WOW...
More and more it seems I am caught so off guard. Blown away by what I see in the GIBTK team. I stop and wonder who are these people and where did they come from. Never before has it been so obvious to me that this is something God has put into place for a specific time and place as this.
Before we get to the next installment of getting to know the gibtk team let me thank you all for being the amazing ones who make this happen. May I take a moment to say we need help for acquiring items for our annual Gala, Nov 7th, this years theme is "Unfinished Masterpiece" with my wife Dorothea's "unfinished masterpiece" as the art for this year.
We need help getting things for both the live and silent auctions. We are looking for dinners, tickets to event's, services, vacation homes, and items to fill baskets. Any of you have gifts you can re-gift?
We have a packet which explains all you need to ask a friend, customer or a place you visit. Please let me know if you need the packet of have any questions.
Now back to the real story
DIFFERENCE
"Hello! My name is Thang. I take the responsibility of teaching Physics and Math for GIBTK's children. This work is really my happiness. I am lucky for the opportunity to write this and share my feeling's with the GIBTK family".
I have started my work since 24th of March, 2014. My responsibility is to help the children learn better, give them inspiration so that they can be more dynamic and fond of their subjects. This work is not only a "job" but also my joy, my attention, and my love I give to the children. Each of the kids is a lovely piece in my colorful life painting. Working here, I feel I have the most beautiful things that life brings to me.
It is over a year since I lived and worked with the sisters and friends in Giving It Back To Kids. During this time, I have had chances to learn, experience and express myself. Because I spend most of my time working with children, at the beginning I felt awkward when I am with the sisters and friends at the office. However, time went by, and my relationships with colleagues became closer and closer. Joining parties, learning time, coffee times, playing werewolf game or participating in arts rehearsals, especially the four-day training to Quang Binh, all these things brought us closer and gave us the chance to understand each other.
Giving It Back To Kids has created for me a healthy environment. I find myself gradually making positive changes thanks to emotional health lessons I attended. I have received interest and love from everyone in the organization. It is Giving It Back To Kids who made the difference in me.
I still vividly remember my first day at work.
That was on Saturday, 22nd of March, 2014, a summer day with intense sunlight of a tropical place. I drove my motorbike following my colleague to make acquaintance with and arrange schedule for the kids of the three small kids homes. On the way going there, I felt a little worried, a little curious and I became nervous. I was impressed with the names of Mary's home and Carmela's home. I wondered why these homes had been named like that, they were so impressive.
And that is the first time I have met "my children". I still remember that they looked at me with their pure eyes and full of curiosity. It made me want to protect and love them. They gathered around me, held my hands and gave me close hugs. My heart nearly broke because of being overly moved. At that moment I recognized that this work was dedicated to me, my mission was to love and help these loveable kids.
One year is a sufficient period of time to build up strong relationships. The relationship between myself and the children is presently not merely of a teacher and pupils. We are also each other's sisters and friends. The kids usually tell me stories about their friends and teachers at school, about the relationship with the brothers and sisters in the home or about a little pleasure of teenagers. I also tell them good and humorous stories I know and/or give them some puzzles to do, etc. Our talks are always full of delighted laughter. I love "my kids" very much.
There is a quotation by Henry Louis Mencken saying that "You come into the world with nothing, and the purpose of your life is to make something out of nothing." I have nothing but the knowledge I accumulated in my life, and my purpose is to help change the children's lives by that volume of knowledge. I want them to know how to learn, practice and stand on their own feet.
Maybe after 5 years, 10 years or 20 years, the children will have grown up and have their own family. I wish they would have a happy life, become compassionate people and do things they like. The future is always a secret. No matter how life will be, I always love you and am willing to help you, whenever I can.
Love!
Nguyen Thi Minh Thang
Physics teacher
