Hi ho, hi ho ... it's off to Viet Nam we go ...

Yes, that is right ... we are planning another trip. Booked our flights already!!! We had a bit of bad news upon our return from Viet Nam in September. Our family dog was very sick. About three weeks after our return she passed away.

To cut a long story short, we did not want to be HOME ALONE at Christmas, so we decided to travel, but where to??? The answer was easy … Viet Nam!!!
Our first Christmas in Viet Nam!!! We are excited! ! !

All our friends in VINA know we are coming and are looking forward, so do we. It will be a different Christmas. There are no public holidays at Christam in Viet Nam.
Christmas is a good occasion to let the everybody know that we are Christians. Only 7% of the population are Christians.

Later in January we will celebrate TET. Tet means the first morning of the first day of the new year, Viet Nam’s New Year. Celebrations last for seven days.

Watch this space. We will report about our Christmas, New Year and TET celebrations.

Food For Thought ....

Excerpts from E-mails sent to Vietnam@westnet.com.au
about our last trip to Vietnam.


Hi M n U, Pleased to hear you have decided to head back over to VN, am sure you will have a very special Christmas experience there and bring much joy/love into the lives of many of the young ones you are supporting.
Just love the way you have stepped out of your comfort zone and reaching out to those less fortunate in VN and I know what you are doing will reap an eternal harvest.
God Bless and if we don’t see you prior to Christmas, have a wonderful Christmas experience


What an amazing trip you are having and all you are learning about 'things' that assist the people of Vietnam.
So sorry to hear about Nhu....she is not a strong girl so hope they can help her to be stronger and live a full life.
We read your mail....there is so much to do but every little bit can help, and what you both do is truly astounding.
Wish Diep and all her students well.


Congratulations Matt & Uli
You seemed to have covered a lot of people with the funds that you raised. I am sure the money would not go that far other than your personal attention.
You do a great job.
We continue to follow your blog with much interest and prayers. You have involvement in so many projects, it is inspiring! I meant to ask you, have you ever talked to the Sozo Café people? Looks great too.
So much need, it is overwhelming. The Touch A Life project looks amazing, what incredible people!


We are counting the days until we come back, not sure when! I really wish we could have stayed longer. If you ever feel like contacting the children’s home we went to, the couple who run it, along with their church are Sang and Jennifer.
Well, please let us know if you have any other prayer needs, and please say hi to Miss Kim from us.


Thanks so much M & U for your email and update – you certainly had a very productive time this year and I have no doubt much fruit will flow from all the seeds you have sown on this trip, just love what you are doing and the heart in which you do it – wonderful!!!!!!


Thank you very much for everything...
We' re glad that you were back home safe and had enough energy to type long emails to us.
Hope you have good rest before showing your friends your collection from VN...
Thanks a lot for the flowers... Wow... They're so pretty...Please take good care of yourself.
Lots of Love...


Thanks so much for that .. it looks like a great day .. can’t wait to see more.
We arrived home to the cold, but beautiful day, feeling somewhat disorientated!
Back to work tomorrow so all will resume to normal superfast.
We can’t wait to get back and to hear more .. already really missing the people and processing the emotions.
So nice to meet you, somehow feel for us it was a God moment.

Blessings to you and U. Will write some more when the jetlag goes.



Welcome back and your trip sounded amazing......soooooooooooooooo many good things you do for the children of Vietnam in all different aspects. Would love to hear stories about the orphaned children you assist. reading a book about street children in Vietnam at the moment post Vietnam war.............distressing stories . If only the greedy West would do so much more instead of building castles for themselves and more.................
Your flower photos magnificent ......... so colourful and full of beauty. Thank you for posting them.
Hope too we hear good news on Nhu..........she is a frail young girl.


Lovely to hear from you and welcome back. Yes, I did follow your blog once in a while. You have done so much over there again – good on you. You are the kids’ Aussie angels. Great work.


Hi M Thanks for the email... sorry for the delayed reply, I actually got very sick .. perhaps food poisoning. .. still waiting for tests. So I do not get it in VN, but come back home to get it hahaha
Would love to chat and see if we can help in any way. Can't wait to get back, I am talking to my friend Thao all the time, and the pastor guy who runs the children's home. Well, will look forward to hearing. God bless


Thank you for your email. We' re glad that you both feel great. I think we don't change our rules about the way to help kids that we are the ones that will go see the cases and find the way to help people directly. We agree with your opinion about your prefer helping Ut with his people than this one. Hope everything is going well with you. I miss you and feel like you 've been here so short this time so we didn't have enough time to share... Lots of love,


Hi M & U, so appreciate the update, sounds like a real adventure, dealing with all the issues & people etc, but I have no doubt you have made a BIG difference in the lives of many – Praise God!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will look forward to catching up when back in Aust.

Well done guys and much blessing