Vietnam Camp

Once a year we have the privilege of attending Vietnam Camp. It is a family camp designed for kiddos who were born in Vietnam to come together to celebrate their birthland through immersion in the Vietnamese culture. We strive to do this through exposing them to the beauty of Vietnamese food, song, dance, crafts, dress and playing with other Vietnamese children.
This year was so enjoyable for our family and we pray that Vietnam camp will continue to grow and that we can add more and more authentic experiences to their lives.

We arrived at camp and were so excited to visit with Thomas and his daughter. He was able to bring his daughter to camp this year as she is in her first year of studies in the US.
Thomas faithfully served every family during their adoption process by doing everything from visiting our children at the center to translating legal documents and arranging travel. All families in attendance were overjoyed to spend time with him and we know he loved seeing all the children.
My lil' happy camper.
We added in a social night for the mom's and dad's to get to visit. We were able to look through one another's photo albums and lifebooks and talk about bonding and child discipline. I truly admire these women and am blessed to have a place where I feel totally understood. Thank you Vietmom's!
The children enjoyed numerous crafts and activities. Here Avi Joy is painting a star with glue and adding gold glitter for the Vietnamese Flag.
They attended a cooking class where they made Vietnamese spring rolls.
Then she was off to make a non la, or a traditional conical hat.
As a sidenote, she did not take the hat off for 2 days. She wore it while she played her games and had a snack at home...
She wore it with her birthday suit. And she wore it to church.
The children enjoyed hanging out with Korean beauty, Lucy.
We were able to invite my two friends from Vietnam lessons to come and perform a song. Rose and her daughter Tabitha, came dressed in Ao Doi and Tabitha sang a beautiful Vietnamese children's song during dinner.
Hannah and Olivia, the two in pink on the top row, were the first two peanuts to come home from Vietnam years ago. Ella, the one in red, is Hannah's sister. Ella and Avi Joy were adopted on the same day and born in the same province. Zakary and Nehemiah were both born in Can Tho. What special friendships!
Here is Zakary's mama, Kerrie. I truly love and respect this woman deeply. Adam snapped this one of us as our children ran circles around our Ao Doi's as we tried not to move and smile for a pic.
A group picture of the Can Tho families. All these children were born in the province of Can Tho (where Nehemiah was born) and traveled to the same center and courthouse for adoption.
A group shot of the Ninh Thuan babies. This is the province where Avi Joy and the other children were born. It's wild to think that they could have been born in the same hospital, been fed by the same nannies, or even... be related in some way, who knows!
Other lil' happy camper.
There is an over-used quote that applies to this picture. I am pulling it out again, because it is so beautiful and so true... All because two people fell in love. From the 6,000 families who now have forever children and the other ten's of thousands of children around the world who have an education, clothing and food, we say with a joyful heart...Thank you Jerry and Deniese Dillon.
Thomas and Samuel. I giggled seeing my family in reverse. (Vietnamese man holding blond headed baby.)
Oh these two girls. Man do they warm my heart. Their getting to that age now where when Sarah went off to play with someone else, Avi Joy was sad and realized she wasn't getting the attention. I think this hug more than made up for any sad feelings!
Gotta love Ian's smile. He is such a caring friend to my children.
Can you spy Thomas among the children??
This year we were able to meet some new friends... here is a precious couple and their daughter Dannette. We visited with so many families that we only get to "see" via facebook or blogs and it is a gift to talk with them live and in person!
We also were able to hang out with some old friends from our first travel group in '06.
Here we all are in 2006 on the beach in Ninh Thuan. Susie is holding Ella on the left, then us, Heather with Sarah, Ly with Thai and Chaunta with Liam.
All grown up! (I realize they are not all there, but this pic of Ella, in white, was just too cute!)
Vietnam Family Reunion's
2007
2008
2009
In years past I was a picture taking fool... this year, I much more enjoyed the conversation, the Wise-Up class (how to talk about adoption with your child), the birth search and reunion class, and well, chasing around two children was more work : ) so there are less pictures. I will post them all soon.
I know Dillon families can upload pictures to a Kodak site soon (I think); I look forward to viewing them soon too, along with the professional whole group picture. Thank you Dillon staff (Whitney and Lisa- you rock, seriously!) and families for coming to camp, see you next year!

"Perfect in beauty, God shines forth." Psalm 50:2
The Perryman's