Update 7:  Little Angels’ Cemetery in Nha Trang, Vietnam (8 October 2016)

Mr Tong spent his savings for a piece of land, turned it into a cemetery, and since 2001, he has been giving proper burial to aborted foetuses from abortion clinics in Vietnam.

Day time, he works as a construction worker. Nighttime, he makes his rounds to the hospitals to collect remains of aborted babies so he could bury them in his cemetery.

Some two hours away from the orphanage is this beautiful and quiet garden, the resting place for our little angels.

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We lighted joss sticks for our little angels

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Most of our little angels here would have names given by Mr Tong

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Some of our little angels here are lucky – they get to be visited by their Moms and Dads once in a while

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With two of our girls from the orphanage, we lighted incense sticks for our little angels

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Some babies from stillbirths and miscarriages are also here.  Their parents had requested Mr Tong if their babies could stay here and be playmates with the rest of our little angels

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Mr Tong has this little corner in the orphanage.  This is where he prepares our little angels for burial

IMG_7062Both aborted on 7 October 2016, babies Maria and Guise sat quietly in their clay caskets.  Our prayers are with these little angels and their families.

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Babies Maria and Guise were both buried on the day of our visit to the cemetery

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The cemetery at nighttime

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I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is ‘Abortion’, because it is a war against the child.  A direct killing of the innocent child, ‘Murder’ by the mother herself.  And if we can accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?  How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion?  As always, we must persuade her with love.  And we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts.” ― Mother Teresa

Update 5: Bringing LOVE to Mr Tong and the Kids at the Orphanage (5-8 October 2016)

Vietnam once ranked as having the highest abortion rate in the world.  Mr Tong does not only take in unwanted children, he also provides food and shelter to unwed pregnant mothers disowned by their families.

After delivery, the mothers can leave their babies with Mr Tong.  They can always come back for their children once they are able and ready to raise them.

A short walk from the orphanage, we visited 5 young mothers and their infants who are currently under Mr Tong’s care.  One baby girl (not in the photo) is born premature.  It’s been 3 weeks and the mother has not yet registered the baby for lack of money to do so.

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Mr Tong’s niece was explaining to us how important it is in Vietnam for the child to have a name and be registered so Pres and I decided to give the unwed mothers some money so they could register their babies.

A month after, when we checked with Mr Tong, he informed us that the babies remain to be unnamed and unregistered.  Sadly, the unwed mothers did a runner with the money intended for their babies’ registration and had left their infants under Mr Tong’s care.

 

I certainly supported a woman’s right to choose, but to my mind the time to choose was before, not after the fact. – Ann B. Ross

Update 4: Bringing LOVE to Mr Tong and the Kids at the Orphanage (5-8 October 2016)

Pres and I are as excited as the kids (if not more!) when we hand them their gift bags!

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Our young ladies try on their summer dresses and could not take their eyes off of their new digital watches!

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Our girls trying on their new dresses!

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Our little gentlemen are not too crazy about the toy cars but are clearly enjoying their Hawaiian luau print shirts and short pants; we don’t get to see these designs everyday!

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Our boys checking out their gift bags!

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Kids are amazed with their new watches!

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With Mr Tong and his wife

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Happy to know we manage to get their sizes right!

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We miss you already, Emily!

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This young lady said THANK YOU like a thousand times!

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This boy has his wiper glasses on the entire night!

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Emily loves her new dress very much!

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Our little girl in her luau dress and Happy Birthday glasses!

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They all look soooooooo cute in their new luau outfits!

The moment they have their new summer clothes on, our kids start to assemble themselves in the middle of the room ala flashmob and the music starts to play!  This somehow brings out the little kids in us and suddenly Pres and I find ourselves dancing along!  The kids are so energetic; they are dancing and singing at the same time!  Meantime, Pres and I are busy catching our breath!

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We pose for group photos with everybody donning their new summer dresses and shirts!

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Before saying our goodbyes for the night, Mr Tong leads our evening prayers before the kids tuck themselves in.

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Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks.” ― Thomas Goodwin