Special Visit: Wedding and Typhoon

 

Hi Team,

On September 6th I returned to Vietnam for a short 10 day visit.  The purpose of my visit was to attend the wedding of a friend and to participate in the filming of a documentary on our program featuring some of the children we have helped.  

On my arrival to Vietnam I learned of the fast approaching Typhoon Yagi.   The main airport in Hanoi was closed down 3 hours after my arrival as a precaution.    
Fortunately: The Typhoon was moving fast, hitting Saturday night leaving clear weather for the wedding on Sunday.   
Unfortunately:  The Typhoon was recognized as the biggest Typhoon in 30 years. Causing significant damage to northern Vietnam as it left hundreds of people dead, many still missing  due to being swept away by flood flow and landslides. 
Hanoi was impacted mainly by the high winds knocking down trees all over the city.   Clean up was massive.  Interesting riding your motorbike through the obstacle course of fallen trees in the City. 
 
In typical fashion the community pulled together to help clean up the streets while the government dispatched thousands of soldiers to help with the clean up.  
 
Our local team pulled together to develop a plan to utilize relief funds donated from one of our Canadian donors to provide help to the families in the north impacted by the storm.  On Sunday Sept 18th our team Mr. An, Duyen and Dai personally delivered a truck load of blankets, rice, and other essentials that the families of Dien Bien province requested.  It was a difficult journey interrupted by washed out roads and landslides but the team managed to complete the mission.  So nice to be affiliated with a team that quickly responded to the needs of the community we support.  

During my visit I also had the opportunity to visit a few of our patients in the hospital or homes and connect with a few of the surgeons who support the program. Unfortunately, because of the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi the documentary filming was postponed. 

That's it for now.   I hope you have a great day.

Warm regards,
Bob McGarry

PS: Link to google photo's with more wedding and storm photos if you are interested. https://photos.app.goo.gl/G5nJmGc2kvpww8tVA

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