We have witnessed the most heart-rending scenes this week. Mai Thi Hong Thao (Sister Thao), a faithful member of one of our Vietnamese branches and 43-year-old mother of 7 children ages 15 and under, suffered a massive stroke that led to her death two days later. When the physicians determined that she had no brain activity, she was kept on oxygen and moved to our South District Center so that her family and friends could say goodbye. She was placed on a small mattress on the cultural hall floor. Tears flowed freely as her children spoke to her, held her hand, and sang a primary song. Women from all three of our Viet branches were so caring and compassionate as they managed the details and shepherded the children. The aged matriarch of the community, Ba Thu, quietly caressed Sister Thao's face and then took her seat in the front row of chairs filled with the 100+ people in attendance. Then everyone gathered around Sister Thao and hymns were sung. Her husband wept while pulling his wife's oxygen tube and gently cleaning her face. A daughter combed her mother's hair and women held makeshift curtains from sheets and blankets while the mother was dressed in a favorite outfit.

A formal funeral service was held in the chapel early the next morning. One of the daughters (9 years old) gave a beautiful opening prayer and hymns were sung. Sister Thao's husband talked and thanked everyone for their love and support. Three members of the congregation then spoke of their love for Sister Thao. I had been asked the night before to prepare a talk on the Plan of Salvation. I felt it important to honor the family by giving my remarks in Vietnamese, so was grateful for the advance notice. As I spoke of God's love and how we may return to Him, I could feel the Spirit transforming my halting words into strong testimony. So humbling.

The services concluded and our young strong missionaries were asked to carry the brightly-decorated casket to the "hearse", an open-air vehicle with painted dragons on each side. There were five vehicles in the procession, the hearse, two buses, and three passenger vehicles--all marked by four-way flashers and a flower in the windshield. Our van was the last of the vehicles and it was a remarkable ride as the police at every major intersection waved us through red lights, and, when traffic allowed, on the wrong side of the medians to make turns. We were given free passage on the toll road and arrived at the Christian cemetery (beyond the airport) in record time.

With all of our rain, the cemetery was wet and muddy. The grave had been dug, but it had a foot of water in the bottom. After the dedicatory prayer, workers took buckets to bail out the grave and then used ropes to lower the casket. Onlookers were concerned that the head of the casket was lower than the foot so workers spent the next 30 minutes digging under the foot of the casket and putting rocks under the head to make it right.

Everyone then departed the cemetery. A remarkable experience that will not be forgotten. We love these kind and gentle people.