The joy of the Lord in hidden places
Having just returned from a month in Vietnam helping to teach English to the poorest of the poor, I sincerely thank the people of St Philips for their prayer support and words of encouragement which were to comfort me daily.I was based in Cu Chi , approximately one-and-a-half hours out of Ho Chi Minh City, at a small Catholic Convent with school attached where I was helping 160 children and four nuns to learn English.Teaching was sheer joy, children so well behaved and so willing to learn, as well as the four nuns with the deepest of faith and each with a wonderful sense of humour. Laughter abounded in misunderstandings in many translations. The children all came from backgrounds of extreme poverty and their stories reduced me to tears on many occasions. How easy it was to fall in love with each little face, so wounded and so beautiful. Their ages ranged from four to seventeen years.The Mother Superior, Sr. Domenic, 70 years young, is ‘the Lord’s Fighter’ for the extremely poor, her love and incredible faith see her stand tall against the powers of Communism. Never have I seen the saying ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ acted upon on so many occasions, inspiring me with the Lord’s gift to persevere.The convent and its chapel became a place of retreat for me in my quiet time of rest. The love of Christ seemed to float thoughout the small building, touching the shoulders of all those who knocked on the doors and cared to enter. People from all walks of life and other beliefs came for medicines, food and prayer, all welcomed in the love of Christ. How honoured I was to be part of it all. Never have I felt so rich, to be part of such poverty.My sincerest thanks to the Friday art group for their generous donation, coupled with a private donation, which enables Sr. Domenic to provide the $1200 cost of a teacher for a whole year.Deepest thanks are expressed to all from St Domenic and the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, Cu Chi, Vietnam.I Thess. 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.May God’s blessings be with the parish of St Philips.Norma Dodd