The children in Dien Chau, Nghe An receiving their bicycles
(July 2009)

Sandals & Bicycles
by Theresa Le - July 2008

The children of Phi Loc (a small town inside Nghe An province, VN) are excited today.  They have been told they are getting new sandals, and some of them might be getting bicycles. 

Brother Thanh, after having gone away for 4 years to help Bishop Hoan with his work in Phan Thiet, had returned home for a week to visit his family in Phi Loc.  He was tasked with compiling a list of students to receive bicycles and sandals.  Sister Cecilia had given him $2000 USD for bicycles, enough money for 40 bicycles, at $50 USD each.  She also gave him $300 USD for sandals, which he went to the local market and bought about 200 pairs, at about $1.50-2.00 USD each.  He did the simple math:  There are 274 children in this little town, that means some children won't be getting sandals.  A sigh of relief came when Sister Cecilia called and said an American friend gave another $110 USD towards sandals, he quickly ran to the market and bought the rest, with a few extras.  Alleluia!  Now none of them will go home empty handed. 

Normally there are kites flying all over the dirt roads leading into Phi Loc.  Normally the children would be tending their water buffaloes and cows or herding ducks.  Everyday the children get up at 3:45 am and attending mass at the nearby church.  Afterwards they go to school.  They come home around noon from school to eat lunch, take their naps and start their chores. From 7:30pm to 9:30 pm the children go to CCD (religious education).

Depending on certain time of the year, the children would be helping their p arents with the rice fields chores.  Other times they would plant potatoes or corn and vegetables.  But not today.  There were no kite flying while herding the buffaloes, because they hear d guests are coming with new sandals and bicycles!  They quickly did their chores and hurried home to tie down the cows and buffaloes.

Their sandals have been worn and torn, having walked 5 Km to and from school every day, the same sandals worn for field work and going to church.  The high schools are even further away, thus the bicycles would be given to the high school students.  So today is an exciting day!  They waited since 10 am in the church yard. 

Brother Thanh is getting anxious, it's 3:00 pm and no sign of the guests. 

He called Sister Cecilia, who is en route from Hanoi.  It's  taking her 7 hours by car to travel down this way.  Sister Cecilia said her van had been pulled over by police in Hanoi (because the driver took the wrong turn) and she's going to be a little late.  "Some of the parents have biked here 40 Km for this event" he said to her "and they're getting anxious".  It was hot, sweat had permeated through his shirt as he waited at the market, the entrance into Phi Loc.  Finally a va n showed up with a familiar face.  He waved, smiled, opened the van's door and hopped in.  3:30pm.  He said hi to everyone and showed the driver the way to Phi Loc Parish. 

The van wobbled slowly on the small dirt road, through vast green rice fields on both sides, entering the gate of Phi Loc.  So rural is the area, the houses are small rectangular shapes, dirt floor, with a hay stack in the front yard. Chicken scurried out of the way.  A cow looked up curiously at the moving van.

The children flocked to the van as it pulled in pass the church gate.  Fr. Linh, Pastor of Phi Loc Parish, walked towards Sister Cecilia to greet her.  She sent money back in April 2008 to purchase the first 10 bicycles and she is now back to give 40 more.  Sister introduced her friend, a Viet lady from Washington DC, carrying a camera.

At 4:00 pm Fr. Linh gave a special welcoming mass.  Sister had politely hinted to Fr. Linh to keep his sermon short, since the children are tired and anxious to get their gifts.

Finally the moment everyone has been waiting for.  Brother Thanh lined all the children up according to their school classes and one by one received their sandals.  The children did not fight over which sandals are prettier, they simply and gratefully bowed their heads as they received the sandals.  "She doesn't have a pair yet", whispered a little girl to Sister pointing to a girl standing next to her.  They even looked out for each other.  Sister also gave each of them a Banh Com, a sweet treat specially made and ordered from Hanoi.

Next the bicycles are given out to 30 poor students.  The 10 are given out to students with good grades.  Their faces lit up, their eyes sparkled with tremendous joy as they proudly walked away with their bikes.  It's a dream come true to be getting a bicycle, now they can ride their bike to school rather than having to walk in the heat, they can even carry their small sibling in the back of their bike, and groceries...So much they can do!

The children ran off, some with their new sandals, sweet treats in hands, some rode off on their new bicycles.  The church yard was filled with giggles and children's laughter.  Oh the joy of owning a brand new pair of sandals and bicycle!

Writer's notes:  As a helper travelling with Sister Cecilia, I've become a photo journalist on the spot.  I witnessed something so beautiful and want to share with the rest of the world:  The joy of giving.  Here every dollar counts.  If you're interested in making a donation towards sandals ($2.00/pair) and bicycles ($50 each), please make your donation to "VDS" and send your check to:

        VDS
        c/o Sr. Cecilia Nguyen, CCSS
        PO Box 29555
        Washington, DC 20017
       

Or write: ceciliantt@yahoo.com or letheresa@gmail.com for more information.