In early 2021, the Hong An Association accepted another ethnic minority village to participate in the "Porridge for Children" program. The village iscalled Kon Trang Mo Nai, located in Kontum,  . Each week, the Sisters of the Miracle Medal cook the porridge which is a simple, hearty soup with rice, vegetables and pork.  This program is for children from grade 1 and below. There are about 200 children. They eat in the Congregation yard. Not only are the children excited, but their parents are also happy. Every week there is a porridge party for the village. This porridge helps to nourish these children who do not always get enough to eat.The weekly parties are so much fun for everyone!

       The Hong An Association has had many opportunities to learn about the ethnic minorities cultures and people thanks to the Sisters in Vietnam.

       Among the villages of the ethnic minorities in Vietnam, especially in the Central region, there are still many places where the Matriarchy is applied, i.e., the woman is the head of the family. The father’s responsibilities can be transferred to the mother.

  Such as:

- The mother is the main boss of the family. She is in charge of farming and raising animals. She feeds the children, takes care of the meals and clothes for the whole family.

- Any decisions, whether big or small, are determined by the woman of the family.

       We invite you to visit the ethnic minorities of A Luoi district, ThuaThien province, Hue. Recently, the Hong An Association has had several occasions to help the priests of Sacred Heart Congregation, who travel with the Sisters of Mary Queen on long trips from Nam Dinh to serve the poor.

      Central Vietnam is very cold, but perhaps more troubling is the indifference of people for each other, even their own relatives.

      Thankfully, the Dominican Sisters of the Good News always visit the poor, neglected, and lonely elderly. Although their children and grandchildren are nearby, they rarely help or visit. When visiting the elderly, everyone can immediately smell the stench coming from the rotting wooden beds where they lay. Their blankets have beensoaking in urine for a long time that it keeps people from coming near. But they are miserable; weak and bedridden. How can they take care of themselves?

       The Sisters wrote to the HongAn Association:

Dear Sister,

           I sent you some pictures of us giving gifts to the poor. This Sunday, we will continue to send your generous gifts to the elderly people. Looking at the pictures, you cannot help but to feel sorry for them. Thank you for warming their hearts that are cold from the weather and poverty but, most of all, from being abandoned by their loved ones.

      Here, the Sisters brought gifts for this old man.  He took cookies out and wanted to eat so they unwrapped them and gave him water. He ate all the cookies and drank a whole glass of water. Afterwards, the Sisters helped him lie down in the bed.You see, it is freezing cold and he is only dressed in thin clothes.There are no warm blankets. He lies there cold, smelly, and neglected. You know what? That very nightthe Lord took him home so that he would no longer suffer!

On behalf of those we helped, I want to thank you and dear benefactors. May God bless your benefactors as well as your families.

      Recently, the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hung-Hoa organized a long trip to deliver gifts to the poor in Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province.The province has more than 700,000 people. Ethnic minorities with large families make up two-thirds of the poor in this area.

      The Sisters have prepared more than 100 gifts for poor families in Thuong Ha and Minh Tam. Each gift is worth nearly 270,000 VND or about $12 comprising boxes of shrimp instant noodles, regular noodles, dishwashing soap, seasonings, and fish sauce. The families are grateful to receive the gifts. Many charity programs in Vietnam were neglected due to the COVID restrictions. Please see the pictures below.