Sunday, April 17, 2011

Kelly and the Mulligan Project

With Kelly at Sen (Kelly is also a vegetarian), 14.4.2011
Love you, Angel!

I've met a real angel on Earth. Thanks to Tuan & Chuyen, my wonderful highschool friends now living in US. Tuan introduced Kelly to me to help her with some translation in Vietnam. And then i feel so blessed to get to know her. I could naturally feel her warm and kind heart when we talk to each other. I'm impressed and moved by her compassionate works for the disable children in Central Vietnam, especially her love for little Hong... It is so sweet to hear that her husband is always there to support her. Dear Kelly, your story inspires hope and love for people, i'm proud of you. 

"Good things happen to good people", that's what she told to encourage me before she left. Yeah, darling, from the bottom of my heart, i wish for you, your family and the project all the best, success and happiness! 

With much love.


  • The Mulligan Project: http://themulliganproject.org
    "The Mulligan Project was founded in 2009 by Kelly Gonzales and her husband Eddie Rohwedder. Kelly traveled to Vietnam in late 2008 and found her life forever changed by the amazing children of Hoi An Orphanage. Although Kelly had been to several orphanages in third world countries, she had never seen one dedicated to children with disabilities. So moved by the experience and in particular one little girl named Hong,  Kelly went back to Vietnam three months later.  This time she wanted to learn more about the children, the government-run orphanage and The Kianh Foundation, a UK non-profit on the ground in Vietnam that has been pioneering a better life for the children at the orphanage since 2002. A month later Kelly and Eddie were honored when The Kianh Foundation asked them to be partners in their endeavor to help the children. They gladly accepted and created The Mulligan Project, a U.S. based non-profit dedicated the same mission."


    Kelly and Little Hồng, 2008
     
  • An excerpt from Kelly's journal recounting the day she meet Hong

    On what was to be an ordinary Saturday in Vietnam, I met an extraordinary little girl named Hong. Visiting one more orphanage on my trip, I didn’t expect to walk into a room for severely disabled kids. A caretaker pointed to you for me to hold. I didn’t even know if I could. Would I hurt you? You began to crawl to me. Then you sat up and lifted your arms.  I was impressed. When I picked you up, you shook with joy. I almost dropped you. Your giggle was absolutely delightful. Your smile was infectious. You got to me. I tried playing with the other kids, but I kept coming back to you.  Visiting hours ended too quickly. I had to leave.  But you were all I could think about. I couldn’t wait to get back to the orphanage to be with you again. You are an angel Hong. You moved me. You ended my trip. There was no point to continue to Cambodia where nothing could compare to your face.  I flew back the next day just to hold you for a few more hours. You will always be our “daughter”. . . no matter what country you live in.  Someday I hope to bring you home to me and your dad. We love you, and we thank you for bringing us together. We will give you all that we can –in care and love always.

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