Part 2: We Found a Pagoda

 Not being young missionaries--and not being "fluent" in our language--our opportunities to engage with people are limited. So we decided we should walk to a park and be visible to anyone who was around. We enjoy walking down the narrow alleys, always being alert for scooters and bikes and even small cars that may come around any corner any time.


As we walked down one street, Allen saw a door open and what looked like a temple on the other side. Well, we love temples, so...



More dragons, Sadie!!

As we were walking around this very quiet and almost uninhabited place, a venerable looking old-ish monk came out and was helped down the steps toward us. Wondering if we had done something wrong,  we waited as his assistant motioned for us to come forward. It turned out that this gentleman was Thich Dao Thong, and his assistant told us he was the Vice President of the Buddha Sangha of Vietnam. Well, it sounded very impressive and we were very intimidated as the young man told us that Thich Dao Thong, who was usually very busy meeting with dignitaries, had a free afternoon on his calendar and wanted to show us some Vietnamese hospitality. We were invited into the "living room" of the Pagoda and offered some refreshments. I would have taken pictures but I was afraid it might not be polite. The assistant offered us "special tea" of Vietnam, and I carefully explained that we don't drink tea. Then he said "but this is special tea of Vietnam." I again apologetically explained that we don't drink tea. And then Allen leaned forward and said, "He's saying this is a specialty of Vietnam." Oops. My bad. haha
We were given a cup with a very sweet custardy treat in it, and then some "specialty" drink made with flowers and leaves, but NOT tea! 
Before we left I got brave and asked if we might take a photo of the amazing room we were in, and the assistant graciously took our picture with Thich Dao Thong. 


We left with a gift bag of a huge dragon fruit, 2 apples, a package of grapes, and another specialty treat of Vietnam that they have during their big holidays. And he reiterated that he wanted us to see the hospitality of the Vietnamese people. We were absolutely blown away.
And then we got pictures with his 3 assistants, and they took pictures of us in the courtyard.
The assistant who helped us the most was Quang Thien, who quickly set us straight about the difference between a temple and a pagoda, which this was. A Pagoda is for the worship of Buddha, and is the place Buddhists go to worship, while a temple is for the worship of people who have lived at some point, and have passed on and have a temple in their honor.
And there you have it! 

It turns out this placard says that during the war with the French from 1944-49, Buddhist altars were sometimes used to hide documents, and the pagoda gardens had secret tunnels to hide the Vietnamese guerrillas fighting the war.



Interesting place, Vietnam...









































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