(This is a very touching story summarised from the Catholic News, vol 59.)
Huynh Tieu Huong, an orphan girl, spent her younger days living on trains and at train stations. She moved from one foster home to another, some being kind to her, others abusive.
During the gold rush, she was employed by a slave driver who beat her until she fell unconscious. She became so afraid that she ran into the forest and finally reached Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. She struggled all alone for survival in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.
While roaming the streets, she adopted a child, a baby girl she named Anh Dao. Many times, Huynh contemplated suicide, but the cries of her daughter made her change her mind because she did not want her daughter to be left alone like her.
Huynh then befriended a Taiwanese man who was kind to her and provided a place for her and the daughter to stay. Hunyh then realised that the Taiwanese had ulterior motives. He wanted her body. Hunyh then threatened suicide and the Taiwanese, as a final gesture of kindness, gave her 20 ounces of gold. With this, she bought herself a house which she later sold for a good profit.
She then became business minded. She worked as an estate agent and opened a car rental service. She used the money she earned to help more homeless children. One thing that saddened her was whenever she saw children being physically abused or being made to steal.
In 2001, Que Huong Charity centre, an association for disabled children and orphans in Vietnam received its permit to operate from the Vietnamese authorities. Today, there are 300 children living at the centre and they regard Hunyh as their mother.
Over the years, Hunyh has cared for about 4000 children, some handicapped, in over 60 provinces and towns.
Hunyh has been a blessing to so many children and so too, the children have blessed her.
Today, Hunyh is no more lonely and desolate. She has so many children and they all call her 'Mummy'
Just after the turn of the millenium, Hunyh was diagnosed with cancer. Today, she is still strong and lives on.
As a natural mother who worries about her children's future, her main concern is that when she is no more around, her children would still have a place to live.
She says " For as long as I am not dead, I must help the children and raise them.
We all have something to learn from her. She is a true mother for all of us to follow.
During the gold rush, she was employed by a slave driver who beat her until she fell unconscious. She became so afraid that she ran into the forest and finally reached Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. She struggled all alone for survival in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.
While roaming the streets, she adopted a child, a baby girl she named Anh Dao. Many times, Huynh contemplated suicide, but the cries of her daughter made her change her mind because she did not want her daughter to be left alone like her.
Huynh then befriended a Taiwanese man who was kind to her and provided a place for her and the daughter to stay. Hunyh then realised that the Taiwanese had ulterior motives. He wanted her body. Hunyh then threatened suicide and the Taiwanese, as a final gesture of kindness, gave her 20 ounces of gold. With this, she bought herself a house which she later sold for a good profit.
She then became business minded. She worked as an estate agent and opened a car rental service. She used the money she earned to help more homeless children. One thing that saddened her was whenever she saw children being physically abused or being made to steal.
In 2001, Que Huong Charity centre, an association for disabled children and orphans in Vietnam received its permit to operate from the Vietnamese authorities. Today, there are 300 children living at the centre and they regard Hunyh as their mother.
Over the years, Hunyh has cared for about 4000 children, some handicapped, in over 60 provinces and towns.
Hunyh has been a blessing to so many children and so too, the children have blessed her.
Today, Hunyh is no more lonely and desolate. She has so many children and they all call her 'Mummy'
Just after the turn of the millenium, Hunyh was diagnosed with cancer. Today, she is still strong and lives on.
As a natural mother who worries about her children's future, her main concern is that when she is no more around, her children would still have a place to live.
She says " For as long as I am not dead, I must help the children and raise them.
We all have something to learn from her. She is a true mother for all of us to follow.
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