Letter to the Children of Peace Village

Even though they share almost everything, it doesn't take long to spot the very unique personalities of each child living in Peace Village. Who they are as individuals sparkles through the predominate feature of conformity like rays from the sun outshine the clouds. If it were possible, I'd write a letter to each child sharing who I've come to know them to be. But in the letter below, I share my general reflections on them as a whole.

This will be my final post from Viet Nam. I want to express my deep appreciation for your support throughout this journey. Your presence along the way has helped deepen my experience over and over again! Thank you for reading the posts, responding with emails and comments and especially for caring about the children.
With Love, from Viet Nam! Paula

To the children of Peace Village,

Your creativity never ceases to surprise me as you entertain yourselves and each other having races and making up games with no toys or props. You've taught me a pair of socks easily becomes a ball, and how to make a human caterpillar. While some of you are the planners and instigators, and others of you the bystanders and cheerleaders, collectively you have extraordinarily developed imaginations. Your communal laughter literally sounds like an orchestra!

I also recognize the glaze of disappointment wash over you as unfair outcomes unfold. You seem to have a fine tuned awareness of the difference between the things you can and cannot change, knowing intimately the gift of "letting go" and moving on. You are a resilient bunch!

It's heartwarming seeing some of you take on parental responsibilities of checking in and caring for younger ones. I love watching Hip, in the role of father, lining many of you up on plastic chairs in the hallway several times a day, yelling the names of the no shows, until he's sure everyone is accounted for. You are clearly a family!

When there are disagreements and when wrestling matches get out of hand and someone gets hurt, you are quick to forgive, forget and move on. You seem to have figured out that carrying a grudge only makes your own load heavier.

Your fierce determination to overcome obstacles and break through barriers of physical limitations is beyond comprehension. You walk when they said you'd never stand on your own, scream at the top of your lungs when life needs to be screamed about, and untie intricate knots with your toes to set yourselves free! You restore my hope in the natural life force that lies at the core of each of us.

And to those of you who spend day in and day out unable to move and totally reliant on the care of others, I wish there was a way to let you know that I recognize and honor you first and foremost as a human being. But I also see your suffering. Looking into your eyes, I feel heartbroken and helpless, like the greatest burden of war has somehow landed squarely on your shoulders. I feel small, humbled and in awe of your endurance. You live moment by moment, breath by breath. I bow to you.

And to all of you.....Even though I catch myself from time to time dreaming about who you might have been had dioxin not radically disrupted your life trajectory, mostly I simply marvel at who you are.

I love each and every one of you.....