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Show Family Life Edition in"lay, November S,DIT?.R So '1"0TE: TimP08 Just before her separation from her Liemeoiary scnool received'a new family, her father, a fisherman and toward the end of September. She others contracted a boat builder to condidn't talk much (she baa t learned struct a new f.shing beat As it English yet) but she was smiles from was being built in a boat yard on Duong ear to ear. The student was Khanh Ngo Dong Island, communist authorities who had recently escaped from Vietprogress on the boat with suspi nam and been reunited with her eyed sion parents after a separation. The Authorities' suspicions were not Herald reporter Patrick Christiao to anyone in Duong Dong It talked with Khanh and her father, Si surprising was no great surprise- to anyone that Hien Ngo, about the separation and there were many Vietnamese on the icuniiiug. This is their story island who were not happy living there By PATRICK CHRISTIAN under Communist rule It was a well For Khanh Ngo. it had known fact that every month there been the epoch adventure of her life. were successful escapes from the Now she was sitting in a big frightening island airplane. Duong Dong is a Vietnamese island She was on her way to be reunited located off the southeast coast uf Camwith her family after being separated bodia and Vietnam in the Gulf of Siajii 21 months months of wondering and Many of the island inhabitants are indoubt concerning her parent's fate volved with the fishing industry, bu! There were many tears of uncerKhanh s lather Si Hien Ngo had not when she literally always bei-- a lishcrir.afi tainty and sadist-missed the boat in Vietnam in January Under the old government he had 1977. Now in September 1978 there were been a teacher of history and that is until 1968 when he again tears, but tears of jov as she was geography reunited with her family at the Salt ieft his ome in Duong Dong to fight in Lake International airport It had been the South Vietnamese Army In 1971 he for Khanh. the longest journey. was discharged from the army and stu-dt- ih - d - s n - II THE HERALD, Pro Vietnamese Girl Reunited With Family 'Year-Ol- d seven-year-ol- !7J, 1 1"! rofiow me rscnm Says Local Minister church, and somehow I have the feeling it is something to which we can all relate. She writes; "In church the other begins asking one to MAKE A JOYFUL Sunday I was intent on a NOISE TO THE LORD... small child who was turnand yet when I talk to ing around smiling at many folk they say that everyone. He wasn't their Sunday's are so dis- gurgling, spitting, hummmal, because all we do is ing, kicking, tearing the 'go to Church.' It's as if hymnals, or rummaging the oniy way we can ap- through his mother's proach the Lord is groan- handbag. He was just ing in pain. Now no doubt smiling. Finally, his some of this goes back to mother jerked him about those puritans, the real and in a stage whisper s that could be heard in a who were convinced that anything that little theatre off was fun was sinful; or Broadway said. "Stop anything that would give that grinning. You're in pleasure to spectators Church!!" And with that, was Rated X, or that she gave him a belt on his worship was dreary, hindside ... and the tears sermons long and rolled down his cheeks lamenting, and laughter a added, "That's better!" desecration of the Sab- and returned to her bath. pravers." We say, "MAKE A Certainly some folk say ... "But what is there to JOYFUL NOISE UNTO be joyful about today?" THE LORD "...while our We start feeling a little faces reflect the sadness like Charlie Brown who of one who has just biried says. "The World is a rich aunt who left beautiful. It's people I everything to her pregcan't stand!" We do not nant cat. Somehow it want a religion that is seems, that the entire just going to bring us world is in tears and if temporary relief, or one you're not, then you'd filled with hollow op- better get with it. Wouldn't it be trementimism, nor do we want dous to be able to tell that to believe that assumption that all good feelings little child with his tear must be paid for by an stained face about a hapequal amount of bad feel- py God, The smiling God, ings, nor should we be too The God who wants every happy because there is one of us to have a happy something secure about day. For you see. the God who created the likes of suffering! Erma Bombeck, wrote us must have had to have of a happening in her a sense of humor. And WILLIAM SCROEDER Orem Community Church United Church of Christ There is a psalm which kill-joy- ftioshioDfls too, I would want to tell him of an understanding God. Of a God who un- returned to his island, and became principal of the school that taught grades six through ten When the Communist government Uok over in 197 j he as filed from his. pusaion and joined some of las family as a fisherman The new boat could help the fainiA catch more fish It was expensive -- than heading north to Thailand through Cambnriian waters The Ngos knew if they had been captured by the Vietnamese patrol boat tliey wouid have been captured and imprisoned But if they were to be captured by the Cambodians they ould all be killed on the spot Near the Malay Peninsula thev met a Thai ship and were towed to Tailand. where they lived in a refugee camp seven months before coming to the I' S and eventually Utah The new boat was taken by Thai police anJ neither seen again nor paid for. While in the camp they occasionally heard about Khanh from people who escaped from Duong Dong They were told the Communists suspected she would try to escape and that she was watched constantly and had to report She weekly to police headquarters also was not given her ration of rice and had to eat from her grandmother s costing about ten million dong or about Jfi.uod V S dollars The fishing bo.it would be 14 tee: wide and have a powerful engine it was being built to escape Early in January wn. Mianh went to visit her grandmother in An Thoi, a town 15 miles south ot Suong Dong Her grandmother knew of the escape plan and wanted to spend time with her granddaughter Perhaps il would be the last time they would sec her again Khanh s mother and father and three brothers stayed making preparations After slipping out from Duong Dong they were to rendezvous at a siiiali inland to pick up Kha;.u. who had been ration brought there by a small boat After arriving in the U S the Ngos On January 5 the new boat slipped out away from the isiand with the five didn't hear from their daughter for lour members ot the Ngo family and three months Finally they made contact cousins It headed tor the meeting with through a letter. Mrs. Ngo frequently Khanh On the island. Khanh waited cried but the entire family was conand waited and waited until tears vinced someday they would be reunited began rolling down her round face One da this summer a boat with 2,' Jusi before reaching the island a Communist patrol boat spotted the Ngo people slipped out oi Duong Dong Among them were Khanh and her aunt family and that prevented the rendezvous with Khanh. The new boat was The captain of the boat was just slightly taster than the patrol boat a good lriend of Mr Ngo Ten days and was out of effective range of the later the Ngos learned that Khanh had patrol boat's guns The chase lasted escaped safely and was in a refugee about three hours when the fishing camp in Thailand. They knew that boat crossed into international waters, about 30 percent of escaping Vietand the Communists gave up the chase namese were killed; and the news that Dieu Nguyen. Khanh's mother, was her escape was successful greeted with affected most by the unexpected joyful tears That night in Provo there was a big separat ion, and spent many hours prayat the Ngos house. feast and was she until finally ing crying After four more months in the reunited with her daughter The family were Buddhist and Mis. Ngo prayed refugee camp, and the completing of that if Khanh could also escape Viet- much paper work. Khanh was put on a nam somehow, she would prepare a plane with her aunt a plane that she said frightened her and was flown to large feast. The fishing boat's destination was a rendezvous with mom. dad. and three Thailand, but the boat headed south brothers - a tearful and joyful meeting west across the Gulf of Siam. rather Khanh says she will never forget. - derstands little children who squirm and pick their noses. Of a God who even understands our shallow prayers that implore, "If you can't make me thin, then make my friends look fat." The Good News is, "YOU ARE FREE AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF BECOMING JOYFUL AS YOU ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A Utah Valley AND YOURSELF family exemplifying OTHERS'" ... a freedom qualities of strength, "love and comthat lets each human be- munity service will win a trip to ing be free to choose how Disneyland during Family of the Year he will feel about his Week November other world. The Good In announcing the awards to be given News readily tells us that to the Utah Valley Family of the Year Jesus comes to cut 1978, oi the Gary Hansen, through our bondage, our said that Disneyland has wilprogram, and us frees uptightness, two-da- y vacation for to really live and to be lingly given a park facilities. alive! truly "This is the second year for the Warming the lives of others as we go our daily Family of the Year program. The LDS Council ways is part of the Chris- Area Communications tian experience. It tells awarded a vacation trip to the Phillip us to live so that 'you E. Jones family last year," Hansen exwould not be ashamed to plained. sell the family parrot to "We are delighted that Disneyland the town gossip. ... and and the Grand Hotel are again working to Make a Joyful Noise with us in honoring the Family of the unto the Lord ... and I Year for 1978," Hansen added. would hope that in front The awards given this year include of every church there admission to Disneyland for two days, couid be a sign that said, accommodations for two nights at the Grand Hotel, one meal in Disneyland "DANGER LAUGHTER SPOKEN park and gasoline round trip to HERE." Good laughter a Anaheim. California and back. In addition, the Family of the Year healthy sense of clean humor are twin tonics for will receive a fifty dollar dinner certhe jaded soul. May peace tificate from Sil's Seafood Inn as well and joy be yours each as a special family gift from ZCMI. Dr. Hansen emphasized that there ;s day. If i $L I Pk- KHANH NGO smiles happily after being reunited with her father. Si Hien Ngo, and other members of the family after a separation. Khanh had to stay with a grandmother in Viet not seeking these gifts for themselves." Hansen added. The Family of the Year program, sponsored by the local Communications Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daSaints, is open to families of all faiths living in the Utah Valley. "We have sent nomination forms to the various churches in the valley and encourage families of all religions to participate." Hansen said. "All families nominated are eligible for the Family of the Year awards." Family of the Year Week begins Saturday, November 25. with the winning Utah Valley family announced November 30. Nomination forms should be obtained from area Church leaders and mailed to: Dr. Gary Hansen. 1216 SFLC. Brigham Young University. Provo, IT y flip go v with Oil's ieirmiDiraea i I x, Insulation c FREE CHAIN SAW With purchase of Earth Stove or CaroseL Hurry- - Limited Supply. J Carosel fireplace SD1M erf's 952 E. 100 N., Payion m-HOU- ENERGY CONSERVATION CENTER 465-383- 2 Complete line of fireplaces, stoves t accessories R mSER VICE 84602. Wgd? ! Kadi-mad- e far the dMe ttaHNoly on escaped to Thailand because Communist gunboats chased the boat away from the rendevous site. Khanh finally arrived in America this September. ft a deeper purpose to the program than winning a vacation trip "The Family of the Year program is not a contest for prizes but rather these awards are tokens of esteem given by sponsors in recognition of exemplary family life." he said. 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