From Rev. Vy T. Nguyen, Executive Director
Dear Friends,
One of the things I always enjoy when I travel is the invitation to come into a person’s home and share a meal. Often, my travel can be long and far, and sometimes the itinerary can be extremely busy. But it’s always the meals in someone’s home that I find the most meaningful. Whether gathering around a rectangular table or a round one--or more often, sitting on the family’s floor on a mat that has been passed down for generations--I always look forward to the meals that we share together.
On a trip to Iowa, I gathered for a potluck with friends as snow fell outside. I heard stories of how the local church is engaged in, and inspired by, the work of Week of Compassion.
On a visit to Sierra Leone, we sat in small chairs around a circle, where we ate local cassava and were able to feed one another. Children played and chased one another nearby. During the meal, we also heard stories of families trying to rebuild after losing so many of their loved ones to the ebola outbreak several years ago.
On a visit to Myanmar, we sat outside on someone’s deck as our hosts served fish and rice. We heard stories of families that are now able to send their children to school to get an education, and where adults can work in the field to generate income to support their family. Because of these opportunities, the families are also able to support their local community.
Meals are the time that I lay my itinerary aside, and gather with our friends and partners as they share stories of joy and despair; of pain and healing; of hope, reconciliation, and new life taking shape all around.
The gratitude that I hear expressed around these tables is not extended toward me, but toward you: the Church. Your support for Week of Compassion enables us to serve communities, providing the necessary support to rebuild and look ahead to a more hopeful future.
Like our friends around these many tables, I too am grateful for your support for Week of Compassion. Your generosity enables us to implement our mission as the relief, refugee, and sustainable development fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
This is just a small glimpse of the work that you enable, around the world, and around the year.. Together, we extend the table, building relationships and supporting strong communities--from our door steps to the ends of the earth.
I invite you to explore our website and see for yourself the work that we do all over the world. And if you would like for us to visit your community to speak or share more about Week of Compassion, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
With gratitude,
Rev. Vy T. Nguyen, Executive Director
One of the things I always enjoy when I travel is the invitation to come into a person’s home and share a meal. Often, my travel can be long and far, and sometimes the itinerary can be extremely busy. But it’s always the meals in someone’s home that I find the most meaningful. Whether gathering around a rectangular table or a round one--or more often, sitting on the family’s floor on a mat that has been passed down for generations--I always look forward to the meals that we share together.
On a trip to Iowa, I gathered for a potluck with friends as snow fell outside. I heard stories of how the local church is engaged in, and inspired by, the work of Week of Compassion.
On a visit to Sierra Leone, we sat in small chairs around a circle, where we ate local cassava and were able to feed one another. Children played and chased one another nearby. During the meal, we also heard stories of families trying to rebuild after losing so many of their loved ones to the ebola outbreak several years ago.
On a visit to Myanmar, we sat outside on someone’s deck as our hosts served fish and rice. We heard stories of families that are now able to send their children to school to get an education, and where adults can work in the field to generate income to support their family. Because of these opportunities, the families are also able to support their local community.
Meals are the time that I lay my itinerary aside, and gather with our friends and partners as they share stories of joy and despair; of pain and healing; of hope, reconciliation, and new life taking shape all around.
The gratitude that I hear expressed around these tables is not extended toward me, but toward you: the Church. Your support for Week of Compassion enables us to serve communities, providing the necessary support to rebuild and look ahead to a more hopeful future.
Like our friends around these many tables, I too am grateful for your support for Week of Compassion. Your generosity enables us to implement our mission as the relief, refugee, and sustainable development fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
This is just a small glimpse of the work that you enable, around the world, and around the year.. Together, we extend the table, building relationships and supporting strong communities--from our door steps to the ends of the earth.
I invite you to explore our website and see for yourself the work that we do all over the world. And if you would like for us to visit your community to speak or share more about Week of Compassion, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
With gratitude,
Rev. Vy T. Nguyen, Executive Director
