Farewell Dinner

This was our final time together as a team.  This was a great team of people from all over with so many different talents they shared abundantly. It is not really farewell as thanks to technology so easy to stay in touch via FB or Viber or email or . .

Even though together just over 2 weeks when working, eating, laughing, sharing together you feel like they have been friends for years and you know when next you meet you will just pick  up where left off.  That is what friendship and sharing is about.

No Tuxedos but certainly some beautiful outfits.  Almost hard to recognize some not in scrubs or jeans 😁

The meal was delicious at Blue Ginger restaurant salad, prawn crackers, fish, rice, chicken, fried and fresh bread, seafood curry and flan.  Followed by cakes made by Thu yet, chef extraordinar!

Then the gift exchanges and speeches.  Altogether at the 7 clinics we served 1,238 patients on 4 different metro areas. And I lost track of now many meals we were served and miles traveled.

Binh and Jack, the founders of COPI, could not be with us on the trip due to health issues but Binh's presence was felt.  She was asked about at clinics were COPI has worked before as they missed her   She is an amazing woman and the proof of her work was seen in the successful mission trip with staff she has trained so well.  A good leader does not have to be there as they have trained the team to work without them and to Carry On with task at hand.

The other tribute was 3 "COPI children" who were with us.  Two were part of team whole trip and one joined us last few days as translator.  These are 3 amazing young men and women who have risen above what life dealt them, with some help from COPI, and are already making a difference in the world.

Some of Bihn's family, who now live in Saigon, joined us and represented her and conveyed her thoughts to us.

They called it a Farewell dinner but really just the beginning...

- of friendships that will grow

- of memories that will be shared and others touched

- of children who have seen they matter to many

- of children who are healthier and better able to face tomorrow

- of a countries that although still healing have seen the joy of moving forward and leaving the past behind by sharing knowledge and friendship

AND

out of New Beginnings comes a Brighter Future.

Now jump on you scooter, in our jeans or hard made dress, and take on the world. . . share what you have learned and help someone along the way.