this is real

Today is our last day in Vientiene. We visited more NGOs and government agency who remove UXOs. It is very different to be here hearing what really happens to a family and community in the UXO contaminated areas. From far away in the US we learned and had an idea. But here, it is really and these organizations are all struggling to make a dent in an insurmountable task. we go to each meeting and we are served a little tea and little water and they tell us of their challenge. Then we show them our Legacies of War video about all the projects we do, and I catch a little smile. This is something new. Lao Americans returning to Laos to help their community, their global community, the diasporic family. Perhaps we bring with us some hope.