A Vietnamese Convent in Houston Opened Its Doors to Hurricane Refugees

Nguoi Viet, News Report, Staff Reporter, Translated by Andrew Lam, Posted: Sep 02, 2005

Houston, Texas – In just a few days, the population of Da Minh Convent in Houston, Texas, has increased more than 3 folds. The convent which housed 50 nuns received more than 100 refugees, victims of Katrina Hurricane. More are still coming.

Sister Hang Pham said: “Since Monday, while the news of Katrina came to us, Da Minh Convent still didn’t know how we could help. But then, from Saigon Houston Radio, we heard that Hong Kong 4 shopping mall is the place where refugees are coming looking to for help.”

“The first few days, Vietnamese arrived to Houston not knowing where to stay. Some were sleeping in their cars and others sleeping on the sidewalks. So we, along with other organizations, offered some to come to our convent.” Sister Pham laughed: “But don’t worry, we are not asking them to convert!”

According to Sister Theresa, there are now more than 200 people signing up to stay at the convent. More than 100 are now living in the convent’s recreation room. A few more, “are coming once their motel stays run out.”

Nguoi Viet reporter s arrived to Da Minh at noon and found that Sister Lucie Luong was taking care 36 children, “from New Orleans,” taking them to school. According to Sister Theresa, these children are ranging from 2nd to 9th grade.

Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Houston has ordered that all Catholic schools in Houston must open their doors to students fleeing from Mississippi and Louisiana. Sister Theresa said: “you see, it’s very peaceful here. Since the kids are sent to school.” Then she laughed: If they weren’t, it would have been a wild place here.”

Lunch at the Da Minh Convent was very good, with the nuns taking turns cooking and serving, and the refugees doing some barbequing. Vietnamese refugees form New Orleans also made some Vietnamese food, like pickled eggplants and caramel catfish.

Talking with Sang Nguyen who is taking refuge here, he said: “My home is in Buras, [Louisiana,] where the storm really hit hard.” Sang, 31, is here with his family of 8 people and arrived here since Wednesday.

“It’s all gone,” he sighed. In Louisiana, Sang was a fisherman and caught shrimps for a living. He had his own boat, but he didn’t have any insurance. His trailer didn’t have insurance either. “I have no idea what the future would bring, but I’ll have to return to New Orleans to see what’s left before deciding.”

Lying on a mattress is Danny Nguyen, and he was concentrating on news on the internet, news related to New Orleans and his job. He was working for a car insurance company in New Orleans. He said: “My boss just called. He also had to evacuate. Perhaps we have to go to Baton Rouge soon to continue working.” Then he laughed: “Working in car insurance: There’ll be a lot of things to do now.”

Danny’s wife works for American Airlines. And their 13th wedding anniversary is coming up in a few days. “It’s really weird. Thirteen years ago, after our wedding, Hurricane Andrew blew over. Now, Katrina welcomed our 13th anniversary.”

Danny and his wife have five children, the youngest is only 3 weeks old. Dung said: “History repeats itself. Thirty years ago, our parents fled Vietnam in 1975. Now we their children are fleeing the hurricane. We still stand in line for food, for clothing. It’s surreal.”

Danny added: “It’s like a dream. Everything happened just as fast as in a movie. Except for it’s not a dream. It’s real.”

The wave of people fleeing the storm is changing the routine of the nuns here at Da Minh Convent. The recreation room where Mass is celebrated every Sunday is now full of refugees. Said Sister Theresa: “We folded away the chairs. On Sunday, we’ll unfold them to celebrate mass. But after that, we’ll fold them away again so people will have a place to sleep.” She said the convent is buying more mattresses. “It’s very painful to sleep on the ground.”

In the corridor, there are rice bags, boxes of clothing, and instant noodle boxes donated by Vietnamese Americans in Houston. “These are mostly clothes for children. But the needs for them are very high,” said Sister Theresa.

As for the disruption of routine, Sister Theresa said: “Yes, our lives have been disrupted. Our hours of silence, our regular activities are changed. But the priority is given to the refugees. We have to be flexible. The rules are made for people, people are not made to live only for rules and regulations.”

Katrina has changed the lives of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands. Few know what their future would bring. When asked about their future, the majority answered: “I don’t know.”

A few others said that they plan to leave New Orleans to make a new life somewhere else. Hong Tien Hoc, an electrical engineer, said: “I have all the required insurance. But it’s probably time to think about leaving New Orleans.” He said Houston is a good place. “Houston is developing. Maybe I will start my life here.”

Dung Nguyen, the mother of 5 children, said that she’s planning to restart in Dallas.
Since she works for American Airlines, it makes sense. “American Airlines’ headquarters are in Dallas.”

A few young people working in nail industry said they are looking for work in Houston.
While Nguoi Viet talked with the refugees and nuns, more Vietnamese in Houston showed up with goods to donate. Sister Theresa said: “The community is very kind and generous.. If there’s any left, people who leave can take with them back to their home.”

Who knows when the peaceful life of the nuns here will return. But as long there is a need for their help, their doors will remain open. “Don’t thank us,” said sister Theresa. “We have to thank everyone here. We are given an opportunity to provide help to those who need it.”

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