A LIFE TRANSFORMED IN VIETNAM

A note from one of CAMA’s international workers serving in Vietnam:

On April 19, we celebrated the 30-year anniversary of CAMA in Vietnam and the 10-year anniversary of CAMA’s college ministry here. I thank God for His blessing and protection on CAMA during these last three decades.

We had the opportunity to connect with alumni and some former CAMA staff. Many college students and alumni took turns sharing about their lives, stories, and their experiences with CAMA. Here is a story from one of the college students whom CAMA has supported since she was a young child and is now a second-year university student.

The Vietnamese Children’s Project is empowering disadvantaged students in rural areas to stay in school and continue their education.

Dear ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters in the CAMA organization, and everyone present at today’s celebration. I am Lê Văn Huệ,* and today I am extremely honored to be standing here and to share about my journey—a journey that is not easy, but in which there is both material and spiritual support and encouragement from CAMA.

I was born into a family without a father figure. My mother raised me alone through countless hardships because she has mental illness and people often took advantage of her. Our family is the poorest in the commune, but my mother has extraordinary willpower. She was determined that I would be a successful businesswoman when I grew up. My mother is a hard-working woman. Every day she wakes up at four a.m. to go to the field to collect vegetables to sell in the market. In the evening, she cleans up people’s houses to earn extra money so she can send me to school. Although she worked hard, she could never earn enough because she is illiterate, and people cheated her. Moreover, the school tuition kept on increasing every year. The hardships made it seem like there was no way out.

When I was in the first grade, I got support from CAMA. I felt very fortunate. I received Christmas gifts, pens, backpacks, scholarships, school supplies, and life skills training—CAMA not only helps me overcome material difficulties but also helps me heal mentally and nurtures faith and helps me and my mom fulfill my dream.

Thanks to CAMA, I have learned to no longer bow to fate, I dare to stand in front of the crowd to speak up and dare to dream of a brighter future. To me, CAMA is not just an organization—it is a second family to me. A family where I feel loved, cared for, listened to, and given the opportunity to grow.

On this day, we gather to celebrate CAMA’s 30-year anniversary [in Vietnam]—three decades of sowing seeds of love and hope. I would like to send my deepest gratitude to all the CAMA supporters and staff who have silently devoted [themselves] and given beautiful values to generations of students like me.

Thank you, CAMA, for accompanying and supporting me from first grade to now as a second-year university student who is now studying economics at a national university and for lighting up my life with unconditional love. I believe that, thanks to the seeds of kindness that CAMA has planted, there will be many lives like mine that will change, gain wings, and grow strong.

[I am] wishing that CAMA would continue to walk steadily on its meaningful journey—a journey of sowing hope, spreading love, and creating miracles for this life.

I sincerely thank you!

Lê Văn Huệ

*Name changed

TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Below, you’ll find another story of transformation shared by another one of CAMA’s international workers serving in Vietnam:

Students have been able to enjoy summer camps through the Vietnamese Children’s Project.

One of the students from Hanoi Bible College, who volunteered to be a group leader at a camp for orphans held by the Vietnamese Children’s Project, told me of his memorable experience learning firsthand how showing Christ’s love can transform people.

This student observed that many of the children coming to the camp were very guarded and reserved—some even seemed stubborn and difficult to work with. There was [a visible] distrust in how these children interacted with CAMA staff and volunteers. He also observed how these children changed over time as they encountered the love they received from CAMA staff and volunteers.

One night, as he watched the children going to sleep, he noticed one boy did not have his blanket on, so he quietly pulled the blanket over him. Later, as he was about to sleep, he noticed that the boy came over and quietly pulled the blanket over him. This normally difficult and stubborn child turned out to be a very gentle one.

I was touched to hear his story. I shared with this student how sometimes, difficult kids and people are the product of their circumstances; they were neglected and mistreated, so they learned to be defensive and fight for their survival. When Christians show the love of Christ to them, these people can experience a different worldview and be transformed by Christ.

I thought to myself that my wife and I are so privileged to have been able to serve for many years in Vietnam, [seeing change in] many lives of believers and non-believers. Yet, stories like the one above have taught me that we are more privileged to be able to see, hear, and learn about how Christ also works through those we served to change others. These are life-changing experiences for us.