Dear Father Trần Công Vang and members of the Việt Tộc Foundation,

My name is Điểu Vượt; I am majoring in Sociology at the College of Bình Dương. I reside in Sài Gòn under the care and guidance of Mr. Nguyễn Chánh Hoàng. First and foremost, I wish you good health and am sending you my utmost greetings.

I am writing to express my gratitude and to announce to the extended Việt Tộc family of my graduation with a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Bình Dương College on January 22nd, 2022. With the overwhelming joy, please allow me to express my deepest gratitude.

Since the beginning of becoming part of Việt Tộc family, I felt the love and care deeply and vividly from Việt Tộc Family. Even at this moment, my heart is crying out with love that I want to speak, to share my feelings.

“To Receive”. My first letter to the extended Việt Tộc family with the desire to ask for monasteries aid and better opportunities to thrive in education. I was received and was given many more valuable things. Thanks be to God and gratitude to the Việt Tộc family for your open arms, embracing and lifting me up when I needed.

“Accepting”. It is not easy to receive the poor and the needy, the minorities…And I was one. Another burden on everyone’s (Việt Tộc missionaries) shoulder like I was.

I was deeply touched and grateful when realized everyone received me with unconditional love. You, the Việt Tộc missionaries, carry on your shoulders the burdens which belonged to my parents, my family, YOU carried me. With this strength of love and the spiritual connection relationship with them that I had overcome all difficulties and obstacles along the 4 years of college with a focus on my mission: to graduate from college.

“Mission to Serve”. What I have been given not simply tangibles and monetaries but time and a whole future filled with Faith and education. I looked up to the seniors graduated before me with inspiration and admiration. I see them with bright future ahead, full of love and strength to start building families, villages and their own careers. The mission of Việt Tộc expanded my horizon, inspired me to develop and build a future with richness in Faith, Love and Wisdom. I have God, I am educated, I understand the meaning of spreading the love and good news, I am certain that I will lead a better life, everyday.

Lastly, I sincerely express my deepest gratitude to Father Trần Công Vang and the powerful and honorable Mission of Việt Tộc. Your embrace, Father, has given me a place within the Việt Tộc family and received many valuables, tangibles and intangibles, to become the person that I am. I am very thankful to you, Father.

I thank you, uncle Nguyễn Chánh Hoàng and the Brothers of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (CSSR) whom walked with me, taught me and took care of me, educated me for all those years. Not only that, Uncle Hoàng cared for each one of us, I am forever grateful for your care and love.

I sincerely thank the members and the donors of Việt Tộc for your generousity which made it possible to lift-up a life like mine.

I thank my collegues for all those time we share under the Việt Tộc family roof, of which I spent my youth in the most meaningful way, when I have each of you. I yearn for us to cross path in whatever the future holds. With the New Year drawn near, I wish everyone in the Việt Tộc family good health, prosperity and peace.

May God blesses you abundantly.

Respectfully,

Điểu Vượt

Courtesy Translated by: Diệu Trâm