One Body Village - Một Thân Hình
23 February 2010
The tree branches sway as a gust of sea wind hits them. The skies are murky and gray, not the best day to head to the beach. It’s about 7:30 AM and I am sitting at a table having breakfast with two very special people. I glance up, and see them looking out the window, most likely wishing and praying for sunnier weather so that we can go for a swim. I sit a moment, taking the scene in, and wonder what the future holds for these young girls. There’s no doubt in my mind that they have seen more than their fair share of gray skies and a tumultuous past.
They have lived most of their young lives forgotten, and forced to do the unspeakable. Lost and abandoned by friends and family, these girls were physically and sexually abused… forced into sex slavery. Rescued from the streets, they are currently living in a One Body Village home where they go to school, learn to share family responsibilities, and live with great role models and teachers. Now, they pray and have hope for not just sunnier skies, but a brighter future.
Today, I have the privilege of spending a few precious moments getting to know these beautiful girls, playing with them, teaching them, and sharing my love with them. If you were to see these girls on the street, their faces show no trace of the scars that run deep. They have smiles on their faces, voices loud, and laughter to share with the world. Just like any other young teen, they are interested in music and fashion (the first thing they did when we got to our hotel room was flip on the television and find the Vietnamese version of MTV). Yet, as I spent more time with them, I realize how fragile these children are. Sure, they may be singing and dancing along to the latest Korean pop songs, but look a little closer and you will find just how impressionable they are. I find myself slightly overwhelmed as they constantly seek attention. They are just looking to be loved, and to show how lovable they are. They live in a society where people struggle to make ends meet everyday. In order to survive, people lie, cheat, steal and step on each other to get ahead without looking back.
As the girls grow, they have abundant opportunities ahead of them… unfortunately not all of them are good. If we cannot help them build a sense of self worth and self confidence, there are people out there who will take advantage of them, possibly leading them back to square one where they began. These girls are adorable, eager to do their best to please us and make us happy. Unfortunately, these sweet faces will not always be around good people who are positive influences and role models. We can only hope that these girls will grow into young women, equipped with the skills, and the character necessary to lead good lives.
That window they are looking through will reveal both stormy skies and bright sunny days that they will have to navigate on their own some day. We can only do our best to prepare them for what the world holds. It isn’t enough just to remove them from the problem, that’s only half the battle. We need to teach them to grow and become good people who can overcome any obstacles the future may bring. They are young girls with dreams, and just imagine that there are countless more just like them who still need our help. Will you help us save them, guide them, and help them reach for the stars?
Maria
- Who am I? My name is Maria, I am twenty-two years old, American born, and Vietnamese – Chinese in heritage. I am here with One Body Village to see and experience firsthand the plight of these girls. How was the day at the beach? Oh, it was freezing, cloudy, and windy outside… but I went for a swim with the girls in spite of it. How could I say no to those sweet pleading eyes? I shivered, and turned a little blue, but it was definitely worth it to see the joy on their faces. We had water fights, and covered a couple of them in sand. I hope that there will be many more good times to come for these girls.
Words from Father Martino Nguyen Ba Thong and OBV: This year (2010) “annual vacation” – Father Martino took two young ladies Kim and Maria for a “come and see” mission trip in Vietnam and Cambodia. Kim is in her mid 20s, came to the US a the age of 6; Maria is in her early 20s – born and raised in this land of “honey and milk”. Here you will find some of their reflections. Father Martino will also lead another 10 days Mission trip for young people (17 years and older) this coming summer of 2010. If you are interested please contact him fathermartino@onebodyvillage.org – Space is limited – only the first 15 can go!