Celebrating the above feast today, I thought it would most appropriate to update you on the designs of the English Room at DMI. On the 22nd of Aug, 24 hours after I left Hue, the doors of the then "English City" were finally opened. And because its doors were opened on the feast of the Queenship of Mary, it was finally christened as Holy Queen City.
More directions regarding the rest of the room were given to me as two freelance kindergarten classroom painters were swinging by DMI. It was agreed that I finished the design and let the two handicapped artists work on the actual painting. So that, if ever I do go back, my focus would be just on teaching English. These artists are hired by Vinamilk, a Vietnamese Dairy company that provides yogurt and milk to the various kindergartens, to do kiddie murals as gesture of thanks to bigger clients. I've seen the work these two artists have done in the various DMI run kindergartens that I've visited in Saigon and in Hue, so I'm looking forward to them completing the rooms! :O)
The room that I had worked on has been given an "American" touch to it, and the other smaller room next to it is given a Singapore City feel. (Click the images for a larger preview.)
The black spaces represent either a door or window. 
The area above the Benjamin Sheares Bridge is left open for projections.
Here are some pictures of the "English City". There were a couple of obstacles already fixed into place, so I had to work my way around those. I was trying my best to give it a city-feel. And from the little time I had, I squeezed as much paint as I could onto the walls. On certain days, it felt like it was never going to end, yet on others, I wished I had more time to work on it. Prayer kept me focus and reminded me who I was doing this for.
It's half done, so until I go back again, here are some pictures to preview.
The internet cafe, newsstand and mailbox.
Close-up of the magazines... would have been good to have a couple of real magazines to "stick on".
The Internet Cafe with some posters outside its brick walls.
I gate-crashed the Archbishop's residence one evening to attend a gathering with the Archbishop of Bangkok and 30 of his priests. Surprisingly, Archbishop Stephen (of Hue) greeted me personally (he called me by my name...) at the main gate and invited me in. :O)
Welcoming of the Archbishop of Bangkok by Archbishop Stephen (left) and Bishop Francis.
It was an evening of fellowship between the two countries (well, actually three...). One geographical similarity between the two dioceses is that both are smack dab right in the middle of their respective countries. Both are a minority group (Vietnam - 6% and Thailand - 0.7%), but making a big difference where they are.
I had the an amazing time watching the cultural performances of Vietnam by several groups, including three congregations (orders) of Sisters. Two items were put up by the aspirants of DMI, and I was really impressed with the dance called "Beloved Old Capital and Beloved Hue". The Archbishop of Bangkok joked that Hue's diocese is very lucky to have Sisters dancing for them, because in Bangkok, there are no such performances by the Thai Sisters.
"Hello, How do you do?" performed by the Sisters of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate.
"Quan Ho Bac Ninh" performed by the Sisters of the Lovers of the Cross.
"The Dance of The Highland People" performed by the Sisters of Mary of the Visitation.
"Beloved Old Capital and Beloved Hue" performed by the Sisters of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate.
Two songs performed by the Thai delegation.
After that, it was another fun night bike ride back to the convent.
;p
Tomorrow morning I leave for Singapore.
I'd like to share a short impromptu farewell speech I made earlier to the Sisters over dinner.
Thank you for welcoming me!
Over the past six weeks, I've grown...
physically... [they feed me as if I were an archbishop ;p ]
and spiritually.
Thank you everyone, to the the Sisters who attended to me at the guest house, and Sr Dung (pronounced as Yuem), who prepared all the wonderful dishes. And I thank you for believing in what you do. It is an inspiration for me!
The work that I have come to do, is not complete... which means only one thing...
that I'll be back. (Everyone cheers at this point.)
Next stop... Singapore.
(Was wondering last evening when to put this down... how apt!)
The other day, it was ice cream day for the ethnic children living at the convent. Only a couple of them are around now as the rest have gone back to the various highlands for a holiday. Guess what did I learn from them?
The first thing they did was to make the sign of the cross and then after that, carefully removed their popsicle from the wrappers. A reminder of Who provides even for the simplest of things.
Thank you for children everywhere! Their simpleness and trustingness are everyday nudges for me to learn from.
In about half an hour's time, I leave for Lavang. I will be staying there overnight. Thousands are already there for the celebrations and hordes more will flock towards that direction today.
Ave Maria!
About three kilometres west of the convent is Chua Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady Pagoda). You can read the legend by clicking on this page http://www.vietscape.com/travel/hue/thienmu.html. Apart from the spectacular, undisturbed and tranquil view of Hue's Perfume River to the south of it, one can walk through this ancient site filled with temples, gardens, and lotsa... tourists!!! Admission: Free. Enjoy the pictures...
Heading west on my Honda on Kim Long Street.
They should name this place Ocean Scent rather than Perfume River.
The famous Chua Thiem Mu attracts many tourists daily.
The nonchalant and soothing chants of these monks are definitely a crowd-puller.
A temple going through major restoration works.
Yesterday was a day of hope.
Sr Bong and a group of us travelled two and a half hours north to the highland area of Hue to witness the ground breaking ceremony of a new church in the A Luoi province. For many many centuries, the area was not accessible to traffic and because of political reasons, the church was not able to flourish there.
Yesterday, both the Archbishop and bishop of Hue, the government, together with the village and invited guests witnessed a speckle of hope - a church for 500 people will be built, also depending on the funds that come in too. It also marks a step towards friendlier relations between the church and the government. Praise be to God! Te Deum!
Continue to keep Vietnam in your prayers and celebrate your freedom to practice your religion. :o)
Entrance rite of the ground breaking ceremony.
Archbishop sealing the plaque.
Archbishop table hopping to meet people.
Over the weekend, the postulants handed me a rosary. They said it was something they started and it gets circulated within each individual from the group every two days. The beads are made up of a total of five different colours (the red has been enhanced in Photoshop because the colour has faded to a transparent ever since they began. Each colour for each of the continent of the world. This rosary was bought from La Vang (in Quảng Trị province). It is just a short 50 min drive north of Hue. La Vang is where our blessed Mother appeared to the Vietnamese people in 1798. I will visit there one of these days.
Today, I hand it over to someone else.
I had my morning off today, and my students decided to take me to Hue's cemetery. It's huge. Think: Tampines. Passed by this huge carving of the laughing Buddha, and thought how it should be on my blog.
My students and I climbed a hill and there in this little pavilion, stood a huge bell. A monk would gong the bell every five minutes and he let us give it a try!
Down the hill outside a temple, we met Nghi. He's a trained craftsman adding dragons to pillars. It is pretty amazing how fast this 24 year old applies the mixture of water, cement and sand to create beautiful art.
The next stop was the Benedictine Monastery. I really love how they've allowed the culture to influence the style of the building.
On the way back to DMI, we stopped by Hue's cathedral. Maybe I'll come back for a proper visit.
Nearly 40 of the junior sisters renewed their vows today at the evening mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Hue. It was a simple and beautiful ceremony. (Can't wait to experience the bigger dedication mass next weekend.) Truly inspired by how the sisters dedicate their whole lives to serving God. They face the same issues like us (well, more or less), and they're no different than you and I. This is where focus is really focused.
Just the other day during class, while filling in the blanks of the sentence, " ____ is more important than ___ ." An aspirant student replied, "Married life is more important than singlehood." I prompted her, "What are you doing here in the convent then?" She answered, "I want to marry Jesus."
It's like being in a musical! I hear beautiful singing all the time. From five in the morning until 9:30pm when everyone goes to sleep.
Left wing, right wing & centre aisle practicing a recessional hymn
Another light-bulb moment for me when some of the (join-the) dots from my past were connected last night. I was asked to teach the song "Give thanks" to at least 100 sisters in the chapel. Who would have known that my minute knowledge in choral conducting would come into play? Also, a group of aspirants learning Chinese, wants me to teach them the Our Father in mandarin. Now I know why I had to struggle in Maris Stella Jiang-Hua-Yu High School for five years! It doesn't matter if my Chinese sucks, all it matters is that I know that prayer by heart. (But the thought is simply amazing, isn't it?)
I met someone special today - Huy. He's four years old and really tiny. Sr. Nga tells me Huy was born not being able to walk. Now, he prances around at a community for disabled kids about an hour's journey from the Mother House.
I could probably pack him in my camera bag!
Tomorrow I head south to the highland region of Pleiku. It's half the distance from Hue to Saigon. There I will continue classes with the aspirants and do some locational filming of the communities there with the ethnic minorities.
Y'know? I have been using many gifts that I have been blessed with. It's very reassuring that I'm part of an exciting plan that continues to unfold!
I chanced upon a Lotus pond on my way back from Nuoc Ngot.
After three days of sweating it out and dodging traffic in Ho Chi Minh city, I'm finally here at the Mother House of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. I had a lovely aerial view of Hue from the last window seat of the A301.
It's been an amazing time having seen what these sisters have accomplished here since 1920. I dare even to say that because of the Vietnam War in '75, the sisters were able to disperse seeds throughout the whole of Vietnam instead of just concentrating their efforts in Hue. Like what Sr. Nga shared with me... even in the very process of going through a war, does God do many amazing and exciting things!
Welcome dinner by Sr Bong (Superior General - right.)
Last night before I slept, I felt a sense of peace and positiveness about Hue, as if many are praying for me. (Thank you, all of you!) It's a good sign, since I've had a lot of unfavourable obstacles and many tasks to complete in the last few days. I leave Singapore in two hours...
I'll be scribbling my next chapter from Ho Chi Minh... till then, stay safe, take care and God bless!
It is confirmed.
I will leave for Ho Chih Minh on July 9.
(Funny how every time I think HCM, I hear the song We didn't start the Fire by Billy Joel.)
Spending three days there filming, and then shipping over to Hue. There I will be for almost a month... documenting, learning and sharing.
Stay tuned...
For those who have enquired, I briefly mentioned that I will be instructing English to non-English speaking students in central Vietnam in a region called Hue*. But just dwelling on it, I get the feeling that this place will have so much more to offer me than what I have to give – the lesson on contentment in life being the main one.
I have given myself, in the last few weeks, time to think about the trip and that is why I am back here in Singapore, geared up and ready to go.
I may not be the best candidate or the most qualified for the task, but with a manual in one hand and wacky ideas in the other, it might transpire creative learning. I hope that these 80-odd sisters at the convent know the meaning of corny, otherwise they might have to learn it the painful way... ;p
Like they always say, "Where there's a will, there's a Hue."
If you have ideas on teaching the English language, do join me on my journey by sending your ideas and concepts! For now, you can keep me in your prayers!
Dear Father, thank you for Your grace and the opportunity to learn!
Hue* - pronounced as "huey".
