Beta Thata Pie says Father Knows Best

This article is posted on the Beta Theta Pie website The full article can be found at http://www.thebetathetapi.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=630

Father Knows Best

Chuck DeVet, Minnesota ’62, and his wife Patty have had a special place in their hearts for children that began shortly after they were married when DeVet volunteered to work with Crossroads Adoption Services.
DeVet traveled to India for Crossroads and escorted adopted children back with him to Minneapolis. In India, he got a firsthand glimpse of the abject poverty and disregard for vulnerable young life. It was during this trip that his desire to do something for children in need, no matter where, started to develop. The DeVets’ subsequent adoption of Roberto from El Salvador, Linda from Colombia and Sumei from China, underscored this commitment and added to a growing family. Time passed, and the children grew up. DeVet began refining his vision of what he would do when he finished his career.
“For years, I had wanted to do something for needy children someplace,” he said. “I just wasn’t sure where that someplace was. And while there certainly are needy children in the U.S., our society provides some safety nets that are not in place in…less developed countries.”
In 2001, DeVet’s retirement was imminent and his daughter Annetta was about to graduate from college. “If I was ever going to follow through on my dream of helping needy kids, [this] was the time for me to get started.”
The decision was made to explore the conditions in Southeast Asia. Annetta agreed to go along. Neither had been to Vietnam before and when they arrived, both fell in love with the people and the country. “I had always been impressed with the industriousness of the Vietnamese who had migrated to the Twin Cities. They had a strong work ethic and placed a high priority on educating their children. What really surprised us when we got there was how receptive the Vietnamese were to Americans and how many children there were who needed help.”
Their first trip was enlightening and full of promise. Although the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a communist country, there was sufficient freedom for DeVet and Annetta to establish a non-governmental organization (NGO) that would soon become the foundation for their “in-country” operations.
DeVet and Annetta made a second trip later in 2002. By this time, DeVet was retired. They knew what they wanted to do, but how to do it, where to go, who to see and what was required had to be determined. They set about visiting and interviewing about 20 other NGOs that had already been established.
“We learned that help was needed all over the country,” said Annetta. “Many more NGOs were operating in the South and Central areas because of the war and where the U.S. and its allies had been stationed. In addition, the native-born Vietnamese who emigrated were largely from the South and Central part of the country.
When they returned to help, they almost always went back to where they came from.” It was decided to position their organization, Humanitarian Services for the Children of Vietnam (HSCV,) in the North and the process to commence operations began. DeVet had been to China and other Asian countries; he was convinced this was where they needed to be.
Connecting with the appropriate governmental agencies was the next step. They followed all of the procedures, completed all documentation, finished all other requirements according to the rules and began their operations on February 3, 2003.

A pink cast for Thao

Thao continues to thrive in Sacramento. Her new skin is starting to heal and she says sometimes she can feel it tingle. She loves how smooth it is and how soft it feels. In order to keep her new skin from slipping she has to wear a velcro mask. But, each night she gets to remove the mask to apply lotion to her new skin.

Recently Thao had her first surgery on her left hand. This operation was delayed a few weeks, since she had a slight fever the day the surgery was originally planned for. This photo was taken a day after her surgery. She has had some pain but not overwhelming and it's becoming less each day. She will have some new challenges for several weeks, especially at school but the kids and school staff are anxious to have her back and willing to help her adjust.

Notice the matching cast on the doll. This picture also shows a good view of her new soft and smooth facial skin.

The cast will remain on her hand for the next few weeks. This is only the first of a few planned surgeries for her hand. It hoped that through surgery and rehabilitation Thao will gain movement of her fingers. The original goal for Thao to be able to touch her fingers to her thumb. However, Thao showed everyone her determination by reaching this goal months before this surgery took place.

As usual, she continues to amaze us all.

Ms. Alice

For the past year and a half Ms. Alice has volunteered once a week at the Friendship Home. She has been teaching the children English, but more than that she has been teaching the children love and kindness. She has become a big sister to all of the children.

The children all come from very difficult backgrounds. Many of them have lost one, or both of their parents to drug abuse. The Friendship Home is often their only refuge. Without it they would find themselves living in homes and neighborhoods where drugs are pervasive and would likely fall into the same patterns of their parents. While the Friendship Home is a Government funded foster home, they struggle to provide for all of the children's needs. When funds are available HSCV donates items such as clothing, school supplies, fans, and supplies.

Alice and the children have become very close over the past few years. It was hard for everyone to say goodbye. Alice's last night in Hanoi was spent with the children. She invited all of the children, the house mothers, guards, and staff to dinner. In addition fellow ESL teacher Jim and HSCV Vice President Annetta joined in on the fun. A group of about 30 walked to a local restaurant to enjoy a meal of chicken, duck, noodles and soup. The children rarely, if ever, eat in a restaurant. They all donned their best clothes and the girls used their prettiest hair ties and barrettes to tie back their hair.

After dinner the group went to the local supermarket where the children we all allowed to pick one ice cream treat. It was a hard choice for some, while others knew exactly the treats they wanted.

At the end of the night it was difficult for everyone to say goodbye. Photos were taken, songs were sung and hugs were given.

We are all sad to see Alice leave us. She has been a valuable friend to the children and to HSCV. In the fall of 2007 Alice was in charge of our Fall Fundraiser, which raised $5000. Her hard work and dedication will be missed, but we'll miss her loving and kind spirit most of all.

Good luck to you Alice and come back to see us soon!

Letters from Tan Minh Sister School

This is the Journey Homeschool co-op from Zimmerman MN 2nd year in HSCV's Sister School Program. For the past 2 years their efforts have helped the students at Tan Minh B Primary School. The teachers and the students in that school happy and excited to receive the donation from their friends on the other side of the world. This year the donations were used to purchase notebooks, special ink pens for students to practice their penmanship, crayons, drawing paper, and testing papers.

The children were very excited to receive the needed school supplies. Without this donation many of these children's families would not have the money to purchase the supplies. Without these supplies the children would be forced to drop out of school.

The children sent letters and drawings to show their appreciation.

"Tan Minh December 11, 2007

Dear my friends,

I know that you would get some surprise when you get this letter and you would have a the question, 'Who would send this letter to me?' I am sure that you don't know me so I will introduce myself to you. My name is le Truc Lam and i am studying in grade 3A at Tan Minh B Primary School. I am very happy to get your letters and pictures. Today I am writing this letter to say thank you so much for your help.

Please send my healthy wished to your family and you. I think that you study very well. I am quite a good student and my favorite subject is Literature. This year my friends and I are in a Literature competition and we will find out who is the best student of Literature in my school at the end of the year.

I am looking forward to receiving more letter and pictures from you.

Goodbye my friend,

Lam

Le Truc Lam"

" Tam Minh December 11, 2007

Last time my teacher read your letters to all the students in my class. While my teacher was reading, I was very happy and excited about your words to us. I would like to say sincerely thank you for your donation.

I would like to send healthy wishes to all of the teachers in your school.

Now I will introduce myself. My name is Dinh Xuan Thanh and I am studying in grade 3B at Thanh Minh B Primary School I wish that you are always healthy.

Goodbye my friends! After receiving this letter please write to me soon!

Your Friend,

Thanh

Dinh Xuan Thanh"

Life Changing Surgery

For less than $300 usd children are sponsored with life changing orthopedic or burn scar surgery. This includes rehabilitation and follow-up care. This small amount of money will go a long way to change a child's future.
Surgeries are performed in Vietnam at local hospitals by local doctors. The majority of our patients receive treatment at Hanoi's top pediatric hospital the National Hospital of Pediatrics (NHP). Our program was officially approved by Vietnam's Ministry of Health in the Summer of 2007. Since then we have averaged sponsorship of 10 children each month at the NHP. Our goal is to sponsor more than 100 children each year.
Help us keep this great program going by donating now.
When you sponsor a child you will receive a short biography of the actual child your money is going to support. You will also receive a profile which will explain the child's condition and the treatment they are receiving. If you wish you may build a relationship with you child through letters and photos. You will be contacted by an HSCV Team member shortly after you donation is made.
Visit http://www.hscv.org/medical_life_changing.htm to sponsor a child with a life changing surgery