In 1993, I was sent to this site, a parish which was lacking of Catholic priest for thirteen years due to the shortage of priests after the reunification of the country, though Thu Thua is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese with its 112 years of settlement.

Why is the living standard of the people of Thu Thua still low? Why do they still have so many needs? I do not intend to say that they are lazy, they are deficient in the experience of farming. In fact the people here have lots of experience of farming, and lots of ways to develop family economics... but they lack capital, conditions and a suitable situation.

The people of Thu Thua (The second hamlet) have never had the capital, or a lucky chance. Before 1975, the majority of people have worked at farming, which is a traditional way, to earn their living. They have been tied up to their village, which is on the bank of a branch of the Vam Co Tay River. There is flood in the rainy season and alum water in sunny season, so their living is completely depending upon nature. In fact they live upon God's mercy.

The living conditions are not satisfactory. They depend on the ferryboats to make their living. Though there is an old bridge, which was built more than forty years ago, the residents are afraid of walking on it and besides it is rather far.Roads are the main factor for development, but for about six months (or even ten months) of the rainy season the roads are muddy and slippery preventing children from going to school and the women from doing business. Drinking water is a serious issue to us, because we have to elbow with others out in a crowd in order to be able to buy it from the water-carrying boats that come from Dong Nai province. As for water for other activities we get it from the river.

With the above-mentioned factors, how can they improve their living standard? Indeed, I, myself always wonder why there are many groups coming to this land. They are living on friendly terms, protecting and helping one another and struggling against nature to better their lives. Before 1975, this land was a battlefield. During the thirty years of war, hundreds of families had to leave their native villages to escape lethal weapons. They left with their bare hands and did not know when they could come back. And then, after 1975, they came back the same as when they left.

Although living standards have been improved for the last twenty-five years, it is still very low. I hope our lives will be better due to the arrival of the fresh water project between Japan and Vietnam. During the last two years the living standard has been stable. Now the people do not have to stay up late or get up early, as they used to, in order to have fresh water. A better life is waiting in the future for my fellow-countrymen and, along with Japa Vietnam we are getting a program of a new well-equipped school and better roads as we enter the new millennium.