VIETNAM WINDOW

“Each person is born with an unencumbered spot – free of expectation and regret, free of ambition and embarrassment, free of fear and worry – an umbilical spot of grace where we were each first touched by God. … This is a hard lifelong task … a constant erosion of what is not essential.” The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo.

This has been a hard year for us! Finding our way in retirement has not been easy.  We hoped for health to be mobile, share hospitality, and continue passions like being around young children for Esther. As we wrote earlier, Esther had open heart surgery at the beginning of March to replace her mitral valve, followed by placement of a pacemaker a week later.  We hoped this would give her renewed energy. Her recovery was slow with breathing challenges so that she did not complete cardiac rehab until early August. She had worked herself up to half mile walks. We took a trial vacation to one of our timeshares at the beginning of September in Williamsburg, VA. Esther got severe sciatica pain and could not find a comfortable position in the car or anywhere. This felt like our hopes to travel to see our children on the West coast post Esther’s surgery would never happen. In late August, Paul was unable to sleep and exhibited severe depression, anxiety, and unrealistic fears about the future. For a time, he was also experiencing memory loss. These months of torment, pain, and neediness were a true twist of roles between us.

We are thankful for the PT and exercises that helped Esther get relief from the sciatica pain. Friends, Alta and James, Titus and Linda, family Sharon and David were so helpful in loving and guiding Paul to find the medical and therapy help to address his sleep, depression, anxiety, and fears. I, Esther, often wonder and ask “why” and “how” as part of my contemplations. A medical doctor friend with experience working with Vietnam Vets who had PTSD, wondered if it could have been late onset PTSD from our time of living in a war zone for 4 years. We are both grateful, amazed, and awed to have the “return” of a healthy and familiar Paul post these months of torment.

Some of Paul’s fears were about things we really did need to address and thankfully with renewed health together we were able to get another car that is comfortable for Esther both to drive and for long trips. We reached out again to retirement communities where we have our names on the list. During Esther’s recovery we did make modifications to our downstairs, so we could live comfortably on one floor when needed. We did engage Landis at Home services to give Paul some respite in the initial months of Esther’s recovery. Home health was such a valuable experience that we are not clear we want to move to a retirement community. Maybe we can get services in our home or move closer to our children sometime.

At the end of December, pre-Christmas, we travelled to Massanutten for a wonderful week with Esther’s two east coast siblings. Our daughter Amy, David and grandson Forester came here for a few days between Christmas and New Year’s. It was a wonderful time of embracing life and joy in each other’s presence.  All of Esther’s siblings and their children in the area joined us for a rich day in the basement of a nearby church.

We are enjoying our faith fellowship’s mixer groups that meet five times a quarter to get to know each other. In the new year we hope to travel again, visit our son and his wife in Santa Fe, NM and do a cross country road trip. We are making lists of friends to visit.

Esther continues her love of flower arranging and has even taken up botanical Lego sets with Forester. She will continue piano lessons by zoom. We both binge on jigsaw puzzles, scrabble, sudoku, good sunsets over the pond and Netflix shows. We joined a pool and gym at a near by retirement community both for exercise and socialization. Paul is back to reading, scanning our photos and preparing to write something of our life story. We hope to hear from you by email, phone or in person.

Peace and love, Paul and Esther 717-892-8045, ..8042

Sunrise of hope today January 18 2024

Home from a second hospital stay and grateful for each breathing moment.

My journey since initial open-heart surgery, Feb. 28, has made many twists and turns, however, I am going with each moment.  Nose bleeds, an evening ambulance and ER visit to address the nosebleed with a nasal rhino rocket, challenges breathing due to the plugged nasal passages, and later, on March 30 another hospital admission, when the cardio surgeon ended my follow – up visit with this decision. I was relieved but surprised since I was having difficulty breathing to the point of not being able to complete a sentence even in sitting.  He said this is an effort to rule out what this is not and to collaborate as teams to problem solve the cause.  In the next 4 days, more and more tests were done, as Cardiology, Electro-physiology, Cardio-thoracic surgery, and pulmonology ruled out or pinpointed areas of need.  By April 3, I was again discharged home with more medications than I could fathom, directives to follow-up with each of the offices in the near future, and an order for receiving vocal cord exercises with a Speech Therapist when able as an outpatient.  All this reminded me of my lifelong challenge with managing my vocal output and my breath.  From the age of 2 this was me, but somehow, I never paused to address it but moved on living and breathing ineffectively.  Paul, my dear friend, noted his awareness of my frequent coughing and gagging when eating, talking, or anxious.  So, again I am grateful for being seen and heard and surrounded by so much love and care.  Slowly, I am gaining strength, doing home health of PT and OT, and anticipating cardiac rehab and speech therapy for my voice beginning in May.

Once again, Paul and I are feeling so grateful for each of you and how you have been there these days.  The natural beauty around our home at this time sings and cries for attention – flowers, new leaves, blossoming trees, birds, baby lambs, warm breezes, and all that comes with temperate climate and spring.  I hope that you can come and join me for a visit sometime now that I am more functional.  Let me know if you are coming by.

In peace, joy, and gratitude, Esther and Paul

Spring is also the time for dancing lambs – click this link for the dropbox video and a good laugh.

It has been seventeen months since we last connected with you in this manner. As mentioned in October 2021, Esther’s journey was often impacted by limited energy and getting out of breath from a short walk. Yet, despite that we enjoyed being able to again visit our daughter, Amy, David and Forester in Mountain View, CA and son Hans and Pi in Santa Fe, New Mexico. With airport wheelchair assistance and renting/borrowing wheelchairs at museums and parks we were able to travel.  Other highlights were a week at Hilton Head, SC Fall 2021; an extended 2 months in Mountain View, CA over Christmas 2021 till Feb 2022; a week in Santa Fe in March, two weeks with my Sister Ruth and Jim in San Antonio, TX in April, with one weekend visiting longtime friends, Hang and Reinhard in Houston, TX; a long weekend with Esther’s extended family to celebrate Jay’s daughter Elsa’s graduation from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana; a week at Williamsburg, VA in June; two days at Ocean Grove, NJ where Esther worked at the Sea Side Hotel the summer we committed to a life of adventure together; a week at Massanutten, VA in September, and then in October we spent a two weeks with Amy, David and Forester, first in CA and then for our first time in Kauai, HI. On the way home we stopped for a week to visit Esther’s brother, Jay and Elaine in Portland, OR.

We also enjoyed visits from Amy, David, and Forester to our home in Manheim Dec 2021 and Dec 2022. David had to cancel this year due to lingering flu. Hans and Pi canceled to say their final goodbyes to her dad in Minneapolis.

Esther’s word for this year is gratitude. We received a digital photo frame for Christmas, and we have been enjoying the memories and pictures of six years plus grandson, Forester, and our recent travels. We are also looking at photos from the 80’s in Indonesia and from our blog in Vietnam. A few years ago, we purchased a digital Piano and Esther loves practicing and taking lessons by zoom with Pi’s Aunt. No pressure, just enjoyment. She continues to make these amazing flower arrangements, put jigsaw puzzles together and read. Last year a key book for Paul was, The Land is not Empty, Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery by Sarah Augustine. Paul also recommends, the podcast series by Sarah. John Ruth’s book, This Very Ground, This Crooked Affair, was an in depth look that included the area where Paul’s mother’s Alderfer ancestors started farming, and the treaties William Penn made with the local inhabitants and the communications and agreements with the local chief. We lived among tribal indigenous peoples in Indonesia for 6 years, and were aware of the many indigenous tribal peoples in Vietnam, so I was already pained at the way different understandings of land and man’s relation to it continues to cause so much injustice. This past year we have been reading a page or two daily from Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of the Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

I, Paul, am looking forward to a new part-time summer job as a tour guide for an old stone water powered grain mill and historic house. In John Ruth’s book, I discovered my Alderfer ancestors owned for many years a similar mill in eastern PA. Growing up, I always enjoyed visits to my uncle’s mill in West Virginia. I look forward to meeting tourists from around the country and world.

Last month in January Esther met with a heart doctor to recheck her heart valves.  After some tests, they confirmed her mitral valve stiffness is severe and replacement is warranted. This week after meeting with a surgeon, we scheduled open heart surgery for February 28 to replace her mitral valve, repair her tricuspid valve;do a full MAZE (Ablation to try to correct atrial fibrillation) and to place an AtriClip to help prevent strokes in people with atrial fibrillation. Esther is hopeful that this will give her back some energy and give years of more normal activity. She has never had major surgery. We know our wonderful bodies created in love, and the connections and love of others are all part of the healing process in addition to the medical professionals. We are grateful you have been part of our support network in the past and that you will be guided as needed in this experience – calls, texts, cards, videos, and love from your heart to ours. Amy hopes to come in before/after the surgery for a few days. The recovery planned is a week in the hospital followed by 7 weeks of increasing activity with some PT guidance.

Check out older blog posts and info on Agent Orange from our time with MCC in Vietnam from 2015 – 2018, remote MCC support until 2021 and since then, in links on the right panel.  There are also links to photos. Shutterfly is discontinuing the photo web sharing on March 25 so I will likely move the old photo links to Dropbox but loose the captions.

Peace to each of you,

Paul and Esther Bucher

Paul: 717-892-8045, Esther 717-892-8042

Jpaul.bucher@gmail.com, estherbucherot@gmail.com

First please note we have new phones and new phone numbers: Paul +1 (717) 892-8045, Esther +1 (717) 892-8042. Esther is also now using for email: estherbucherot@gmail.com. Paul continues to use for email: jpaul.bucher@gmail.com.

This is an opportunity to connect with you, our family and friends, after a year of silence.  Since the early part of 2020 Paul and I returned from celebrating life and love with our children and offspring in California.  In April and May 2020, the realities of Covid -19 began to move through Pennsylvania where we live and rent space.  Our commitment to the MCC Rehabilitation Center and program in Duc Pho, Quang Ngai Province, Central Vietnam remained the same as we supported them remotely using the internet and video phone clips. We continued to volunteer this way until March 2021 and the end of the fiscal year.  Then, unfortunately and due to the anticipated shortfall to MCC budgeted resources, all MCC Vietnam programs and financial input were closed.  We were able to remotely participate in some of the closing ceremony for the home therapy program.  The Duc Pho rehab center and special education and day care center itself has other funding than MCC and thus is continuing.

How do we process this?  We feel sad yet know that the knowledge shared and learnings acquired with persons while we were working in Vietnam will continue as part of these persons’ lives and journeys. Since we have internet connection and heart felt relationships with the MCC Vietnam reps, Eva and Nikolai, we have been able to support an exchange with them as they dismantled the MCC administrative structures in the country – a long and tedious process after over 65 years of commitment.

It has been over a year since we connected via this blog. During this year we have had the chance to reread some of your letters we had stored over the recent decades before letting them go. We are reminded of your care and support of us for being ourselves over these decades and likewise how important you and your families live’s, and activities are to us.

Paul was challenged by learning how to run technical aspects of livestreaming parking lot Blossom Hill church services, zoom hosting and now live streaming indoor services. He has also hosted a series of zoom reunions with our VN Mennonite Mission team who are equal to extended families from when we were in Vietnam in the 70’s with reciprocal interviews of our children and then with them interviewing us on what we remember of those days and how it has influenced us today.

We purchased a home elliptical machine for our garage when the gyms closed and have really been blessed by the ability to each get in a little regular exercise. You might recall that in the Fall of 2019 I, Esther, was in the hospital a few days to address Atrial Fibrillation.  Medication and a cardioversion shock seemed to make a positive difference so that my function was better.  In the spring of 2021 my energy and ability to function normally changed so that I was very tired, winded, and back in Atrial Fibrillation.  The Cardiologists and electrophysiologist specialists suggested another cardioversion and some changes in medication. Between the middle of May and the middle of August, there were three cardioversions (two outpatient and one inpatient) and multiple medicine changes.  Now, facilitated by medication and management of diet, my heart rhythm and rate have remained normal for over two months and slowly I am having more energy.  We are thankful for this, but the electrophysiologist suggested a pacemaker will likely be needed at some point and the cardiologist wants to do a stress echocardiogram of the mitral valve to rule out a need for valve repair (something Esther’s mother had twice). Naming my condition as Chronic or Congestive Heart Failure and entering a CHD clinic is difficult for me to accept, although I am glad for life! And Breath!

All of this impacted our hopes and dreams to visit and be with our children for the months of June and July and part of August in California and New Mexico.  We were quite disappointed yet glad that we were able to be safer, near our familiar medical network. Amy came over for a few days at the end of May. Then, the end of July Amy and Hans with their spouses and our grandson, Forester. spent 5-10 overlapping days here with us. 

In response to some of your inquiries about my vision and eye challenges with glaucoma and cataracts, I finally was able to have a successful removal of the second cataract and repair of the Left eye glaucoma in July 2020 using a hydra stent.   My current vision with glasses is satisfactory for reading and computer work and I am so grateful for sight and vision!! A car accident, where I missed a red light at an intersection took me on another journey on September 15, 2021.  The safety bags deployed and protected me but left me with a cracked sternum and a totaled 2005 Prius. Again, I am grateful for life although one month later I continue to feel the pain of this central bone in my body.   Healing & miracles!

Puzzles, word games, flower arranging, reading books, playing beginner piano, and learning more about the history of humanity in many ways are a few of our slowed down activities.  Every morning and every evening we gaze from the windows here and follow the variations of the sun’s being!! What a daily miracle. 

Where to and what next are things we are often asked and ask ourselves?  We do not know or feel we have clarity for this right now.  We feel grateful for life and each other                              

In May 2021, Joann Hunsberger of Mennonite Health Network interviewed Esther for a 30 minute podcast on, Occupational Therapy makes life accessible. They did a great job of capturing the essence of Esther’s love and passion.

This fall it will be 3 years since we returned from 3 years in VietNam to the US and our home culture. It has been almost two years of Covid impacted interactions, and personal health restrictions which has affected our ease to make new friends or renew the many acquaintances we have in this area from growing up and school years. Paul’s Dad, my step-mom and beloved aunt passed away during these three years. So, we have been very grateful for the long term friendships we have with you and the connections you gave us when we were far away. As a couple we do know how to love and support each other. And we continue to learn and grow but we could never have imagined how these past years would evolve.

Do tell us about your life and loves. And when possible, visit us on the farm in Manheim, PA.

Here is a link to a few photos of the past year: Blog Pictures 2021

Since mid March we have been staying physically at home on a lovely rental farm property.  We have a beautiful view across the valley of farm land with a pond and lots of places to walk during this extended time of staying at home.  We have accepted offers from younger neighbors and relatives to pick up groceries. Due to pandemic concerns, Esther postponed the cataract and glaucoma surgery of the other eye. She continues to monitor her heart and lung challenges with on-line Dr. Consultations.

Vietnam and the window in our world to life there continues.  We remotely support the home therapy program in Vietnam. This involves reviewing videos therapy staff have taken when they visit the homes for therapy.  I, Paul, spent some time this month learning to do some simple editing to pick out shorted clips and added some text to help explain how the activities are helping the children with their special development needs. Here are some links to a few videos of some of the children:

1) Therapy staff Dung with 14 year old, Nguyet: Slowly and with much repetition this young lady is imitating and vocalizing word responses. She is pleased with verbal praise and one can see her positive reaction with Dung.  Three years ago Dung was shy and hesitant to try out therapy techniques but she now demonstrates natural skills with children and families in need. See 1:31 min video here.

2) Therapy staff Y working with 14 year old Ngan: Ngan initially seemed unable to follow directions and requests. But over the past year she is able to balance better and use both sides of her body.   When wearing sandals with back straps in her home, her balance and reach is better. Notice her hopping on 2 feet, tossing and placing a ring.  Any activity and progress will continue slowly with consistent repetition. See 49 sec video here.

3) Three year old, Khanh is working with therapy staff, Vi.  Khanh seems eager to please others but has very low tone and has difficulty completing many motor tasks.  He is seen here positioning and balancing himself from a seated position to stand.  He always looks for another’s approval.  His mother’s guidance is important during these sessions.  He is beginning to nod his head and make a vocal sound for affirmation.. See 1:43 min video here

4) Thi Thao, a therapy volunteer is seen working with 18 year old, Chanh who has the ability to learn to use a tablet computer and access the world via a keyboard and internet.  Two years ago he was given this device and uses it for connecting to the larger world.  He uses a manual wheel chair but needs a new one.  Brakes, foot plates, and proper seat height and cushions should be added.  Another question is could he benefit from an electric chair to get around his wider world? See 43 sec video here

5) As one of the therapy staff, Hoai is interacting with 8 year old,  Bao An in his grandparent’s home.   In the background, we can hear the cheering voices for Bao An’s steady progress.  He understands much of what is asked of him and his smile often indicates his choice to do the opposite of what is asked of him! Positioning is so important for his ability to function, as pictured in these videos. See 1:22 min video here

6) Huong Thao, a therapy staff is working with 14 year old Danh.  Danh benefits from simple and repetitive tasks and shows progress over month and years’ time versus weeks.  His learned helplessness is difficult to change since he receives attention from his family.  But, he has demonstrated ability to follow through with self-care and self-awareness skills. See 1:55 min video here

In the spring of 2020 MCC was recruiting for an OT therapist but has had to postpone for a year due to lack of visas and supports with Vietnam not allowing any new foreign workers for now. We have agreed to continue in a pro bono capacity for another year of remote support. Esther has been taking several online OT continuing education courses this month which are focused on how to do therapy remotely, something suddenly being done everywhere.  We encourage you to support MCC. Some of MCC’s normal fundraising activities like Thrift Stores and Relief sales have been closed.

This past weekend we were blessed with an Enneagram Mapmakers podcast where Marian Gilbert, a PT, and somatic therapist was interviewed about her work of integrating the somatic physical body insights to the established psycho-spiritual aspects of the Enneagram. This really connected with us as in the past decade Esther has been studying and practicing biodynamic cranio sacral therapy in somatic focused groups.

The beginning of May, Pi, our daughter-in-law did an online art show opening. It really helped me to understand her own journey more and to appreciate the art pieces of hers that are on our walls. I find her very articulate in describing the meaning for her of the abstract visions that are grounded in a realistic multistage process of discovery and design. I learned to appreciate the archival, water-proof methods used in her collage art medium. Link to a video recording of Pi’s Art Opening

We have taken over the guest bedroom to spread out our letters, journals and pictures we had stored before we left for Vietnam. We both have started reviewing our growing up, dating years and our first time in Vietnam during the war when I did my alternate service 1970-1974. It keeps us humble but grateful for the many family and friends who supported our development. There are many adventures we forgot about or remembered with a rosy lens.

In December and January we spent about a month in California with our children and their families.  Now settling here post a wonderful time of celebrating 50 years of  marriage we recall these living and loving opportunities.

Paul and Esther

Click here for a link to photos

December 11, 2019

Dear Family and Friends,

A year ago we wrote to you from California after returning to the USA from being and working in Vietnam for 3 years. It is taking us time to reconnect with friends and family and deepen friendships.

As of January 1 we were able to rent a farm house in the middle of farmland in Manheim, PA which was not far from Paul’s dad’s home in Salunga-Landisville, PA.Finding this space and being blessed daily with the rising and setting sun to view across the fields from the windows of this house built in the Civil war era is like medicine to our souls and spirits.

The reason we decided to come here was to assist Paul’s dad, who was 92 with his functional needs. Initially, Paul’s father did not feel the need to be assisted with cooking, cleaning, etc. in his home but often was frustrated with how things worked out for him.Getting around physically was gradually more difficult. One day Dad decided he would like to visit one of the retirement communities here to see if he could qualify and within a week he was informed that there was a single room apartment available and he was approved.So by April 12^th dad was moving into the home. It is was not easy to make a move and down size from 4 levels in a home to one room and remember where you put things in a new space. We were glad Dad could enjoy some good and supported days there before he passed after a brief illness the end of August. We were glad that many of the children and grandchildren could visit with him. The memorial on August 27^th in Lancaster, PA was a time of remembering the many stories of his life and gifts to others from relatives and friends near and far. Dad was the last of his siblings and in-laws to pass, so it feels like a real generational loss.

Paul, as the oldest and available sibling took on the job of cleaning up and selling his Dad’s house. That is mostly done now so we are both looking to have time to figure out what our retirement will look like from here. Esther has maintained her OT license and took in the OT Conference in New Orleans in April.

Paul’s younger brother Ken lives nearby but has been having his own health issues. Paul has been trying to spend a morning each week with Ken. He is enjoying getting to know his brother better since we were often living far away from his family.

Recently, Esther had some of her own health issues and her first experience of hospitalization for Afib- racing heart and irregular rhythm. Fortunately, that is now stable. More difficult was the 13 week sight blockage in her right eye post cataract and glaucoma surgery from a film of blood behind her lens. After a YAG laser procedure on December 5, sight has returned. What a gift to be able to see from both eyes!!

As we mentioned in our last blog, we have continued to support and give therapy assistance for goals and treatment suggestions for the therapy provided by the technicians in the homes and at the center in Vietnam. It is good to see the progress some of the children are making when we review the videos and pictures from their visits to the homes. MCC continues to hope to recruit another therapist from outside of Vietnam. (Click here for job info) We also mentioned and shared the link for a film done of the work at the center – we now have English subtitles on the film if you wish for following in English. (Click here for YouTube link-VTV1 – Heal the Pain)

We are looking forward to several weeks in California to be with Amy, David, and Forester. Hans and Pi will join for a week. We will celebrate 50 Years of being best friends and partners!

Please note our new contact information:

510 N Erisman Rd, Manheim PA 17545

Paul Cell 669-249-8560, Esther Cell 669-249-8561 – No Landline any more

Click here for a link to photos

Peace,

Paul and Esther Bucher

Click here to see additional blog photos

Dear Friends and Family,

We are full of much joy and gratitude as we transitioned from Central Vietnam in Quang Ngai province the middle of October to the present here in Central California. We now have the opportunity to spend time with our children and family.  Here in the US the Thanksgiving holiday is approaching next Thursday.  We will join with extended family through Amy’s husband, David Ghandehari for a few days close to the mountains.

Before closing our suitcases and packing MCC household items in our rented space in Duc Pho we had a whirlwind of home visits made with each of the trained technicians from the center. Paul, at MCC’s request put together a file collection of over 140 lessons, demonstrations, notes, and reports in both Vietnamese and English and 70 GB of photos and videos of children and their progress over time. We hope this will facilitate the transition for a new foreign MCC OT or therapist.

The farewell events included numerous surprises and special events we will long remember:

– Travelling in a rented van with the center staff to a water falls about 1 ½  hours northwest of our town and then to Hoang’s home, our translator’, for a meal

– Cooking with the staff at Phuong’s home making ‘nem’ corn filled fried spring rolls,  ‘banh xeo’ over charcoal burners, banana heart salad, and roasted rice crackers along with half a dozen other dishes. Then we sat outside in the setting sun and rising moon and stars to eat together.

– Travelling to Quang Ngai to bid farewell to the VAVA board and receive their words of thank you.

– Being hosted at a local restaurant by parents, children, staff and local district leaders.

Each of these events occurred within a week of our leaving. The week prior to that we had hosted the new MCC Country Reps, the new MCC Hanoi Lead Program Manager, and another staff person and showed them the various programs we had begun and tried to explain our ideas for ongoing service via MCC for persons with disabilities here in this area.

Our three days in Hanoi were very busy.  One day involved a full day seminar/workshop to which all of MCC workers and staff were included.  The scholarships for this training were made available by Fred and Minh Kauffman and focused on an approach to development which makes a lot of sense to us Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). The seminar was led by Gord from Coady International Institute.  Tuesday after the seminar we drove for about two hours to visit and meet the leaders of the new, one year old, OT training program at the Hai Duong University. The initial specialists with OT course work will be graduating next year.  Hopefully, MCC can become involved in supporting the program with donations of materials at the University or brainstorm with the leaders how an NGO such as, MCC could be helpful in sustaining an OT service for Vietnam in the future.

In July, we had a film crew from the main national, VTV1 TV station in Hanoi visit for 4 days to film a documentary of the center and our work.  The film came out in August and was a holistic view of our work and the center’s mission for those with disabilities.  Although it is all in Vietnamese you might enjoy seeing a realistic view of our life and work and the scenery surrounding us daily! Click here to see the 24 min film.

In the month of August as Paul and I worked at the center, we were blessed with two overlapping visits. Longtime friend Doreen Bender, an OT colleague from Richmond and the Cerebral Palsy Center. And Chika, who became part of our family back in 1998  when she did a year of exchange as a high school student from Kobe, Japan.  What a joy to have these two special visitors.  Doreen arrived a bit earlier and travelled to Kontum with us where we introduced her to some of the tribal groups and cultures and reminisced about our life and work in Kalimantan, Indonesia in 1977-1983.

In our last blog we spoke of possibly taking a few days of vacation to visit Can Tho and Saigon, where we had lived and worked in the early 70’s.  However, we decided to return to Hoi An and Dalat, two of our favorite sites to vacate and relax this time.  This included some souvenir shopping, visiting a green tea plantation, some of the many greenhouses, flower gardens, and just enjoying the beauty of the outdoors here in Vietnam.  What variety!

We have now been here in the US almost a month and feel that the shock of adjusting is something we are taking gradually.  We primarily are enjoying our children, Amy and Hans, and of course our grandson, Forester Orion, who is now 28 months old.  After some time celebrating Thanksgiving here in California we will fly to the East and find a place to live nearby Paul’s father, John, who still lives alone and will turn 92 December 2^nd.  What will we do?  We hope to give ourselves a little time to adjust to things here.  We both turn 70 in December and this will mean that we are officially retired.

The new MCC Vietnam Representatives plan to recruit a new therapist volunteer for Duc Pho. However that will take some time so we have agreed to do a few hours weekly through March to provide OT Professional support remotely for the local staff technicians doing home therapy. And after that we shall see. Since we are continuing this Vietnam therapy involvement, we will continue to send occasional blog posts. Let us know if you want us to stop sending you email links.

We arrive at Dulles, DC November 28^th. We have reserved a Bed and Breakfast near Dad’s, in Landisville, PA for December.

We also plan to visit Virginia and Richmond, December 12^th – 16th to check in with some Dr’s, visit our storage unit and connect with our faith group, RMF.

To contact us try our new cell phones Paul (669) 249-8560, Esther (669) 249-8561. No changes to our land line – (804) 730-7459, and emails jpaul.bucher@gmail.com or esther@therapeuticsense.com. We look forward to continued connections and being able to have those physical chats and discussions about nothing and everything that we have missed so much.

Peace,

Esther and Paul

Click here to see additional blog photos

Click here to see additional blog photos

We now have less than three months before we start our new journey towards retirement. We are trying to record the memories in our hearts and minds of each day. We are making our last scheduled visits to accompany the staff for home therapy in homes.  Some children we have known since we arrived. After months of uncertainty we received approval mid July to restart home therapy for the families that were already in the program and compress the schedule so this program is completed before we leave. Esther is letting the staff take the lead on these visits. We have both been impressed with their growing skills in working with each child.

Last week we visited a family from near here featured in the VAVA national program in Hanoi that we attended in August 2017. Esther had bonded in Hanoi with the mother who was from a different district in our province. The VAVA chairman from Quang Ngai took us to her home where we met her 16 and 26 year old daughters who have very misshaped chests and backs and very weak arms. The memory is of the love expressed between the two girls and with their mother. These children are too far away from the center, almost two hours by car, and yet what they really would benefit from is home therapy but there are no such services. We are purchasing some locally available toys and activities to help them stimulate their minds and bodies.

This last week we also spent two nights in the city of Da Nang and got to meet a new OT from the US who is starting a therapy program near there with another NGO. It was great to see her youthful energy and be able to confer about different children’s needs and share ideas and experiences for locally available materials for setting up the therapy room.

The new MCC country representatives for Vietnam will arrive in August and after that decisions will be made on the other MCC programs here and on recruiting a replacement therapist. An interim MCC country representative for Vietnam along with another regional resource staff member visited us last month. We got to reflect on our experience here. This felt good and validated our observations that the need is great and good work has been happening. We suggested some changes in how MCC relates to placing staff here and operating the programs.

In May we had a good friend from Virginia visit and together we explored Sapa, an iconic terraced hill tribal area and Halong Bay with limestone islands featured in many tourism pictures. Renee King, our friend, also visited our town and extended her time in the town so she could soak in the culture and life here. Her photographs and stories of her days helped reopen our eyes to life right where we live.

We still have a few vacation days left and hope to visit Saigon and Can Tho where we used to live in the 70^’s during the war. We are also looking forward to a visit here by Chika, who was a Japanese high school student who lived with us for a year when Amy was in High School. Doreen, an OT friend from our Church and Esther’s work in Richmond will also visit us a few days. As often happens, folks are visiting just as we are preparing to leave!

Our life in the US upon return will include beginning of retirement and being available and close to our extended family in Lancaster, PA area. Paul’s dad, at 92 years of age, continues to live and thrive in his own home in Salunga, PA. We would be honored to have more time with his perspectives and wisdoms. We will plan to find a place to live nearby so as to maintain our own space. We will also take some time to visit and be with our children and grandson who live in the West. After about six months I believe we will be ready to look for some part-time and volunteer roles. We seek your thoughts and prayers for our transitions.

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Click here for a link to April Blog Photos

By the time you receive this we will have less than 6 months left on our three year term.  As we look forward we sometimes wonder what will continue once we leave – no staff are at the level they could carry on what is started on their own.  And so we are looking at providing some distance supervision once back in the US for a few months until a replacement can be found.

That said we have much to be grateful for.  We just completed the programs for the past budget year.  One of the activities was selecting for each child some toys, seats, tables, blackboards, etc. that they could have in their homes so the family and siblings could continue the therapeutic activities with the child, even when the therapist is not there.  For children who have no toys and whom families thought could not do anything, it is so rewarding to hear the squeals of laughter and smiles as they learn to do these fun new activities that will help them develop.

This year we had 13 new families in Duc Pho start home therapy. Each was different and challenging.  We were disappointed the next district north, Mo Duc, decided they could not arrange permissions for weekend visits and we needed to stop the program we had started there.

The end of March Paul was able to observe the selection and loading of 69 cows to be distributed to families in Duc Pho and Mo Duc. The families will pass on a female calf and then the cow will be theirs.

We enjoyed having some visitors in January and March.  The Treadway family who brought us to Duc Pho and helped us in our first few days here in January 2016, returned for a visit and also said farewell to Vietnam after almost 5 years here as MCC’s country reps.  Phuong Hang and her sister, Minh visited us for a day from Hoi An where they were visiting their extended family.  Hang was in the first MCC International exchange program in 1974 and ended being stuck in the US post the change in government, married another exchange student from Germany and has lived and worked and retired in the US.  It was so good to see her and introduce her to our lives here.  Denise, an OT Esther has worked with in the past visited.  She was able to observe sessions at the center and in homes, as well as spend some vacation time with us in Hoi An and Hue.  It was great for Esther to have another OT to share questions and ideas with.

In January, Earl and Pat Martin visited.  They used to work with MCC in Quang Ngai during the war and were married here 50 years ago. It was fun going along as they looked for the houses they used to live in and places they used to go to relax right around the city. We also accompanied them on visits to family homes of a woman who used to help them when their children were small.  As tourists, it seemed easier to visit homes than we often experience.  We miss having the ability to make friends with whom we can drop in and visit with in their homes without having a special reason and notification.

MCC led a “Legacies of the American War and Peacebuilding for the Future” Learning Tour of Vietnam for 7 North Americans in January. (See the multi-page digital power point like report: https://sway.com/2k5MQ4MIETWnTDxW).  They visited the center and homes of families. They heard stories about Agent Orange and how it still is affecting families. We seldom get to visit families and ask them about the war or Agent Orange with a translator as our visits usually are focused on therapy for a young child (often from 3^rd and 4^th generation who are not aware of their own family history during the war). By accompanying the learning tour on some of the visits we too heard these stories.   The Learning Tour visited My Lai Memorial and Museum, where 500 unarmed persons were killed by American Soldiers in a group of villages 50 years ago.  The learning tour group then went to Laos to learn about unexploded ordnance and how that is still affecting families from the secret war there.

The TET holiday is a time when families gather together for several days.  This year we met our Daughter, Amy and her husband, David and 20 month old Forester in Taipei for a week together. What fun!

The beginning of April we made a short trip to Chang Mai, Thailand to renew our visa.  While there we were able to meet our current MCC area representatives, other MCC workers and the visiting MCC Executive Director for Canada with his wife who is an OT! We also were able to have dinner with the new MCC Vietnam Representatives who will be arriving in August.  It felt good to be able to see a bit of the broader MCC program in the region.

Thanks for your thoughts and connections.

Click here for a link to April Blog Photos

Link to recent photos

Dear Family and Friends,

It is the beginning of December and middle of the rainy season. Water pours from the skies numerous times a day and the humidity is near 100%. Wearing freshly laundered clothing, although still damp, is better than smelly, soggy muddy clothing. Today an hour here and there of sunshine feels like a wondorous moment in life!!

I realize that we have not written since July!  Much too long! And I realize that much has occurred.

In August, as we had indicated, I spoke at the national VAVA conference in Hanoi. Serving and volunteering with MCC and VAVA is an honor.  I was one of 5 persons selected to share my story.  Most of the other persons were caregivers who have lived and supported disabled family members victimized by Agent Orange.  In that sense I felt quite honored and felt I was amidst a “holy crowd”.  The National VAVA organization had collected 108 stories of Caregivers from across the country to put in a book they published for the event.  At least 200 persons were part of the event and were hosted at a hotel/ guesthouse type facilty for a night.  For some, this was the first time they had been to Hanoi.  We were hosted and given a tour visit to the Ho Chi Minh Masouleum, the General Assembly building, and taken to a live traditional opera musical.  We were served special meals and treated as special folks.  And of course, with MCC and VAVA encouagement, I read my “speech”in Vietnamese.  At least I tried!!

While in Hanoi we enjoyed being part of the larger MCC exchange program and its process as we met and had a little time with the two Vietnamese IVEP’ers who were going to North America for one year of service and volunteer work with church programs there.

Back here in Duc Pho, one of the most important changes for our daily work has been that we now have had a full time translator to help with teaching and explaining things each day!! We were ready to give up, however, one day in mid- September a young man showed up in response to our job search via VAVA Quang Ngai.  He jumped right in and began to assist with translation. His name is Hoang. He is young, quiet, and rather shy. What a great help!  I feel that I can at least have someone to explain and follow-up in so many scenarios.  On weekends he accompanies us and we are able to bridge the language challenge with families.  This does not mean we do not use Vietnamese however it means less stress in explaining some details related to therapy and disabilities. And we can get help making phone calls and clarifying schedules, one of the more difficult things to do in foreign language.

The budget year and rehab program we have been involved with here in Duc Pho began on the ground in September instead of April, however all works for the “good”. This means we have been continuing and expanding a home therapy training program with trainees to assess individual needs of persons with disability.  After completing an extensive assessment in the home, they consult and confer with me, the therapist, to plan therapy activities they can do in the home.  Paul and I get to accompany them on some of the visits to demonstrate and model therapy and activities in the home.  After 10 months and 10 visits the family will hopefuly have some idea of what they can do for the better functional skills of their disabled.

 

With the 37 families who began last year we are now seeing some exciting changes in attitude and hope.  It begins of course with the trainees.  One woman who I have been working with said, “I see that you use very simple and small things and ideas to make a therapeutic activity so that it is easy to use and do.  Anyone could use this but it makes a big difference in the function of the person’s skill or ability.”  Like sitting straddled on a bench so that one’s arms must cross the middle of the body to pick up a cup or a block and place it on top of another on the opposite side.  This crossing of the middle of the body activates nerves and muscles and stimulates the eye muscles and the brain.  This does not have to be understood or explained however, believing and seeing the change in the ability of the person to balance, use both sides of the body, and move about more smoothly after doing this activity for 30 minutes, is what matters.

Are these people Agent Orange victims?  Sometimes maybe, but, they are identified as disabled and needing some rehab by the commune leaders and the VAVA representatives.  For me, the important part is that the families and disabled persons have a chance to feel some hope and progress in their daily living and occupational skills. It is quite different from a “charity only” program and so often the understanding is limited.  No test exists for children to link disabilities to Agent Orange. There is no national Vietnamese or American program to support aid to victims in the third and fourth generation. (We learned some local governments are assisting some third generation victims). When we ask for stories from some of the parents, they say they were children or not born during the war and do not have the stories from the older generation about possible exposure to Agent Orange.  I, Paul, just checked the spray maps and found that when I was living in Can Tho in the early 70’s, the area close to Can Tho was sprayed very heavily – on the map it appeared more heavy than Quang Ngai, and I drank water from the canal. I did have early prostate cancer, one of the recognized Agent Orange diseases. The other Mennonite volunteer living in Can Tho also had early prostate cancer and also now has Parkinson’s disease.  Was it caused by this?  How could my children know this, if I did not know it and I was a specialist on maps?

In the past few months our travel and time apart has included a three day weekend to the mountains of Kontum where we hired a tour guide to show us some of the tribal villages and life.  Paul then decided to return for an actual foot trek over more rugged terrain with a guide.  He shared some of these highlights in a Facebook post, “The two day trek near Kon Tum to visit remote fields and houses on stilts made of wood and rattan was very rejuvenating. It brought back memories of living in the jungles of Borneo in the late 70’s. It also helped give me some insights into how I can use my role of supporting Esther’s therapy work to experience my own interests in understanding how the economy works for those who have experienced the stresses of a family member with disability. It was a hard trek, some of it through old forests and up steep mountain hunting trails. I had visions of needing to go barefoot like the 72 year old local guide when the soles of my hiking boots fell off an hour into the trek. Fortunately I was able to tie the soles back on with string.”).

Taking a few days apart to do our separate interests was refreshing.  I, Esther, went my way to a women’s retreat called REST in the Ninh Binh Province.  A good time of being and also meeting some other English speaking women.  October included a week vacation to the mountainous area of DaLat.  In 1970 we had visited this town for our first Anniversary celebration.  Much has changed with development and expansion of vegetables and flower garden industries.  Everywhere one looks the hillsides are covered with greenhouses.  The elevation means very pleasant temperatures and beautiful blue crisp skies.  From there we took time to visit the big bustling city of Ho Chi Minh.  We explored some of the tourist sites like the old PO, the cathedral, the old palace, and the War Remnants Museum.  We also visited Pastor Trung and his wife, Bich, who we knew from the 1970’s and visited one of the Vietnamese Mennonite Church worship services.

We have been invited to join the MCC team for meetings and celebrations for Christmas in Hanoi so we decided to take some of our vacation days and celebrate there as we did at the end of last year.  In another 10 months we will heading back to life in the US.  Details beyond retirement and being closer to family and friends to be decided.  May each of you be blessed with joy and peace and warmth of knowing the hope and love of this season.

We love your letters, notes, responses, and even phone calls to our local phone which rings here in Duc Pho, Central Vietnam!! (804) 730-7459!! Please do give us a call!! Or call on Facebook messenger if you feel better doing that. These days the access to WiFi etc. is pretty amazing.!!

Link to recent photos