Our annual Vietnam Tour in 2006 took place from Jul 27 to August 12 for 17 days with seven members. In the first half, we visited the supported groups in the south, and in the second half, moved to the north to visit the groups there. This time, we had many opportunities to enjoy songs, listening to CDs in the car during the journey, and organizing concerts with local groups. I thought it might be good to put more emphasis on exchanges through music in future.

After a warmhearted welcome party at Children's Home with music and dance, we were guided to visit a village of minority people. We took a drive on separate motorbikes for 20 minutes, and walked a mountain road for 15 minutes to reach there. It was a village built by a catholic church 9 years ago for those who lost home being driven away out of the mountain they used to live. Now, with 26 families settled down, it has become a real village for them, with the well newly dug and grown-up green trees. There are more than 30 children who cannot go to school. So, the sisters who are running the Children's Home visit them 3 times a week in order to teach how to write. Now it has become a sisters' wish to build a school there. They visit not only this village but also other villages to teach children. We were deeply touched by their devoted activities.

In the morning, we were separated into small groups, and visited the slums, and the HIV infected. In the afternoon, we got together again to talk with the supporting staff. After receiving a briefing of their activities, Mr. Ando asked, "How do you keep your motivation for your activities? I suppose you might be often disappointed." Then, four staff members started to talk their own thoughts based on their experiences, saying "In the case of the drug addict, for instance, there is no way but we patiently continue our support, admitting it is a chronic illness." Adding to this, the other said, "It's a great encouragement for us to listen children saying that they enjoyed very much our programs." The other staff said, "People here including children and the drug addicts show their respect to us, and listen to us." It was good to have had an opportunity to talk and discuss with them, and to know how they feel, how difficult to carry out their tasks, and also their joy experienced through the activities. It is extraordinary that they never give up their activities.

Receiving a written request from a priest, we visited his church in Dai Hai for the first time. We took a drive on motorbikes taking a narrow road along a river, turning from the national highway.

There has been a big change in this hospital since last year: upon the completion of four new wards, the pediatric department, the obstetrics and gynecology department, the emergency room, and the operation rooms moved in there. We had the impression that medical and check equipments were largely improved. According to the hospital, the treatment of children under the age of six has become free since 2005. It is obvious that the government has increased the medical budget.

However, those who joined the tour for the first time said, "Since the medical equipment here is so poor, we have a complex feeling when we think of our work utilizing the newest medical equipment." It is certain that the facilities and equipments of this hospital have been greatly developed during the last 10 years. Yet, we should not forget the wide gap existing between Japan and Vietnam.

With the recent rapid economic growth in Vietnam, cities have been greatly developed. On the other hand, there are still many people left behind: people who have no enough food both in cities and farmers villages, poor children who cannot go to school, sick people who have no chance to receive medical treatment. When I met those people, I lost my words. When I met children there, I felt their eyes were appealing something to us. We should continue to listen to their unspoken appeal. In this regard, I am hopeful. There exist people who listen to them and try to do their best to change the situation. We wish to cooperate with them, and to extend our hands to them.