KIEU MY DUYEN
Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 1 o’clock, at 14361 Beach Blvd., Westminster city, Father Andrew Nguyen Huu Le, from New Zealand, had a confession session and signed the book “I Must Live” (“I Must Live” (“I Must Live”). I Must Live”) for my fellow countrymen. Vietnamese books have been reprinted many times, this year giving away books in English. Readers who read the Vietnamese edition of “I Must Live” were moved and cried when reading this work.
Priest Nguyen Huu Le once declared before being ordained a priest: I am Vietnamese. Now, he is 81 years old, his health is weak in old age, but his spirit is still strong, his voice is very eloquent. The priest said this time was the last time to say goodbye to his countrymen. The priest goes to Orange County, Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, a month later will return to California, then to San Diego, San Jose.
Priest Nguyen Huu Le expressed his opinion as follows:
– I am very rich, I am very rich and I am very rich, because wherever I go in the world, everywhere I go, my countrymen and friends warmly welcome me. I think for the next generations, it should be published in English so that they can read and know that they are Vietnamese, love the Vietnamese homeland, and fight for Vietnam to have Human Rights.
The book “I Must Live” is not for sale, any compatriot who takes the book will donate money to orphans and disabled children in Vietnam. Financial support will be added to the “Fund to support children with congenital disabilities” in Vietnam established by Father Nguyen Huu Le and the Fund to operate the radio station “Responding to Rivers and Mountains”.
All guests in attendance stood in line to receive the book “I Must Live” with the signature of priest Nguyen Huu Le. Many famous compatriots who are active in the community attended: Mr. Nguyen Duc Luan, former president of Da Lat political war students, course 1, writer Tran Phong Vu, prison guard Xuan Diem, doctor Hoang Lan, now a nun, Mr. Chau Thuy, president of the Vietnamese heritage museum, professor Le Tinh Thong, doctor Nguyen Trong Viet, engineer Tran Quoc Bao, are famous for their fight against Communism is relentless.
Priest Nguyen Huu Le released 30,000 DVDs, and the book “I Must Live” was reprinted many times, with over 70,000 books reaching readers.
Priest Nguyen Huu Le spoke with an extremely touching voice about his endless struggle. Priest Nguyen Huu Le’s voice is strong, his will is iron, but then people come and go, the priest knows his health is no longer there, so this trip will be the last of his life.
Father Nguyen Huu Le held a cane in his hand but his voice was very eloquent like a talented speaker talking about how cruel the Communist regime was of which he was a victim. Dear compatriots, please read “I Must Live”.
Kieu My Duyen was invited to express her thoughts:
– Dear fellow countrymen, Priest Nguyen Huu Le just said that he is very rich, very rich, and wherever he goes, there are fellow countrymen and friends who love and help him. We are very poor, we ask you for money. A few days ago we met Father Le. He showed us some pictures of orphans and disabled children in Vietnam that he is helping. The author gives the book “I Must Live” to my compatriots, hoping that the young generation will read this book to always remember that they are Vietnamese. We visited Vietnam with the international charity delegation YMCA, headquartered in London, and with the American Young Life delegation in Florida. We visit orphans in Bac Ninh, Thai Binh, in remote countryside far from Hanoi, in the Central region, Thien Mu, in Dong Thap, Ca Mau, Tac Say, the South is the rice granary that feeds the whole South, Visiting orphans with disabilities and thin faces. When we held the children in our arms, when we put them down, they hugged our necks and didn’t want to leave. When we got in the car, the car drove hundreds of meters, the children ran after us shouting: Grandma, grandma, don’t go! We still remember the children’s cries to this day. We are very poor, people. We ask you $5 for a small bag of rice, $10 for a large bag of rice. The compatriots who come here are kind-hearted and generous in giving rice to orphans in their homeland.
As we said this, we saw many hands raised at the end of the hall. The girls in the green ao dai of the Xuan Diem prison singing group just sang the song “Return to Saigon” and many other songs that made everyone listen and create a lot of resounding applause.
After our speeches, Father Nguyen Huu Le signed books to give to each compatriot. We hugged the donation box, our fellow countrymen enthusiastically put money into the box, silver heads next to green heads. Mr. Le Hoan, owner of television station VNA TV 57.3, and announcer My Linh worked non-stop. The presence of the media is very large. Doing meaningful work always attracts the media.
We visited the Mai Am center in Thu Duc, cared for by two priests, Vu Anh Hoang and Father Trinh Van Son (studied abroad in Thailand, Vatican City, returned home in 2000). There were women who, upon giving birth, knew their children had HIV and ran away. Two priests took these poor children home to raise them. When we visited the Mai Am center there were about 75 children. The center takes care of orphans and HIV-infected children from 6 months to 21 years old. Thanks to the help of compatriots overseas, the tents set up to feed the children in the past have now turned into multi-storey buildings. Every day someone takes the children to school. While I was sitting in the living room, a parishioner picked up some children from school. The children ran into the living room to hug Father Hoang who was sitting and receiving us. Father guided us upstairs to visit the disabled children, lying in one place, so sad!
We called to visit Father Trinh Van Son, who lives in the West. Father Vu Anh Hoang is studying abroad in Spain. Now the Mai Am center takes care of orphans and HIV-infected children under the care of Father Tran Quoc Huy and Father Tran Quoc Toan. There are about 70-80 HIV-infected children left.
Recently we talked with Bishop Nguyen Tan Tuoc, diocese of Binh Duong, Hau Nghia, Tay Ninh. He said:
– I am waiting for the brothers and sisters of the Leprosy Friends Association to come back to help lepers. I will take you to visit the three provinces of Binh Duong, Hau Nghia, and Tay Ninh in our diocese.
Bishop Nguyen Tan Tuoc had a stroke not long ago, not even a year old. When they saw the bishop lying on the stretcher, the nurse pushed him into the emergency room. Fellow countrymen overseas prayed for the bishop to recover soon to help people. Fortunately, the bishop received God’s Grace so he soon recovered. Now he still works normally. Last year the bishop came to the United States to visit his countrymen.
Father Nguyen Huu Le said the “I Must Live” book giveaway was very successful. People enthusiastically help orphans and disabled children in the country. Monday morning, Father Nguyen Huu Le went to Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, and a month later he will return to California, then to San Diego, San Jose.
Hopefully this will not be the last trip of Priest Nguyen Huu Le but there will be many other successful trips. We wish Priest Nguyen Huu Le to always be healthy and full of God’s Grace so that he can continue to conduct fundraising events to help children with congenital disabilities in Vietnam.
Orange County, September 30, 2024
KIEU MY DUYEN
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