Sa Pa Viet Nam (5 PM)
What a day. We started with breakfast at 6:30. We were on the bus to a nearby village school by 7:07. This was a very different clinic! We saw 181 students, all of the teachers, and all of the teachers’ relatives. Let me explain?
The village is “Black Hmong.” The Hmong migrated from China to this area about 300 years ago. There is incredible prejudice against them and we witnessed some of this today. The teachers are all Vietnamese: comparatively wealthy Vietnamese. Although we came to treat the Hmong, the teachers expected to be treated first. They brought their children, spouses, and even some friends. There was no consideration given to the Hmong children already in line who had never seen a doctor or dentist. The Vietnamese simply stepped in front of them. The Hmong children are so used to this that they didn’t show any anger. They just looked down at the ground...
Racism is an ugly word. Yes, what we saw today was just that – racism: unself-conscious privileged power based on the belief that THEY were superior to them. So ask yourself: What is it like to be taught by a Vietnamese teacher who thinks you are inferior, not just younger? Lord Jesus, have mercy on all of us in our blind judgments and prejudice.
After the “selfish ones” pushed through the lines, we treated 181 Black Hmong students. They were respectful and beautiful. I am glad we treated all who came. I am not sure how I would have felt if we had turned some of the children away. I don’t think the teachers would like my opinion of them. Christ have mercy on me!
Well, we passed out gloves and blankets at a final assembly and loaded the bus to return to our hotel. We have 90 minutes of free time before we load the bus to return down the mountain to Lao Cai, to the train station, for another over-night train ride to Hanoi.
Thanks for praying,
James
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