"You are not just a nurse.
You are a healer.
You have help healed me.
You have made me feel more like a person."
"Well you know, sometimes, people forget that."
(May I never forget that.)
"Thank the miracle-working God,
His love never quits.
The God whose skill formed the cosmos,
His love never quits.
The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations,
His love never quits.
The God who filled the skies with light,
His love never quits.
The sun to watch over the day,
His love never quits.
Moon and stars as guardians of the night,
His love never quits.
~ ~ ~
world aids day, last year...
today, i remembered (12/1/05)
no war on the face of the earth (12/1/04)
five people worldwide (12/1/03)
Porque
será que hay tanta guerra?
Why will there be so much war?
Porque
será que hay tanta pena?
Why will there be so much pain?
Pregunto
yo que será que no hay amor?
I ask, Why will there be no love?
Y
yo sigo aquí sin comprender...
And I come here without understanding...
Here,
Source: Xinhua, People's Daily Online --- http://english.people.com.cn/
A group of 109 Cambodian soldiers will leave here on Saturday for Sudan to join the UN demining mission in Sudan.
A seeing-off ceremony was held Wednesday at the Council of Ministers presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"It is the first time in the history of Cambodia to take part in an international UN peacekeeping mission. This is our pride and the great honor for our military, nation and the people," the premier said.
He went on to say that "it is a humanitarianism mission, so it is our obligation to participate the mission and play more and more important role in the regional and international affairs."
"Though Cambodia is also the victim of the mines and the mines have still post threat to our people so far, we are now in all- around peace and stability and in a steady economic growth, so we can offer help to other countries," he added.
Twenty-six of the 135 soldiers, chosen from 1,080 military, were already in place in Sudan with 25 vehicles, 70 mine detectors and six trailers, as well as other different types of logistical equipment.
All the soldiers have been received about 13 months of training subjects which include common military skills, de-mining skills, psychological education, international laws, war rules and regulations, tradition and culture of Sudan, and English language as well.
In Sudan, the Cambodian troops will focus on mine-clearing mission. Cambodia is one of the largest mine-affected areas in the world due to nearly three decades of civil war, with an estimated 4 million to 6 million of the hidden killers still buried in its soil.
~ ~ ~
or there,
"a landmine does not distinguish between the
footstep of a soldier or a child."
one world.
one love.
one hope.
vascon2-
may i always remember- and live by- your words.
may i always dream dreams greater than myself.
may i always cherish these beautiful friendships.
-art courtesy of fielding licht gallery, austin
"There are ways for us to make our parents proud other than being
[what they want us to be]- we just haven't explored them yet."
- Uyen Le, NAVASA
"There's this window of opportunity and if you don't jump through it, it will be gone."
- Uyen Le, NAVASA
"Don't believe everything you read.
Question! Think!"
- KimOanh Nguyen-Lam
Random ...
Watching clips from "Journey from the Fall" was emotional. [Did you feel that too? I was tearing up like no other.] Although I'm not Vietnamese-American, it still struck a chord that resonated deep within my heart. How our parents stories- yours and mine - are different but the same. How beautiful it is that we can all come and share them together. It's inspired me to begin writing again- not just xangaing- but real writing. What's your story? I want to hear it.
Lastly, 3 final thoughts...
1) Support your fellow Asian American artists.
You know- the amazing talented performers who rocked VASCONlive- Thomas' Apartment, Pete Nguyen, EMC Monkeys, Vudoo Soul, Magnetic North, and Bao Phi. They put their heart and soul into their work- help a asian brotha/sista out! Don't burn their music/poems from your friends- BUY IT and support them, danggit.
2) Follow your dreams.
It was so encouraging to see artists doin' their thang. But for those of us who may not be musically talented, or artistically creative, be not discouraged! Whatever your dream is- whether it be in health care, engineering, law, sciences, or art- your dream is worthwhile to not only yourself but to your community. Chase after it... it is possible.
On a side note, I didn't meet many students interested in healthcare (where my nurses at?) So if you're a future healthcare professional who aspires to change the world by bringing healthcare to where there is none... let's be friends. =)
3) Human trafficking... Ok. Now what?
-Host a documentary screening (films on trafficking include: Dying to Leave, Born into Brothels, Children for Sale. 'Children for Sale' is produced by Dateline NBC but in conjunction with IJM. If you like'd to obtain a copy you can email me or you can contact IJM and they will send you a copy.)
-Organize a silent protest. (make posters and hold them up in a public place and put tape over your mouths to represent all the victims who live in oppression/ we did this for our Darfur campaign and got a pretty cool response from our campus.)
-Raise awareness by telling people about what you learned at VASCON2- how it affected you- how these women and children are affected- how humanity is affected. Tell your friends to tell others. Spread it. Write it. Post it. Announce it. Let their voice be heard.
-Organize events to sponsor organizations which address the issue, such as VietACT or International Justice Mission. (Last year our ministry hosted a talent show in which we raised over $1,000 to help IJM combat trafficking.) Put your talent to work! (e.g.: "Fast"-athon, fundraising dinner, talent show, etc)
-Network. Call your congressmen- Write them a letter. (In fact, do it now! Find and email your Representative - or your Senator). Find an internship.
Do something. Do anything.
~ ~ ~
and...
happy birthday to the
exec director herself,
my P.I.C., kym pham. =)
please wish her a happy birthday!
| "Where then do you get that living water?" (-John 4:11) "Think of the depths of human nature, of human life, think of the depths of the "wells" in you. When we get into difficult circumstances...we struggle down to the deeps and try to get the water for ourselves. Beware of saying - "It can't be done"; it can be done if you look to Jesus. |
| "For me to walk away with a gold medal is amazing," Cheek said, "and the best way to say thanks that I can think of is to help somebody else." |
Within minutes after he'd won the men's 500-meter race Monday, Cheek announced he will donate every dime of the $25,000 the USOC Committee will pay him for winning a gold to help the refugee kids of the Darfur region in the Sudan.
The money will be funneled to the Darfur orphans through the Right to Play organization to which Koss has lent considerable assistance.
Cheek, citing the U.S. government's finding of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, said he wanted to sponsor programs for what he said were 60,000 children forced into neighboring Chad. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) wrote last week in the Baltimore Sun that more than 2 million people had been displaced from Darfur over the last two years. Cheek, who lives in Park City, Utah, also said he would ask his sponsors — Nike and Oakley — and "all of the Olympic sponsors that give hundreds of millions of dollars" to match his donation. And, if he wins the 1,000 meters on Saturday, he said he would donate that $25,000 as well. In the traditional post-competition news conference, gold medalists generally describe the thrill of victory and the agony of previous defeats. But Cheek would not address that lighter side until he had made his announcement, well aware that the world might never again pay attention to him. |
|
Absolutely...
It has taken me awhile to sit down and write about N1KD, simply because I don't know how.
How do I express the gratitude of seeing talented students
work together for something bigger than ourselves?
How do I express the beauty of the kindness and generosity
of guests who've never heard of the landmine crisis before?
In one evening, over 70 students gathered and joined together to fight the global landmine crisis. We raised nearly $800 in funds to donate Adopt-A-Minefield, for landmine clearance and survivor assistance.
The evening was beautiful. Guests browsed the visual art gallery, dined on delicious foods (donated by generous Austin restaurants AND cooked by our own VASCON chefs), and learned about the landmine crisis through a great oral and visual presentation.
Your comments....
"We're going to start a 'NO MORE LANDMINES' group on facebook!"
-to Monica, Judy, Melissa. Thank you for all the time you spent in your presentations. They were friggin AWESOME. Everyone said "you almost brought tears to my eyes," afterwards. You did, you really did.
- to Kym Pham. My co-host, my PIC, my fellow otaku (lol). Thank you for all the sleepless nights you gave up to work on the dinner. Thank you for your leadership, administration, guidance, help, support, prayer, friendship. Everything everything everything. I'm so thankful for you girl, I really am. Like I said.. how many friendships are unique as ours? Where you can have fun AND save the world together, at the same time?
thank you for helping us pave
the way towards a mine free world.
~ ~ ~
Read about N1KD in the 1st issue of "PASSION FRUIT" ( pdf)
It's not too late to donate! Help us reach our $1,000 goal!
Please contact me or email vascon2006@yahoo.com!
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