Two Wolves Abroad

Transforming lives through service experiences

Vietnam

My experience at St Vincent Diem Orphanage

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Hi friends,

16730211_10155034326841810_4933464004026722855_nIn December 2013, I had been living by myself at the St. Vincent Diem Orphanage for a couple of weeks, when I was told in the little Vietnamese and sign language I understood, that a storm was coming. It wasn’t until a couple of days before the storm that about 150 local villagers rocked up to stay at the orphanage until the storm had passed. It took about 2 days of preparation for the storm which involved barricading windows, sandbagging the roofs and relocating everything the orphanage owned to the central and most secure rooms.

The storm passed overnight without too much damage to the orphanage and thankfully nobody was hurt. It wasn’t until the next day that I learned the storm was actually the biggest and deadliest Typhoon that had ever hit the Philippines but luckily did not have the same impact on Vietnam.

Many of the villagers would have lost their homes in the storm and came to the orphanage because it was on high ground. If it wasn’t for the work of the Cardoner project and tireless work of Fr. Dave in not only funding but building the orphanage, many of those villagers would have lost their lives that night.

The work we do at the Two Wolves and abroad, has such a great impact on not only the small clusters of people we help feed, teach and provide shelter for, but also a massive effect on huge communities all over the world.

Thank you to everyone who volunteers here and I implore you to get on an immersion if you haven’t yet. The work you do has a much greater impact than you could ever realise and let’s keep building towards a better future for those who desperately need it.

Cameron Gray

Experience in Vietnam

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16684259_10211463722804437_6436465878046264947_nI just wanted to share a glimpse of my experience on immersion and what a difference you’re all helping to create within the developed countries of which we support:

In Vietnam, The Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross run an ice factory that the Cardoner Project donated and installed to assist with the business. (Some of the machinery is shown in the photo below)

Recently, a steel company has been located nearby and their chemical pollution in the river continues to create serious damage on the production of the factory, however, the sisters endure with great perseverance in their ability to run the business.

Subsequently, the Cardoner Project continues to strive to improve the machinery’s functionality and support these dependent communities. Thanks to your help at The 2 Wolves, you have helped create the building blocks in allowing the Project to do so.

Arriving at St. Vincent Diem Orphanage, we didn’t know any of the children and none of us spoke the local language. But despite our differences, the children and the sisters welcomed us with big smiles and open arms.

Within the short week of our stay we helped look after the children, most of whom were severely disabled- including those suffering from Ancient Orange. But yet they remained so joyful, which enabled us to come together in unity of love.

It was a difficult but deeply moving experience and I hope that some of you get to meet these little soldiers.

Thanks to the Two Wolves Community Cantina and the Cardoner Project, we have the ability to come together, work towards our vision, and continue to serve the poorest of the poor to make great changes in our world.

Gemma O’Shea