Celebrating with Smiles

by Colin Dang

I don’t think I could have asked for a better way to spend my birthday than at the Sunflower Mission Workcamp on June 7. For the past few months, I had been planning the Health & Hygiene workshop alongside Emily and Ylan, and it was surreal to finally see everything come together. Walking into the school that we had spent the last few days painting and building made the experience even more meaningful. What had once been just a project site was now filled with energy, laughter, and eager young students ready to learn.

My station focused on dental hygiene, where I taught the children how to properly brush their teeth. I explained each step in Vietnamese and then reinforced it with English phrases. Even though I can understand Vietnamese well, speaking it has always been a challenge for me. I was nervous at first, but I pushed myself to do my best. Seeing the kids respond, repeat after me, and genuinely engage made me feel more confident than I ever have before.

Emily led the handwashing station, and Ylan taught wound care. Together, our workshop felt complete. The children, ranging from first to fourth grade, came from rural parts of An Giang, where access to education and resources can be limited. Watching them learn so eagerly in a school we had helped create was incredibly powerful. It made every hour of planning and every drop of sweat worth it.

The humidity was honestly insane, and by the end of the day, I felt like I had at least 1,000 mosquito bites. Despite all of that, I was still able to bond with the kids in ways I did not expect. Even with the language barrier, we connected through smiles, laughter, and fun gestures.

Spending my birthday surrounded by the joy and curiosity of these children was more meaningful than anything I could have planned. Their smiles were the best gift I could have received. I am incredibly grateful for all of our volunteers, and especially Co Elena, for making this experience possible. My nineteenth birthday was a reminder of why we came here in the first place: to serve, to connect, and to grow. I know I gained just as much as I gave.