“Love is shown more in deeds than in words.”
These timeless words from St Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises remind us that love is not always found in grand declarations but in the generosity of small yet sincere actions.
This spirit lies at the heart of the Hai Đồng Kẽm (Two Copper Coins) project, a charity initiative organised by the Acutis Youth Group of Tạo Tác Parish. Inspired by the Gospel story of the poor widow who offered her two small coins, the project highlights that what matters is not the size of our gift but the generosity of the heart behind it. True to its name, Hai Đồng Kẽm invites young people to give generously of themselves for those in need.
On 1 February—the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time and during the joyful early days of the Lunar New Year—the young missionaries of Hai Đồng Kẽm set out for St Paul K’rèn Parish. In the months leading up to the visit, the youth devoted nearly three months to careful preparation: planning activities, conducting preliminary visits, fundraising, preparing gifts, and organising game booths. Despite demanding schedules filled with studies and family responsibilities, they committed themselves wholeheartedly to the mission.
The day itself unfolded like a true celebration of spring. The team distributed 150 gift packages containing snacks and school supplies to local children, along with essential provisions for 20 families facing particularly difficult circumstances. Yet the giving extended far beyond material support. The children of K’rèn experienced a joyful, lively gathering—filled with games, laughter, and shared moments that fostered community.
For many volunteers, the journey home felt profoundly different from the journey there. Their hearts were fuller, transformed not by what they had given but by what they had received. The bright eyes and innocent laughter of the K’rèn children became living lessons in sharing, selflessness, and love. Several young participants reflected that, instead of spending countless hours scrolling through social media, the project helped them discover real, meaningful human connections. Through this experience, they matured in humility, learning to embrace quiet service and to find purpose in small, faithful acts.
Hai Đồng Kẽm was not merely a one-day charitable event but a formative encounter that will continue to shape how these young people carry Christ’s love into the world. Perhaps this is the deepest lesson of the two copper coins: when we offer everything we have, however modest it may seem, God multiplies it beyond measure. The Acutis Youth Group did not simply bring gifts to K’rèn; they discovered the gift of purposeful living—of loving concretely and becoming the hands of Christ in the world. May their witness inspire many more young hearts to step out in faith and give generously.
