In September 2023 we had a great visit with the children at the Lac Thien Orphanage. We had contacted the caretakers ahead of time and made a detailed list of items they needed for the month. Our team of volunteers did all the shopping at local markets in Nha Trang, loaded up a van, and made the drive out to the orphanage.
When we arrived, the children came out to greet our team and help carry all the provisions into the main common room. On this visit, we brought bags of rice, boxes of ramen noodles, bottles of cooking oil, fish sauce, sugar, seasonings, milk, and baby formula. Because it is the start of the school year, we also made a donation to support the children’s education costs.
As a fun treat for the children, we brought ice cream popsicles! They all crowded around to get their popsicle, and there were lots of messy happy faces afterwards. So fun!
This charity trip was possible through the kind donations from Dan, Van, and Devin Haynes and an anonymous donor. Thank you!!!
ABOUT THE LAC THIEN ORPHANAGE
Founded in 2006, the Lac Thien Orphanage is part of the Phat Buu pagoda and lies north of Nha Trang in Ninh Hoa district. The orphanage’s origins are endearing. On a peaceful day, a baby was left at the gates of the pagoda. The nuns cared for him, and from that day on they have taken in orphan children from the area. The orphanage is run by the nuns of the pagoda and its head nun, Chon Minh. They rely entirely upon donations, most of which come from people in the community. There are about 30 children at the orphanage, from newborns to teenagers, and Lac Thien also takes in elderly whose family cannot care for them.
