The Bamboo Plants and The Elephant.

Bamboo bushes are a very common site all throughout Laos. I chose bamboo as the background of this blog. This magnificent tree represents strength, endurance and resiliency. When I began to chronicle this journey I am amazed with influx of memory that comes back to me. And I don't believe it is just a random thought but each revelation serves a specific purpose as it revealed a window to the next memory that further add meaning and understanding.

One of the first act or symbol of purging by the new government, was the changing of the national flag. The Royal Lao regime flag was actually red with three white elephant in the middle. In fact the country of Lao was known as Lan Xang which means millions elephant. The elephant represents wisdom, grace, prosperity, power and nobility. Bamboo also represents prominent role in the history of Lao. There was a story or a legend once told to me that happened hundreds of years ago that brought the character the bamboo tree and the elephant together. The story is told as follow: In order to protect itself from neighboring kingdom, the king has order bamboo bushes to be planted around the kingdom ala the Great Wall of China. The plants proved to be a formidable defense against outside intruders. Until one day, when the army of the surrounding kingdom made a prudent move by shooting arrows that were made of gold into those bamboo bushes. The defending army became greedy and selfish. They failed to follow the king's order of defending the land at all cost. The army began to hack down the bamboo shoots in an attempt to retrieve those golden arrows. Consequently, army of men riding on the back of their elephants saw their opportunity. They were able to penetrate the land and conquered the kingdom.

Born With Golden Chopsticks In My Mouth (part 1).

I knew early on that I experienced life at a different level than majority of the Laotian kids. The common phrase that people use here in America is "born with a silver spoon in the mouth" to describe a person who was born into life of riches and comfort. Well, there is no colorful saying as such in Lao. It can be said that I was "born with a golden chopstick in the mouth". Mom and dad made every effort to insure that my sibling and I are sheltered from life's hardship and suffering.

Under the Royal Lao regime dad worked in the treasury department. My father possessed what most would coveted in Lao during that time: wealth, power, prestige, connection to the powerful and knowledge. I am not certain of the specific office or title that he had held but I remember dad having a driver that took him to his office daily into the city. On certain day we even get a chance to ride in his car to school. That was one of the privileged of being son and daughter of a government official. We were enrolled in a private school. Day had always valued a rich and strong education. Even when we were not in school, dad employed a service of a private tutor for my brothers and I to increase our math and writing skills. We also studied French. My parents goal was to send all of us abroad to France to study in some of important and prestiges professions.

It did not seem that significant at the time, but we were one of the few family in the city who had television and air conditioner. We had indoor plumbing. Daily there was a housekeeper lady who came to attend to the need of our big home. We had wonderful meals but I don't recall ever seeing mom or dad preparing these meals. As we didn't have hot water, but mom enjoyed a daily warm bath, so someone would had to daily boil the water and prepared a hot bath for her. We lived in a gated compound that consisted of our house, my grandmother and grandfather's house (laotian dawdi house if you will) and my aunt's house.

We are a family.

On or about summer of 1978, it has been almost 3 years since the Royal Lao Government was overthrown by the Communist Pathet Lao. I was in a 6th grade. Like any afternoon when school was over, I was in our family room reading by myself and waiting until Tavi and I would head over to the temple for our daily soccer kick around with other kids from town. Next room was dad's office, that's where dad would spend his afternoon. This afternoon was different than any other. This afternoon mom (damduan) was in the office conversing with dad (Theuang). By the tone and volume of the conversation, I knew it was a very serious discussion. Obviously, I had to listen closely and very carefully. I recalled mom adamantly telling dad that we are family. We will go together. My thoughts raised and my heart sank as I knew immediately the topic of their discussion.

Over the course of the past 3 years, the communist Pathet Lao party has methodically rebuilding the country by purging any remnants of the old government structure. Rather than risking being imprison, placement in labor camp and re-education center, many of the old Royal Lao loyalsit elected to secretly escape out of Laos. Dad recognized that his days of usefulness to the communist party is drawing near. It is inevitable that he too will face a long and perhaps permanent separation from his family. Dad had served a very important role in the office of treasury for the Royal Lao government. Recognizing the skills and the experience in my father,the communist party had enlisted his ally and his experience in restructuring of the new monetary system. Dad with his quiet dignity and humility cooperate recognizing his gesture of good will somehow will delay the inevitable. His service for the new Pathet Lao party required him to travel extensively.

Dad wanted to escape first by himself to Thailand. Once he is safe and established in a refugee camp, he will then send for mom and us. Mom would not hear of it. They both had their shares of painful losses already (I will elaborate on the losses in other entry). I knew immediately what my parents were planning. We are leaving Laos. What am I to do with this privileged information. As thousand of Laotians were leaving regularly, there was a massive collective paranoia all over the land. I kept what I heard to myself. Fear was constant for me especially at night. I wasn't sure if mom or dad ever knew that I overheard their conversation. Mom was able to convince dad to wait until the time is right for all of us to leave together.

It Would Only Takes Ten Minutes.

It has been 13 years now since I was asked by Dave Miller, one of the elders at Maple City Chapel, to share my family journey from Laos to the United States with the Maple City Chapel family. It was to have been a summary of 5 to 10 minutes sharing time. 45 minutes later, I was completely exhausted and emptied of all the unexpected grief, guilt and pain. It was a cathartic experience. At the time the purpose of my sharing was to both challenge and encourage listeners to honestly face life difficulties, to take inventory of our lives and count our blessings. The blessing for me was the opportunity to further process and grieve the experience. Through process of sharing with others, I became profoundly aware that God has powerfully and deeply tended to my family through this incredible, painful and life changing journey. It has been 30 years since we arrived here in the U.S. As I reflect on that journey now from a husband and a father perspective, the whole experience has a different meaning for me. How much sacrifice did my mom and dad had to make? What did God asked of them when they decided to leave. It is my hope to tell my life story Through this blog in the context of His Story, God Story. I look forward to the joy and the challenge of sharing this with you.

Psalm 31:3
"For you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead me and guide me."

Molly missing her uncle Phonethip.

Tonight during my prayer time with the girls, little Molly began to cry. When asked why the tears, with innocent and purity, she shared her heart with us. She voiced that she missed her uncle Phonethip very much. We all miss Phonethip very much. I miss his big beautiful smile, I miss how he cared for all of us, I miss how generous he was with his words and deeds. I am in awe still at how your humility and your gentle spirit drew everyone toward you. Thank you Phonethip for the way you loved us. It has been almost a year. I remember vividly how helpless I felt as I watched Aunt Khankheo, Mano, V, Clint, Amy and Jean cried at moment of your passing. That moment painfully showed me how profound and powerful you have loved us. And tonight, Molly's sharing of her heart reminds me again what a Godly man you were.

Psalm 37:23
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord."