046 Jerilyn Brusseau: Peace Trees Vietnam and the courage to heal from loss.

Jerilyn Brusseau offers evidence that one woman, with a vision to heal can change the lives of thousands of people. Her story begins with heartbreak when she learns that her brother, Dan Cheney, was shot down and killed in Vietnam just 15 days after he arrived in the country. In that moment, Jerilyn joined nearly 60,000 other American families who lost family members in a war that would last almost 20 years. Almost immediately Jerilyn understood that there were also Vietnamese families suffering equal heartache from losing loved ones. 

So began Peace Trees Vietnam.

In our conversation, Jerilyn takes us on a good will journey from Seattle to Vietnam to heal relationships and clear over 1500 acres of more than 115,000 unexploded bombs, land mines, mortar shells and grenades and replace all that ordinance with trees of peace.

But there is more. The Peace Trees Vietnam organization has facilitated the building of kindergartens, libraries and community centers. Probably more important, Jerilyn and her team have helped heal the damaged relationships between two countries through simple acts of kindness and community building. Jerilyn offers much for us to learn about what is possible when deep loss is turned into helping other people. 

Peace Trees Vietnam

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I want to thank my great team that helps me sound better than I am.

Jacki Hydock for her lending her wonderful voice to our introduction and outro

Great music by Jazz Night

Awesome episode production by the great team of We Edit Podcasts all the way up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Check them out at www.weeditpodcasts.com

Thanks For Listening and Jumping into the Swamp