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Francis Shelter Newsletter – April 2015

I had 2 very special days at the shelter last week.  Each time I go, I’m able to make hands on contact and perform basic therapeutic techniques with 22 to 25 of the residents.  Another little girl who has been resistant to my touch offerings, last Wednesday reached and grabbed my hand.  I subsequently spent about 10 minutes lightly caressing and massaging her back and shoulders.  Many of the elderly stroke victims are taking my suggestion and are working in tandem with each other utilizing each of their good limbs to support and stimulate their stricken limbs.  I also started working giving short massage to three of the little boys that appear to be somewhat normal at first glance, however over the course of a little time it is obvious that they have been traumatized or in some way mentally impaired.  They have been responding nicely and whenever I arrive I’m greeted with lots of smiles and hugs.  I continue to work with one of the young men that basically is restricted to laying on his back in an obscure corner of the children’s dorm.   Because of his inability to move himself up and around, he can’t even watch TV.  I was able to get him into a wheelchair (which was a piece of work, on my own), and took him outside and feed him on the veranda.  Basically he got about 30 minute respite from his limited experience of life. We should be done with the profile cards within the next few weeks.  I have a young Vietnamese woman by the name of Hieu, who is in the process of translating the basic information from Vietnamese to English and our resident freelance photographer / graphic designer, Tammy Ting Ting will be putting said translation along with a photo of each resident together, to complete the profile card process.  I have recommended that the cards be laminated and somehow secured to each bed so that anyone that works on an individual resident will be able to track their condition and progress being made.  Each volunteer that works with a resident will make their comments on a clipboard that houses the profile card so everyone will know what each of us is doing and accomplishing with each resident. Your words are something to make or cheap buy viagra break your relationship’s quality. The time required for completing the treatment varies as per viagra active the severity of problem. Visit our home page and get buy sildenafil australia if you suffer from any of the following symptoms * Heart disorder, coronary artery disorder,* A recent episode of heart attack/stroke/congestive heart failure*Liver or kidney disorders*Blood cell disorders*Stomach ulcer*Penile deformity Also it’s important to maintain a sufficient interval between two doses. Sadly, restarting or reloading applications may not do any good but will definitely not harm us or cause side effects. order levitra I was involved in the bathing ritual last week and I can assure you I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life.  Basically 5 or 6 volunteers must undress, rinse, shower, dry and redress (applying diapers to many) about 40 people of all ages and mixed genders with hoses shooting water here and there.  This array of activity translates to almost unimaginable frenzy that includes, no privacy, military precision and brushing of teeth of sorts in the mix of it all.  I was soaked from my waist down when the party ended and was given yet another insight in to the challenge that the regular volunteers must meet 24/7. The results are this, every single day the residents are bathed, fed twice, receive clean closes and have a roof over their heads.   I’m doing what I can when I’m on the ground at the shelter, to add a more human, compassionate touch / therapeutic element and treatments to the routine, however more help is needed.  That is the primary motivator for lasting change.   Hopefully I will be able to inspire the new volunteers to commit wholeheartedly to visiting and participating at the shelter on a regular basis.  Change is hard won here on the Viet frontier, however I am determined to do everything I can to make a difference and to implement lasting changes that equates to a better quality of life for the residents.  Thank you so much for your support and your willingness to make a difference.  More later…  Best, Philip

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