children at the Ha Cau orphanage, which is in a suburb of Ha Noi. He is the outreach leader for the CardioStart International medical team currently doing heart surgeries in Ha Noi. Michael is a combustion turbine technician and HSCV introduced him to this orphanage. When asked what help they might need in regard to their electrical system the answer was basically everything. Michael got to work, hired an electrical contractor and the job was started. Michael also took on the task of improving the orphanage’s water supply. Both jobs are to be completed in ten days. Not only will the electrical system be vastly improved, but also the children will no longer have to carry buckets of water up four flights of stairs because it will now be pumped to all floors.
In addition to all the work being done Michael has taken on the task of providing lunch for the children while he is there. Today is the second day. I escorted him from his hotel to the orphanage at 8:30 AM. On the way there Michael bought 10 chickens, eggs, mushroom, corn, vegetable, bananas and pineapples. We were going to make Sup Ngo Ga. It is not difficult to think of choosing food in Vietnam. However, we were worried a little bit and I hoped the children would enjoy the meal. But this feeling disappeared immediately when I saw the hap
py smiles of the house mothers and children. We had many hands. Some children boiled chicken, some cleaned vegetables, some sliced corn. The meal cooked very quickly. As is custom at this orphanage the children lined up prior to entering the dining hall. Mike always sat with 3 three girls. He just heard her voice at the first time after 2 weeks sitting next to her. They let us know this is the second time they have had chicken-corn soup. They soup was consumed quickly. The boys finished their bowls of soup in 2 minutes. Everyone was very pleased. It was a joyous moment for all, especially Michael and me. We said that the next day we would serve them pizza. We expected them to cheer but they just asked, “what’s pizza”. Tomorrow they will find out. 
The 54 children cared for by this orphanage are either parentless or their family’s are unable to care for them. They range in age from 4 to 18. They are all beautiful. They are cared for by four live in house mothers. The food budget is only thirty-five cents per child per day. That is not enough to provide sufficient nutrition making Michaels generosity even more valued. HSCV is hoping other caring adults will come forward in the future to provide assistance for these very deserving children.
Blogged by Tran Ngoc Lien
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