A Child's Joy, A Mother's Sorrow

Posted by Terri

The time I am spending here seems to be speeding along. Yesterday I spent the day in the office working with Phuong, Nhi, Toan, Chi and Duc. The Clear Path office is located off the beaten path (hmm..didn�t mean that pun but�I�ll leave it !) at the end of a dirt path/driveway in a small complex of buildings that is nestled into a tree stand by the side of a lake. It�s peaceful here now belying the fact that this is actually an area that was cleared of ordnance. Located at the edge of the 17th parallel, Quang Tri is one of the most concentrated UXO/landmine areas of Viet Nam. It also happens to be the poorest of all the provinces. Traditionally most of the inhabitants of this area made their living either through farming or fishing which here means clearing and hoeing ground that is littered with UXO that has laid dormant for over 30 years. Currently the impoverished population has added yet another occupation: scrap metal recovery. This obviously carries with it an impossibly great risk of striking �metal� that is encasing an explosive. One wonders just how desperate a situation must be to lead to this deadly option in order to feed and clothe one�s family.

Today I accompanied the staff on their beneficiary visits. We traveled north from the office in Dong Ha for about an hour, crossing the Ben Hai River that was the original demilitarized zone demarcation, through the border crossing and into North Vietnam. We were delivering a brand new, very small two-wheeled Mickey Mouse bicycle to one of Toan�s beneficiary cases, PhamVan Hung. Hung is not typical beneficiary in that he is being supported by an individual donor, a friend of CPI who met him at a Community - Based Rehabilitation (CBR) center in An Thuy Commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province that is sponsored by CPI and East Meets West. During the week as Toan prepared the bike for delivery she had told me the story of the young person who would receive the bike. I was confused when she told me that he was not a child but actually an 18 year old who was being taken care of by his mother and father in a very small village along the banks of the river. As we entered the village we stopped first to pick up a village representative and then walked through a light drizzle down a short path leading to the house. Here we found the boy�s mom and dad and a slew of neighbors waiting for the CPI representatives. When the boy saw his new bike, complete with front basket and training wheels, his whole face lit up.
This young man suffers from the effects of Agent Orange according to his doctors. When born his skin was very slack on his body and covered with sores. He has failed to grow, has been hospitalized frequently during his life and does not speak. but his smile said it all. We stayed at the house for about � of an hour while Toan also presented the mother with some school supplies and a couple sets of clothes as well as the bicycle. The boy�s grandfather patiently helped steady the boy as he rode around and around the area in front of his home, proudly wearing his new matching jacket and pants, while his relatives and friends encouraged him. After interviewing the mother about further needs for her son, Toan announced it was time to get to our next stop. James kissed the mother as we departed which brought great gales of laughter to the gathering . I was so impressed with the joy that CPI brought this family. I wish you could have seen the genuine expressions of compassion exhibited not only by Toan but all of the CPI staff. They are truly committed to the humanitarian work they are doing.
Our next stop was back towards the south. Duc, our faithful driver turned off the main road and drove through red mud roads to the homes of the families we were to visit.. Last month, February 4th an accident occurred injuring two boys and killing a third. The three boys had gone to school in the morning (schools here are so crowded that the children go in split shifts) and after school went to the river to play before continuing home . One of the boys formed a mud ball around a hard object that was in the sand on the river bank and tossed it. As the object hit the ground in front of his friend, Dinh, it exploded killing him instantly. The other two boys were injured, the first by shrapnel to his face the second with a wound to his leg.
As we approached the home on a long back road, the scenery was bucolic. Since it was nearing the end of the day, many of the farmers were headed home leading their cows and water buffalo back to the farms. The house we stopped in front of was quite large for this country, of new construction and painted a remarkable blue. The doors were varnished. It appeared so peaceful. A lovely looking woman, her husband and three small children greeted us at the door. After removing our shoes we entered into the spotless home. This was a beneficiary case of Phuong�s who sat down with the dad to fill out some paper work. Toan took a seat on the couch and I perched on the arm. The young woman who owned the house offered us tea and then sat between Toan and me on the couch. Toan was gently interviewing the woman. I suddenly realized that we were not here to meet one of the survivors. Looking across the room my eyes landed on a photograph of a beautiful child surrounded by candles and incense. I heard the mother sigh. A sigh so deep it was jagged as she exhaled. I know the meaning of those deep breaths..Jamie heard it too and sat down in front of her to hold her hand. She grasped his hand in both of hers as she continued to talk softly to Toan. She began to cry quietly and I found that I was rubbing her back. Grief is such a universal language, none of us need words to express it. It�s all said in a sigh and the lowering of the shoulders. I�m not certain how it happened but as I rose to leave, this frail young mother ended up in my arms and we wept together. I shared her pain and sorrow for those few moment and hope that in some small way I lightened her load . I will forever remember the time we spent at her home.
She will forever remember her beautiful little boy who left for school that morning and never came home.
This is more than I intended to post. I will try to tell you about the other two boys and their families at another time.