In the early summer of 2020, the Hong An Association received letters and pictures from the Sisters of St. Paul in Cao Bang – Lang Son as follows:
… I am sending some pictures of our last visit with the poor.
Those who received COVID-19 gifts were very touched by the generosity. They said, “We eat each meal as it comes. Sometimes, we have lunch, but we do not know what our children will eat at night. I want a job, but I don’t know when employers are hiring again.” As for the elderly people, when they see us visiting, they are overjoyed as if they saw a bright light.
I want to thank you, Hong An, and all benefactors for saving them in this pandemic. When visiting them and witnessing their struggles, it is also a lesson for us Sisters.
Thanks to the “Discretionary” funds, we were able to change the number of people or split the gifts so that more people could receive them. And thanks to the extra money, I helped a struggling family purchase a coffin for their mother who passed away from cancer. The son had a stroke, the daughter has a disability, and the daughter-in-law must take care of the whole family. The couple also has a child going to school. Their struggles are heartbreaking.
The Hong An Association feels such sympathy for the poorevery time itreceivesmore pictures and stories about their plight. Many of these people live in houses made of mud and dirt and never know if they will get their next meal.Because of these dire circumstances, the Association informed the Sisters that there will be an increase of 50 meals each month. So now the Sisters can rotate the donations every quarter and help more needy people.
When informed of this news, the Sisters were overjoyed to have an increase of 50 meals to share with the poor. They said that by the 4th quarter, they will increase support to more poor people. They also reported that they have the help of enthusiastic volunteers.
