Square Two

February 2012 Newsletter

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:08:23 -0800

Square Two - Volume 6, No. 2 - February 2012.pdf Download this file

Almost 5!

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:09:55 -0800

It's hard to believe that Celeste will be five in a couple of weeks. Now that she is in "big school", she seems to be growing up even faster.

Some fun facts about Celeste right now...

She is very creative and enjoys making her own story books. The picture here shows Celeste in her classroom at school, sharing a book that she made. She enjoys playing "mommy" to Bella the baby, and takes care of her little sister (most of the time). She loves to dance and sing! Current musical inspirations include, "Come, now is the time to worship", "God of wonders", anything from the Muppet movie, and Katy Perry's "Firework". She is very excited to be getting her own room next month, but has not yet decided if she wants to keep the bunk bed or just the regular, twin bed.

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Happy Kiddo

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:02:17 -0800

As Bella grows up, despite the usual drama that comes with a two and a half year old, she remains a very easy going kid!

Here are some of our favorite things about Bella right now...

When she is tired, she will sometimes say, "I'm sleepy" and just go lay down and sleep. She is usually willing to share (almost anything), she even shares her candy/treats with her sister. She travels well. She loves to tattoo herself with markers. She loves bath time just as much as playing outside.

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Tet fun!

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:11:42 -0800

We have just passed through that time of the year in Vietnam when the space-time continuum, along with the traffic, comes to a grinding halt and the whole country celebrates the most precious of all holidays: the Lunar New Year. Known as Tết in Vietnamese, it is the biggest holiday of the entire year. Almost all shops close down for at least the first three days of the new year, though most are closed for around 10 days. All but essential workers are on holiday. The streets are eerily empty of motorbikes and cars (a treasured reprieve from the rest of the year).

But the beauty of Tet is not what is outside on the streets, but what happens in homes all across the country. Migrant workers in cities all "về quê" (= go back to their home town) for the holidays. Tet is, first and foremost, a time to be with family. In fact, the first few days of Tet are reserved for family visits. The first day of Tet you visit the husband's family. The second day of Tet you visit the wife's family. The third day of Tet you visit your teachers. Finally, on the fourth day of Tet you visit friends and colleagues. All this is flexible, of course, and with the modern age dawning in Vietnam, with more and more Vietnamese mobile, the traditions are falling away quickly.

But many traditions continue, like Tet foods. No Tet meal is complete without that notoriously bland rice cake called banh chung. It is dense and heavy, and sometimes they even pan fry it in oil! While indeed tastier, it will not be kind to your waistline after 5 days of Tet visits!

While most foreigners get out of town for Tet, we have always enjoyed the opportunity to stay in Hanoi and participate in some of the local customs. So we began our preparations weeks ago, buying enough food for the week (all the markets are closed!), and also preparing Tet gifts for all the people we would visit (plus a few extra just in case). So with food ready, gifts in tow, and plenty of envelopes of lucky money to give to kids, we set out.

It would take far too long to tell you about all our visits, so we will tell you about the first day of Tet, when accompanied our good friends Thi and Ly to Thi's hometown just outside Hanoi. It was a GREAT DAY! Thi guided us to his family's "nhà thờ". This word literally means house of worship, and is in fact the same word used for "church," but in this case it is best to translate it as a family temple. Thi comes from a wealthy family (apparently a past relative was a mandarin), and so they have their own temple where they offer prayers and incense to their ancestors. On special occasions like Tet, the family temple can also be a good place to have get togethers. And indeed, the whole family came together in grand style, one after the other piling in to the family temple grounds. There were tons of kids there, and so many envelopes of lucky money were shared. Celeste and Bella were excited more about the pretty envelopes than the money inside.

A huge meal was brought out, complete with the aforementioned banh chung and other Tet goodies. One of Thi's relatives is a pilot for Vietnam Airlines, so he brought a whole box full of small bottles of scotch! So as we drank small bottles of Chivas, we sat next to Thi's oldest uncle, who enthralled us with stories of colonial Vietnam under the French. Older Vietnamese like him have been through so much (several wars, dire poverty, etc.), and so it was fascinating to hear his perception of the changes in Vietnam over the years.

the meal continued for some time, as these kinds of meals tend to do. But the kids were great through it all, and so we were really able to enjoy ourselves. Of course there was lots of toasting and more food than we could possibly eat (but there is always room for another fried spring roll!), but the sense of joy and togetherness was palpable. We were honored to be a part of such a special occasion with such a special family.

The rest of our Tet week was filled with more visits, more food and drink, and more joy and togetherness. This year was our family's best Tet in Vietnam, another reminder that we are so fortunate to serve where we do. Praise the Lord!

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Joy Jones Arrives!

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:47:00 -0800

After months of delays due to work permit procedures and placement problems, Joy Jones has FINALLY arrived in Vietnam! Praise the Lord!

Joy comes to us from Orange County, California, although Joy has had a wealth of experience both inside and outside the United States. She has previously lived and worked in Belize, Honduras, India, and Thailand. She has worked in a variety of fields, including business, international human rights, education, and more. We are blessed to have such a highly qualified member on our team!

Joy will be pioneering a brand new relationship at FPT University, where she will be teaching English to start, and developing new areas in which to partner in the future. FPT University is a private university in Hanoi that draws some of the best teachers and students in the region. This is LCMS WM VN's first foray into working with a private university. We are thrilled to be stepping out in this way, and honored that Joy will lead that effort.

Please pray for Joy as she adjusts to life in Hanoi--the joys, of course, but also some of the challenges: the cold winter, the traffic, taking the bus, the food, frustrating Vietnamese landlords, and all the other things that make Hanoi the place that it is. Pray, too, for her first days at the university, getting to know the teachers, the curriculum, the system, and most importantly, the students! Pray that Joy will have a big impact at such a prestigious university!

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I Think I'm Turning Vietnamese!

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:53:52 -0800

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The Secret In Her Eyes

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:36:00 -0800

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Tet is here again!!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:50:00 -0800

It's hard to believe, that like so many things this year, we realize that this is our fifth year celebrating Tet in Viet Nam. Tet is the lunar new year--similar to the celebration in China, it is an important time to clear out the old and make preparations for a prosperous new year. Every family buys lots of food, snacks, cleans the house, and prepares envelopes of "lucky money" to give to children and retired people. As part of the preparation of the house, most families buy a peach blossom branch or a kumquat tree. This year, we decided to skip the kumquat (our children liked picking them off the tree too much) and opted for the peach blossom branch. Ours has blossomed beautifully.

Today, I made sure our house was clean--less for the superstition and more because it will be a busy few days and I want to make sure it is clean for any guests we may have. I went to the market tonight for a few last minute things, like q-tips, which we ran out of today, and founds only one small shop in the alleys near our house still open. I was fortunate that the lady did sell q-tips, as well as candy coated peanuts (a Tet favorite), and the last 4 eggs available. We may not have any fruit or vegetables for the next few days, but hey, at least we can make pancakes!

I think after 5 years, I seem to enjoy it the most this year. Like many things, I feel I am just finding my groove and thriving this year. Even the funny Tet foods seem normal now!

Chúc mừng năm mới!

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Girls try their hand at golf!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:59:00 -0800

Following in their grandfathers' footsteps, the girls have recently
taken an interest in golf. Although they are not technically
accurate, they have fun... that's what matters right?

Celeste, however, lacked the patience for golf and decided to climb on
top of her car and play "mama monkey" and decorate the tree.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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She Won't Stop Growing Up!

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:56:45 -0800

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UPDATE: Parking Area in Phuong Vy

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:01:28 -0800

Remember the group from Naples that built a parking area in Phuong Vy commune? They did a fantastic job and made a HUGE impact at the school, but unfortunately there was not enough time to finish the parking area. The commune promised to finish the task, and indeed they did!

Recently we travelled to Phuong Vy and checked up on the parking area. The school reports that it gets used constantly, but unfortunately we came outside of school hours and so there were no bikes parked then. It was still fun to see how they had finished the walkway leading to the parking area (we had only cleared brush). We also got to see the finished concrete floor. Truthfully when the Naples group was building we doubted the strength of the concrete when we saw them mixing it with generous amounts of sand, but it seems to be holding up well.

Even more fun was to see some of the improvements they have made to their recreation area now that it is not used for parking! They had cleaned it up and added benches and a few toys, making the whole place seem a lot more inviting for 300 primary school kids to play!

Being there brought back many fond memories with the Naples group. As we were hearing about the use of the parking area from the school and commune leaders, they too reminisced about the wonderful and meaningful time they had with our friends from Naples. It is amazing what a difference their three short days in the villages made!

See the full gallery on Posterous

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January 2012 Newsletter

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:39:00 -0800

Square Two - Volume 6, No. 1 - January 2012.pdf Download this file

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Celeste's Gift

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:46:00 -0800

Today Celeste pulled out a couple of her old creations (a clay cup and a clay plate) and announced to me that we should take them to church. "Why to church?" I honestly wondered. "We can put them on the altar," she responded. It took me a moment to realize that she meant for use as a chalice and patens for Holy Communion.

What a joy that, firstly, Celeste knows about altars and communion. While I have explained these things to her before, it was one of those moments as a parent that when you realize that your child understands far more than you might think. I thank the Lord for Celeste's understanding and love for our church life in Hanoi. Lord, strengthen that faith in her throughout her life and strengthen us as parents!

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Traffic in Vietnam

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:37:00 -0800

Check out these two INSANE traffic time lapses, one from HCMC and one from home sweet home Hanoi!

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Nothing says Happy New Year quite like a beach and 26 degrees celsius.

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:15:31 -0800

December 31, 2011 in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

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CISH in Phu Tho Videos

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:11:00 -0800

Made by CISH:

Made by Celeste:

Concordia International School Hanoi's trip to Phu Tho to give 159 filled backpacks to eager children at Son Tinh primary school. Most of the pictures were taken by Celeste. Dad helped her put together the video.

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Two Wild and Crazy Girls!

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:40:00 -0800

Celeste and Bella in Nha Trang, Vietnam

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Merry Christmas from Vietnam!

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:00:00 -0800

Four candles adorn the altar at our international church in Hanoi during Advent, small flames that signify big desires, the desires of a whole world wanting something...else.

In the first week of Advent we light the candle of hope. All over the world humans hang on to hope for dear life. But with every polluted breath of air they inhale, their hope exhales into oblivion. In parched deserts they hope for one more drop of water that they fear won’t come. All the while, our brothers and sisters in the Philippines are flooded with water. It is hopeless that they will have homes to live in as the waters recede. Bring us hope, O Lord.

On the second Sunday in Advent we light the candle of peace. In this age of wars and rumors of wars, where a nuclear-powered country has just seen power pass into the hands of a 27 year-old (or is he 26?), peace is elusive. But we need not travel around the world to find conflict, division, unrest and violence. In our countries there is violence, in our communities there is unrest, in our families there is division, in our own hearts there is conflict. Is there peace to be found? From where will it come? Bring us peace, O Lord.

On the third Sunday in Advent we light the candle for that scarce gift of joy. Happiness is common—we see it in the newly rich of Hanoi, in a couple who have just fallen in love. But as any banker in 2008 or any married couple at any time can tell you, happiness comes and goes; it is cheaply attained but flees at the first sign of trouble. Joy is rarer, however, and comes with great cost. Joy is not the absence of difficulty but rather contentment, or, dare I say it, rejoicing in the midst of difficulty. Bring us joy, O Lord.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent we light the candle of love. Oh, how we desperately want to be loved. We try to earn it every chance we can, whether it be a Vietnamese student trying fervently to meet the ever-more-stringent demands of their parents, or a spouse who works 100 hours per week to get that promotion, or a lonely person who purchases the love of friends with extravagant parties and expensive gifts. But who will love the student when she fails? Who will love the employee that loses his job? Who will love the lonely when those bought friends lose interest? Bring us love, O Lord.

On Christmas, on the altar at our international church stands one more candle, tall and wide, in the center of our flickering attempts at hope, peace, joy, and love. The Christ candle shines brightest of all. This Christmas we thank God for the greatest gift, the only gift that really matters, with ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes. The baby Jesus was a big gift in a small package, crying when he was labored into this world with sweat and blood and tears. Only a handful of people at the time knew about it--no one else cared. And perhaps many don’t much care today. Baby Jesus is the gift that nobody wants or asks for, but he is the gift that everyone needs. He came not with the expertise of a humanitarian, not with the empty promises of a politician, not with the false joy of a guru, and he loved all the wrong people. And yet this baby, precisely because he is not all those others, fulfills our desires while the others falter. They try to fix the world from the outside in, with policies and programs and quick fixes, but “the heart of the human problem is the human heart.”[1] True hope, peace, joy, and love come only when human hearts change, and perhaps this is why Jesus came the way he did. Nothing changes hearts quite like a baby--vulnerable, smiling, and cute--who happens to be the Savior of the world.

Even though he is no longer bodily present among us, the baby Jesus is still changing hearts. That is the real miracle of Christmas--that it still has power even some 2,000 years later. Every time the Gospel is proclaimed, every time everyday bread and wine are broken and shared in his name, he still comes, being born again among us, in small places and in small ways all over the globe. Whereas before he came in one place in time, now the world is his manger. “In his name the nations will hope,” the Scriptures tell us. Find hope in him, dear friends. Peace among the nations, among the creation, cannot come until there is peace with the Creator. And indeed, Paul writes that Jesus has made “peace by the blood of his cross.” Find peace in him. Dear friends, leap for joy like John did when he met Jesus even while still in the womb. And about love, hear the words of Jesus himself: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” That love is for you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all our family and friends! God bless you this Christmas season as you celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Square Two

February 2012 Newsletter

Almost 5!

Happy Kiddo

Tet fun!

Joy Jones Arrives!

I Think I'm Turning Vietnamese!

The Secret In Her Eyes

Tet is here again!!

Girls try their hand at golf!

She Won't Stop Growing Up!

UPDATE: Parking Area in Phuong Vy

January 2012 Newsletter

Celeste's Gift

Traffic in Vietnam

Nothing says Happy New Year quite like a beach and 26 degrees celsius.

CISH in Phu Tho Videos

Two Wild and Crazy Girls!

Merry Christmas from Vietnam!

December 2011 Newsletter

Rural Life in Vietnam