Update from Melissa Bellew

Debbi's 6am class shirt on the journey ... Where will it be seen next???

Notre Dame Cathedral downtown Ho Chi Minh City

Melissa Bellew, Membership Director at North Lexington Family YMCA

Update.

Amazing few days of acclimation & bonding, learning from our Y Vietnam hosts, dinner at the local Y. Traveling tomorrow to a school in Rach Gia to begin work on Wednesday ... We have studied Vietnam history, sampled local foods & culture, learned Vietnam phrases, and examined the war years from Vietnam’s viewpoint, touring the Cu Chi tunnels today... I fired 10 rounds on an M16 with guidance from the locals...

Photos are from our first walk in the city. The first morning we saw a team member from Houston have her shoulder bag cut from her body by a passing scooter (she was uninjured but shaken), so we all were reminded quickly of this country's extreme poverty, desperation, & burgeoning tourist trade ...

We learn from this different culture while tuning our YMCA mission into skills hourly ... Much work for us to do and Roger Carbajal (Association Board Member) became an uncle for first time today with twins ... Niece & nephew - all shared in his joy!