Day 5 - Sat, Sept 13 - Day trip to Jesse & Joy's Orphanage

Trip to An Thi!

Today we had the extreme privilege of making a visit to Jesse & Joy's orphanage.  It was a very poignant and memorable time for all of us. We have very few pictures because we shot a lot of video.  I filmed the entire time we were there, so I think it will be too long to post while we are here in VietNam.  

We left in the morning in a hired van for the day.  Perfume went with us as our interpreter.  She made calls ahead of time to make sure we could go.  They were afraid she was undercover for the government, so they kept stalling her.  She decided that we would go and see if we could get in once we arrived.  Upon arrival, the director allowed us to come in after she offered him a commission of money.  What we saw was beyond what any of the kids had seen before.  Only in Jamaica have John or I witnessed the absolute poverty and deplorable living conditions of the compound.  

We learned that it is not actually an orphanage, but an asylum for the mentally handicapped.  They are not treated well and are taken advantage of.  There were only two babies there, one blind and one with down-syndrome.  One woman was physically handicapped only...her right arm was distorted so that she could not work on the farm.  She talked a lot to Perfume and we got quite a bit of good advice & help & information from this woman.  

First, we were directed to the Director's office where the Director and Perfume visited for quite some time.  John had made copies of all Jesse & Joy's adoption paperwork, and the Director remembered Jesse & Joy's adoption.  The former director and another official who had helped us during the adoptions retired a few years ago.  There was a little 5-year-old boy, Cho, who we met while picking up Jesse & Joy, and our hearts went out to him and we wished we could also take home with us.  The Director knew Cho and said he had been adopted and now would be 18 years old!  It's hard to imagine him that old after seeing his 5-yr-picture in our album all these years, but we were so happy to hear that news about him.  

We had brought a suitcase of Joy's clothes that were either too small or she just had too many, with a few from Jesse as well.  We also brought a big (Sam's/Costco-style) bag of individually wrapped candy of all different kinds.  We asked about handing these out to the residents and were given permission.  But the Director also offered to just hand them out if we just gave them to him.  As we went to the van to get our suitcase, the woman I mentioned earlier warned Perfume that if we gave the items to the Director, he would sell them and the people would not get anything.  So, we started at one end and slowly made our way around the compound, handing out clothes and candy.  

There were various reactions...from shyness to excitement, to fear.  It was heartwrenching to see the rooms and quarters they lived in.  And then it was heartwarming to watch them warm up to us, following us as we went.  At first, everyone watched us from their doors.  As the kids went in (Perfume's two children were also with us) and shared candy, they would follow and sometimes ask for more.  So as we got around halfway, we had half the people following us, watching, watching, watching...some curious, some smiling, some unsure, but all watching.  As I went past each room, following after the kids, I spoke to them, "Sin chow...hello...God bless you!"  Many times this brought a smile to their face.  

As we neared the last quarter, which was all-females, Mom & Perfume were attempting to size up the clothing with the ladies...some were teenagers - young women, others middle-aged, and others quite old.  It was amazing how Joy's clothing still fit them all.  They would put them on right over their other clothes after they got them.  The woman who helped us earlier helped us again in sizing up the clothing to the right person.  She didn't take any for herself, but made sure the others all got them.  She seemed to be a self-appointed protector of the women.  She told Perfume, "This may be a very small gift for them to give, but it is a very big gift for the women to receive."  

The woman also shared that those in authority over the asylum use the residents in forced labor and beat them if they do not work.  They also do not get enough food or water.  Perfume said that many of the residents asked if they could come with us..."Take me to HaNoi!"  In their minds, if they could get out, they could find a better life.  Many of these people were higher functioning and would be able to live in group homes and work if given a chance like they are in America  The other children who did not get adopted got farmed out to neighboring farmers to help on the farms--likely as slave labor.  VietNam is closed to adoptions right now.  We learned that if all goes according to plan, the country opens back up on Sept 16--tomorrow--for adoptions once again.  However, the only adoptions allowed will be for special needs children, 5 years old and up, and sibling groups.

Towards the end, an older mute man came up to John & gestured that he wanted his picture taken.  He stood stock still and waited while John got the camera ready and then took his picture.

As we finished emptying out our suitcase, thanked the Director for allowing us to come, and piled back into the van, one down-syndrome young woman followed us, thanking us and smiling and waving until we left.  Here is a picture I got of her.  As you can see, John got a picture as well, but I do not have the pics from his camera to blog yet, so you get mine. :)  She seemed to be crying but trying hard not to show it.  In one of John's pictures she is wiping her eyes.  More than one of us had tears in our own eyes as we pulled away, touched to the core by what we had witnessed, heard, and learned.