Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – In mid-August 2026, just before the new school year, the Community Development Ministry brought 2 tons of rice for highland preschools, together with 100 cases of instant noodles, 360 heat-resistant stainless steel bowls, 360 spoons and 360 stainless steel cups. The total value of the goods was 62,820,000 dong.
See photos: photos of the trip on the Community Development Ministry fanpage
The Teachers’ Worry
In the last days of summer, many city families eagerly take their children shopping for new books and clothes. But at preschools in the mountains, the teachers worry about something else: “Will the children have enough rice for their school lunches?” Many parents live off their hillside fields all year, and even a few kilos of rice for their child’s meals is something they must think twice about. Some meals are just a little wild vegetables.
In early August, the ministry invited brothers and sisters to join hands, believing that no child should start a new school year worried about a meal.
“And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” (Matthew 25:40)
A Journey Full of Mishaps
The trip began with simple sharing, and it was a joy to see friends ready to set out together; most of the team were visiting this place for the first time. The journey was not easy: blazing sun one moment, sudden downpours the next, and vehicles that kept breaking down. One finally had to be left behind and towed back to Hà Nội for new parts. The mishaps made the trip longer and more tiring, but no one lost their excitement.
Working Together, Understanding Each Other
On arrival, the team and the teachers unloaded every bag of rice, every case of noodles, every bowl, spoon and cup. Under the burning sun, everyone was tired and everyone laughed, and the distance between people meeting for the first time seemed to shrink. Then the team sat down to listen to the teachers talk about what they lack and their simple hopes: how to give the children a better place to learn.
The team came to give, but realized they were the ones who received so much: smiles, stories, handshakes and a simple lesson in sharing. As the ministry’s motto reminds us: “Sow love, reap blessings.”
Let Us Pray Together
- For highland preschool children to have enough school lunches throughout the new year.
- For the highland teachers to have good health and joy in their work.
- For those who joined for the first time to keep walking with the ministry.
Read more in Community Development and Church News. Contact the church office: 0942 248 688 (Zalo available).
