Going Nowhere; Moving Forward

 

2020: Our Year of Isolation and Inspiration

 

 At this time of the year we are usually planning and packing for another trip to Vietnam to continue our humanitarian work and renew our relationships with family and friends. We are yearning to be there. 

COVID travel restrictions have decimated the travel industry and caused widespread loss of income and recent flooding in Hoi An and the Central Highlands have left so many families devastated. 

 

 

 

The picture above is of the back door to Reaching Out. The shop has been closed since the onset of COVID restrictions but fortunately they had the foresight to raise all the machinery to the ceiling on a system of pulleys before they closed the doors. As the water receded, the staff got busy cleaning the muck and debris from the floors and the walls. Reopening will coincide with the lifting of restrictions on foreign travel. 

 

 

The floods in Quang Tri, as pictured above, have claimed many lives, family homes, their cattle and crops. Hundreds of volunteers have swept into the province and by boat have delivered emergency supplies and made hundreds of rescues of stranded families. 
 

Like you, we have been confined to quarters, but we have not been idle. Bruce's latest book was released October 15th 2020. Third in the Lien series, the focus is again on the sordid practice of child trafficking, but this time is focused on Mexico and the United States. Bruce's research was meticulous and although fiction, it reflects heart crushing reality.

The book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and from the publisher Black Rose Writing. Your local bookstore can also order the book for you from Ingram.

All proceeds go towards prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of victims. We also have advance copies in the garage, so if you are in the neighbourhood or want a signed copy mailed to you please email us at brucelogan.bli@gmail.com. Thank you to all of you who have purchased a book by donation. The donations have been very generous.

Reviews are very enthusiastic! The Road From Tenancingo has been described as having "on the edge of your seat" tension along with detailed descriptive and evocative passages. 

Bruce's objective is to raise awareness of this world wide scourge.

 

 

 

 

Many of you are aware that over the last few years we have become involved with the GO Philanthropic Foundation.  Gophil as we call ourselves among ourselves, embodies the values that we hold for engaged philanthropy. Solutions are found by working closely with local grassroots organizations to help them find their own solutions to issues in the fields of health, education and human rights. In fact, we began to know them with and through two such organizations with whom we have worked in Vietnam, Children's Education Foundation and Blue Dragon Children's Foundation.

Bruce now sits on the Board of Directors of Go Philanthropic and we both belong to the Founders Circle. Thank goodness for ZOOM during this past year. All board meetings are virtual and the staff and founders also are in constant communication with program leaders around the world. 

We are particularly proud of Gophil's recent Rapid Response drive to raise funds for our existing partners to adapt to new needs arising due to the effects of the Corona Virus on their daily operations. Their regular services gave way almost instantaneously to those of food relief. The Gophil community responded immediately and generously and funds were distributed expeditiously.  It was gratifying to hear in a Zoom call with several of our partners in SE Asia and India about how they had adapted, becoming food distributors in addition to being  health providers, educators and social workers. In many locations this also entailed procuring government approvals and transportation systems.  Sadly instances of domestic violence and trafficking have exploded as the unscrupulous take advantage of the vulnerable. The creativity, resilience and fortitude of those with whom we spoke on the Zoom call were admirable

 

A ZOOM call brings us closer to our partners in the field, but oh how we would love to be there with them. BUT, no airfares, no hotels, no travel insurance, no shots or visas to buy (as well as no elegant dinners out, no concerts or events, and who needs new clothes other than cozy at home wear!) So our coffers have allowed us to donate more generously than in the past!

How about you?

 

We are deeply grateful to those of you who have followed our "Journey of the Heart" to Go Philanthropic over this past year and have given so generously from your hearts to our efforts to prevent child trafficking and educate girls in poverty.

This year, we would like to encourage you to also think about sharing your COVID travel savings with those for whom the next meal may be uncertain, children who may not be able to go to school and certainly have no computers for online education and those at peril of being taken advantage of in their deepened desperation

 

           http://gophilanthropic.org/how-to-take-action/make-a-donation

 

Please consider making a donation to Go Philanthropic at the above link. On the link you will find a comment box, where you can direct your funds to a specific program if you wish. Please also indicate in that box that you have been referred by Bruce and Elaine.

                        Be Calm, Be Kind, Be Safe