In the Vietnam highlands, a village once known for opium addiction is now a flourishing business community. The transformation started when a village-chief began listening to Christian radio.
SCRIPT:
Vietnam: Opium Village Reached by Radio
Lucille Talusan, reporter.
INTRO: In the Vietnam highlands, a village once known for opium addiction is now a flourishing business community.
The transformation started when a village-chief began listening to Christian radio.
SCRIPT:
V.O.
Driving along these paved zigzag roads of the Sin Suoi Ho village makes it hard to imagine this picturesque landscape of rice terraces and manicured vegetable plots were once opium fields in the 1980’s.
Pastor Hang A Xa describes it as a bleak period for the Hmong people in their tribe as almost all were drug addicts.
PASTOR HANG A XA, Pastor, Sin Suoi Ho Church
(“We were selling opium like selling chickens. Everyone was addicted so no one worked in the fields. We did not have food, just leaves from the jungle. People were fighting. It was a very messy time.”)
V.O.
That included Pastor Xa’s father, Hang A Lung, an opium addict who was still elected as village chairman. As leader, the government provided him a radio to listen and to learn about its policies.
Lung, however, did not understand Vietnamese. He only knew the Hmong language and the only radio program he could understand came from a faithful broadcast ministry to the Hmong people. (ALT TEXT: from the Far East Broadcasting Company in the Philippines). Instead of communist ideology, Lung listened to the Word of God each day.
PASTOR HANG A XA
(“My father heard the gospel and became the first believer. He wanted our whole family to receive Jesus. He summoned my brother who was studying in another town to come home right away. He said you need to receive Jesus. If He comes, we all go to heaven and you go to hell.”)
V.O.
Su admires her grandfather for being firm in his faith at a time Vietnam had banned Christianity. Police arrested and beat Lung several times. And when they threatened to kill him…
HANG THI SU: Lung’s Granddaughter
(“He ask them. Why take a long time for you to kill me? He wants to meet Jesus. After a few days, they tell him go back home, we don’t have food to feed you.”)
V.O.
Lung obtained a bible that had been passed from one household to another. From reading Scripture, Lung and other villagers felt convicted to quit drugs and live a life pleasing to God.
Instead of opium, they planted orchids which became a source of income. Though most could not read or write, God gave the villagers wisdom to begin running various businesses.
Ten years later, Sin Suoi Ho was recognized by the government as a top tourist destination.
LUCILLE TALUSAN (standup): Sin Suoi Ho Village
(“On Saturday mornings, the villagers flock to this market to sell their produce but this is also where Pastor Xa is shining the shoes of the people and he says this is his way of serving the people and also an opportunity to share Jesus in the hope to continue the legacy of being a God-honoring village.”)
V.O.
Pastor Xa is thankful that CBN Vietnam is helping disciple the children of Sin Suoi Ho.
LUCILLE TALUSAN (standup)
(“School is over for these children but they are going to another school. And that is the School of Life that’s sponsored by CBN Vietnam. Here they learn how to speak English and play different musical instruments.”)
V.O.
Mai has been going to English class for two years now.
VANG A HOA: Mai’s Father
(“Mai did not talk much before joining the School of Life. But now she is confident and even helps translate for us when we have guests. Thank you School of Life. You help our children to study and have a better chance to a better life.”)
VANG A MAI: School Of Life Student
(“Thank you School of Life for helping me learn English.”)
VANG THI HOA: Superbook Student
(“Through Superbook, I learned that Jesus loves me. He died on the Cross to save me and He is my friend.”)
V.O.
CBN Vietnam’s National Director, Phuc Truong shares why it is important to support villages like Sin Suoi Ho.
PHUC TRUONG: CBN Vietnam National Director
(“Sin Suoi Ho is a case study for the diff villages in Vietnam.
God transformed a community through a church. From the pastor and congregation they obey the Lord. And God transformed everything.
They did not start with the idea of making this village famous. They started with the idea that they love the Lord, They want to glorify Him.”)
V.O.
Truong and CBN Vietnam believe If God can do this in Sin Suoi Ho, He is more than able to transform other villages, and cities, and eventually, the entire nation of Vietnam.
Lucille Talusan, CBN News, Lai Chau, Vietnam
Story Provided By:
Stepen Little, CBN News Producer
Producing Organization
CBN, Christian Broadcasting Network
Recording Location
Sin Suoi Ho, Vietnam
Reporter / Producer
Lucille Talusan
Organization featured in this Story
CBN
People Interviewed and their Titles
Included in video
Restrictions (if any)
none
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EN