Sunday, June 27, 2010

Visiting Joseph Thien's Father and Mother

The first summer I visited Phat Diem, Joseph was the person who did everything for Fr. Tony from S.I. and myself. He was our own "Radar" who knew everyone and could get anything. That year his father threw a huge party for us, and every year since I have gone back to renew the friendship. You may remember that his father is the one who takes the duck eggs, hatches them, then sells them to duck farmers. He's still at it, but now has help. Mother is doing well, and I had a chance to talk to Joseph's brother Peter on the phone. Peter is in Ha Noi studying to become a tour guide, a very lucrative career nowadays. Joseph is leaving this week for a month helping the lepers in a small village, then he will make an Ignatian 8-day retreat, visit his family for a few days, then go off to Ha Noi to begin his seminary work. We are very proud of Joseph.