which drain directly into the river (so much for seafood). The streets are lined with vendors, all hoping they will make a sale today. Through out the country poverty is prevalent. A television, bicycle, or motorbike is a luxury. Most of the people we have worked with are the “POOREST OF THE POOR”. They are so shocked by your generosity that many times they do not know how to react. I find the people here to be extremely friendly, and very hard working. Almost all of the children know a little English like “Hello what your name, where you from”. Unlike many other third world countries, I feel very safe here (if you are careful what you eat). There is little or no visible crime.
There have been numerous extremely moving moments. Seeing the kids before and after surgery. Witnessing families receiving structurally sound homes for the first times in their lives. Watching the kids in the orphanages receiving a small gift or toy. I can not tell you how it feels to have 20-30 kids swarming you, looking for nothing but a little affection. I have witnessed many things during my 30 years of police work; none have touched me nearly as much as what I have witnessed on this trip. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who questions the need here. I have hundreds of photographs and memories that I will never forget. I hope I can some day share them with all of you.

This is a very mentally and physically draining activity. Every day we leave at 8 am and work until about 6 pm. know it will take several days to recover when we return home.
There is a lot more work involved in giving help to poor people than you can believe. There is a tremendous amount of planning, co-coordinating, and book keeping that is involved. The reward is in the faces of the people here. I have seen it every day. Just look at the photos.
Robert is especially encouraged by this trip. “Giving It Back To Kids” is getting well known here. Last Thursday in Tien Phouc after visiting a vocational training center where G.I.B.T.K. and Children of Vietnam (C.O.V.) had previously donated 15 sewing machines, we were taken to lunch at one of their finer restaurants. I noticed two small children waiting outside with their parents. The word had filtered thought the hamlet that G.I.B.T.K. and C.O.V. were in town. Both children needed life saving medical procedures. Their information was taken and hopefully we will be able to help them. It is very hard not to say “yes” to all the kids in need but we must stay within our budget.
I have met several amazing individuals here. First meeting Ben Wilson, the founder of Children Of Vietnam (our U.S. partner), was worth the trip itself. Mrs. Huong is Ben’s project manager and she researches and verifies that all of the requests for help meet all of G.I.B.T.K’s and C.O.V.’s guidelines. I have also seen Robert in a different light. He is a man on a mission, full of dedication and dreams.
What more can I say?  A LOT
Bob Stephens

Robert Kalatschan : 3/12/2004