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On July 2005, we, seminarians of Saint Joseph Seminary of Hanoi, came to live at Van Mon leprosy Hospital below Thai Binh province in North Vietnam (far from east-south Hanoi about 120 km).
Before coming Van Mon, we always prided ourselves that our love was shared with people with leprosy from our heart, as taught through lessons from the books of the Bible, Jesus, God. But when we lived with leprosy, I know it was a mistake!
Once day, it is very hot midsummer of day’s, I saw a boy like a mad man. He wore only torn pants, following him was an old woman. Her right hand touched his shoulder.
I wonder who are they ?!
Next days, I visited them for lunch. Old woman was blind for 7 years because complications of leprosy disease. Her name is Xi, and boy is the son of Mrs. Xi. He was mentally ill from birth. Thanh is his name.
Mrs. Xi told me about her family life of suffering. Their province is Hai Duong. She had four children, three children were given to others to feed (the law of leprosy hospital forbids people with leprosy to give birth). So far, they lived in Van Mon Hospital 40 years. She said: my great dream is that my eyes can open and see my grandchildren.
At the end of lunch with them, I listen to a voice from next the room: “ Have finished lunch, Mrs. Xi?” “Yes, I have, wait a minute!”
Mrs. Xi stand up, with skilled movement, she pour water into a mug, bringing it to other woman in next room.
I was very surprised! A blind woman served others who suffered but who cannot be moved!
I recognized lesson of love from a person with leprosy; certainly I did not share it with them (teach them they taught me).
Leprosy patients taught me the lesson of love. Certainly I did not bring it to them.
To day, Saint Paul said: “... Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things....”(1 Cor 13:4-13).
A mad boy leaded blind leprosy mother for around the leprosy hospital. This image appeared in my mind when I reading the scripture from St. Paul above.
My God, teach me love each other by watching my neighbors and others!
Hanoi, 31 January 2010
Paul Nguyen Trung Thien.
Before coming Van Mon, we always prided ourselves that our love was shared with people with leprosy from our heart, as taught through lessons from the books of the Bible, Jesus, God. But when we lived with leprosy, I know it was a mistake!
Once day, it is very hot midsummer of day’s, I saw a boy like a mad man. He wore only torn pants, following him was an old woman. Her right hand touched his shoulder.
I wonder who are they ?!
Next days, I visited them for lunch. Old woman was blind for 7 years because complications of leprosy disease. Her name is Xi, and boy is the son of Mrs. Xi. He was mentally ill from birth. Thanh is his name.
Mrs. Xi told me about her family life of suffering. Their province is Hai Duong. She had four children, three children were given to others to feed (the law of leprosy hospital forbids people with leprosy to give birth). So far, they lived in Van Mon Hospital 40 years. She said: my great dream is that my eyes can open and see my grandchildren.
At the end of lunch with them, I listen to a voice from next the room: “ Have finished lunch, Mrs. Xi?” “Yes, I have, wait a minute!”
Mrs. Xi stand up, with skilled movement, she pour water into a mug, bringing it to other woman in next room.
I was very surprised! A blind woman served others who suffered but who cannot be moved!
I recognized lesson of love from a person with leprosy; certainly I did not share it with them (teach them they taught me).
Leprosy patients taught me the lesson of love. Certainly I did not bring it to them.
To day, Saint Paul said: “... Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things....”(1 Cor 13:4-13).
A mad boy leaded blind leprosy mother for around the leprosy hospital. This image appeared in my mind when I reading the scripture from St. Paul above.
My God, teach me love each other by watching my neighbors and others!
Hanoi, 31 January 2010
Paul Nguyen Trung Thien.
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