As the benefactors know, at the end of the year, the Hong An Association often sends extra “discretionary” money so the Sisters can help other poor in remote areas. This year, after sending money, Hong An received requests from a number of Sisters serving in very poor areas such as Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Bao Loc. They said, “The Central region has experienced severe floods. The floods are so heavy that many people have lost their homes and everything. Can the Hong An Association share a portion of this “discretionary” money for relief?” The Hong An felt sympathetic because the local people and the Sisters are both poor. True to the spirit of helping those in greatest need, the Hong An Association agreed to let the Sisters use a portion of the funds for relief.
When the Hong An agreed, many Sisters from regions in the North, Central and South were already organizing relief trips. The Sisters finished their trips, went back to the Congregation, then prepared their trip back to the Central region again. When the Sisters returned, they were all sick from the cold.
We would like to share some photos from the second trip of the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue. Please read the letter from the superior, Sr. H. below:
“”Life’s a journey.” There are trips that are “come and go” and there are trips that leave everlasting memories in everyone’s heart. Today the weather in Hue seems to be in favor of the people, so the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue continued their trip to bring gifts to the people in flooded areas in Kreng village, Dả Dơi, Xã Hướng Hiệp, Huyện Đakrông, and Quảng Trị. The road is muddy after a night of rainfall. There are small houses hidden in the hills. This area has been isolated for a long time because the road is difficult to travel and dangerous due to heavy landslides.
The Sisters were very anxious, nervous, and tense while riding on the Honda motorbikes on the long and muddy journey to visit the people who have been isolated for so long.
Thank God everyone arrived safely.
When looking at the young mothers carry their children
and an elderly woman with the look of pain in her eyes,
there is a desperate longing for human love, care, and connection. The weather, distance, and dangerous roads make these connections unpredictable. Gifts from the Hong An Associations are the essential necessities such as rice, flashlights, sugar, and seasoning powder, delivered to each family one by one. Saying goodbye to the people, we returned to the lowlands on wagons paddling through the streams, the muddy road, and slippery, deep potholes.
Not only are the people grieving and suffering with their losses from the flood, but they are suffering from their poor circumstances. They have suffered through two outbreaks of COVID-19, five storms, and now four historic floods.Many of them have been awake for many nights in the cold rain, looking pale and exhausted, with deeply sunken eyes. An old woman said to me, “Sister, I have nothing to lose anymore.” This broke my heart and brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you to the executive board members and the Hong An Association. Please continue to pray, love and accompany us on the way to better circumstances.”
