Lunch then Making the Ponds

 We always have a nutritious lunch, and today was no exception. Some of the guys wanted to show you what we eat. By the way, the bread and apricot marmalade is for me...the American who needs his sweets and loves to make sandwiches at noon.

I cannot believe how red the watermelons are here. Not as large as in the US, but more flavorful and sweet. They do make, however, just as much of a mess.

Outside of the smaller dorm Fr. Vong is putting in twin fountains. They will be on either side of the walkway with the largest bonsai. The seminarians are always happy to get dirty, so they man the concrete machine. Here it is being washed.

Another action picture, this time with mud to be used to plant bonsai around the ponds.

Here is a larger picture showing where one of the twin ponds is being finished. The cement is completed and water is actually flowing over the little built in falls.

As is always the case in Vietnam, the soil is rich with nutrients, enough so that if you put a stick in the ground a tree will grow.

People usually get a mud facial, but I guess the hands need help as well. The trick is not to get too much on your clothes. Luckily for everyone, after this work period will be soccer and ping-pong time...no need to cleaned up just yet.

 Here is the manager, Fr. Vong. Always the man to plan and execute, Fr. Vong manages to hold a shovel perfectly while watching everyone else work. Notice his clean shirt and shoes.

The guys are always happy to pose, and even happier to show off how muddy they get working on the pond.. Here they are adding back the turf that was where the ponds are now.

You have to be one with the mud. - Confucius' little brother after a hard rain