The fun just didn’t stop this year. On Wednesday, the dogs barked, and I looked out to the driveway. There was a young woman approaching the door. We get a lot of visitors, fans from the magazines, people who’ve seen us on PBS, seed customers, and just folks who’ve heard about us from others and decide to come see what we’re about. I met her at the door, a beautiful young woman who looked a little Vietnamese. I said hi and she told me I had sponsored her family, years ago.
You could have knocked me down with a feather! Yes, I had sponsored a Vietnamese family of “boat people,” way back in the late ’70’s. Nine people in all. Mom, Dad, and seven children, from a toddler girl to a pre-teen boy. We had bought 80 acres across the road from our farm with a small, older house on it and it was sitting empty. It wasn’t much; it had electricity and a dug well but no indoor plumbing. I figured it was better than a Thai refugee camp! Churches and individuals did step forward to sponsor families, but none seemed interested in nine people. Long story short, the Nguyen family arrived at the Duluth, Minnesota airport one winter evening. They instantly became family. No, I didn’t speak Vietnamese, and they didn’t speak English, but we managed to communicate. Two of the boys were my oldest son, Bill’s, age, one a year younger and the other a year older. They immediately hit it off.
The mom, Xuyen, became my sister and their oldest daughter, Yen, became our adopted daughter from India, Munni’s friend. All studied English as a second language with Mrs. Stebbins, a wonderful teacher who came to their home, as well as teaching the kids at school. We were a huge family!
They eventually moved to Chicago, then to California. I managed to visit them in California once then we sort of lost contact. A few years ago, the “baby” girl, Xua, now grown to womanhood, emailed me, having found information about me online. But imagine my shock and surprise to see Alexis, one of the grandchildren, at our doorstep!
We visited and visited, enjoying every minute, catching up and reliving old memories of the whole family. I was so excited I could hardly sleep that night. Alexis is living and working in the Twin Cities and promised to come for many visits. How exciting! — Jackie
My story involves my BBF who immigrated from Palestine to my hometown in NE Ohio. I’m born, raised and still living in my childhood home, her mother and father live far away. Our friendship has grown over time. I help with her children if they need rides to/ from sports practice and attend school and family events like an adopted mom/grandma! Recently her brother his pregnant wife and 4 year old daughter moved here due to the conditions in their home country. We have a language barrier, but I’m helping with rides to OB appointments. My husband is on the look for a cheap vehicle. Oh, I forgot to mention my friend loves to cook traditional foods and I enjoy eating them!
What a beautiful story!
What a precious legacy! This brought tears to my eyes Jackie. Bless you for your faithfulness during a time when you were needed.
I’m so thrilled to have been lucky enough to have been a part of their lives and that they still remember me.
Oh my word, you are so generous and giving. I LOVE THIS!!! My husband and I help many people in different ways. We currently have a homeless man living in our camper. He’s thrilled to have a roof over his head, and we are friends and I act as his medical POA and caregiver. People praise us, Jackie, but they could all be doing the same thing to give someone a good leg up so they can move on to the next stage in their lives. Our fellow is illiterate but still goes to church with us. We enjoy being helpful, as I know you do, too! May God continue to bless you for your big and generous hearts!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I sure wish everyone who had the opportunity to help someone would do so. It’s so easy and makes a huge difference. Being illiterate doesn’t keep a person from worshipping God. I had to laugh. When the Nguyens were with us, they were Buddhists. We sat in our Lutheran church with my Catholic son-in-law and adopted daughter, Munni, who came to us Hindi. Even though language and religion wasn’t the same, here we all sat, together, worshipping God together. I think that’s they way it’s supposed to be.
Thank You, God, for Jackie and all of Your servants
Awww, so sweet, although I don’t deserve it.
I always believed you are an angel unaware. This story proved me right. I truly love you for your heartfelt love of mankind.
I just wish there was more love and compassion for others in the world today. Wouldn’t it be nice?
Oh my! What a blessing you received in that reconnection! And what a blessing you are for all you do to live the way God wants us to!
Thank you to Will and your late husband Bob for their service.
I can’t tell you how happy that day made me. I could barely sleep that night! Both Bob and Will signed up when they were still seniors in high school and ended up with PTSD, untreated for decades afterward. So sad.
The Snow Was Blue: A Child’s Memory of Kindness
Reading Jackie’s blog brought back a wave of emotions—some memories were distant, some were vivid, and some were passed down by our late mother, Xuyen, who passed away in 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Yes, I am one of the children she and her family welcomed with open arms so many years ago, during a time when our lives were uncertain and uprooted.
I was just 4 or 5 years old when we arrived in Minnesota. I don’t remember much about the journey that brought us there—not the boat, the fear, the attacks from Thai pirates that my parents later spoke of, or the time we spent in a refugee camp in Malaysia. Perhaps that is a blessing. What I do remember is the surreal beauty of something I believed was “blue snow.” Maybe it was the reflection of twilight, or simply the wonder of seeing snow for the first time, but to me, it felt like we had arrived in a peaceful, magical place.
Jackie, your generosity changed the course of our lives. You didn’t just offer us shelter. You offered us dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. You embraced us without hesitation, even though people who didn’t speak your language and came from a world so different from yours. You made space for us in your home and in your heart.
Though time and distance eventually pulled us apart, we never forgot you. You are woven into our family’s story.
On behalf of my parents, siblings, and now our children and grandchildren, you will always be a part of our family. Thank you, Jackie. Your kindness didn’t just help us survive. It helped us thrive.
Trent Nguyen
what a great story…it made me smile!
Hey, I thought my face would crack as I couldn’t stop smiling for days!!
I spoke with her on the driveway when we were leaving. I told her you would be thrilled to meet her. She seemed very nice!
I can’t believe she was brave enough to find us way back in the woods, all by herself!! She is truly a lovely woman.
What a wonderful story! I’m still smiling 😊
Me too!
WOW! And at least you had an empty house for them to stay in. What a surprise for you.
Yes, we were lucky that we could provide housing and help for such a wonderful family. I still can’t get over having Alexis visit and introduce herself, after all these years.
What a fabulous story. It really made my day. You were such a blessing to those people. What a gift😊
WOW! Just WOW!
That was our response for sure! I’m still saying Wow!! to myself.
Your servants heart continues to bless me as you have blessed others. Angels unaware-wouldn’t life be great if we all looked at people as you have?
I sure wish everyone would forget all the hate and divisiveness and just help out each other, regardless of who they are.
What a wonderful story! Happy birthday Jackie!
Thanks Wendy!!
What a great story of thoughtfulness and compassion. You have made a major impact in their lives. Loving is caring and then doing. I am in awe of your “gift”.
I always wish I could do more, other than donate seeds and time.
The seeds, the time, the food, the laughter…….they planted more than just roots in the soil. They planted hope.
You are reaping the rewards for being a person who respects and cares about others. A great role model in these times. Thank you.
I really do care about others, such as innocent people in Ukraine, Gaza, Africa, South America and this country too. I pray for them every night and wish I could do something more than we do.
How great was this!
I can’t tell you how much it affected me. So very wonderful!!
Jackie, my respect for you grows again! What a splendid thing to do! I remember those days…. Those people had such immense courage! What a gift, to have that story continued in this way at this time!
How uplifting is this story! The way things should be today, not xenophobic. We have friends who helped the US during the Vietnam War – their plight to this country is still not pretty. However we will do what is needed to ensure they and their families are safe and secure.
Your act of kindness did not go unnoticed. And is recognized 45+ years later. Please enjoy the multi-generational connection.
I am totally enjoying our renewed connection! They came from a very rough situation, even getting to the refugee camps (overloaded boats, boarding by pirates, etc.) and I’m so very happy everything turned out well for them here and they’re doing so well. Both my late husband, Bob, and Will are Marine Corps Vietnam veterans.
Happy Belated Birthday, Jackie!
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for my family. We truly wouldn’t be where we are today without the kindness and support of you and your family.
I’d love to visit sometime and hear more stories about my parents’ younger days. Families like yours make the world a better place, and I’m so grateful for you.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Trai H Nguyen youngest Nguyen
Jackie, you’re the best! We need many more people like you! Way to make a huge difference!
Ed and Rita
I just figure God gives us only so many years to our lives and we need to make them matter. If everyone helped someone, wouldn’t this be such a wonderful world? I’m deeply hurt by all the hate and violence prevalent in our country today…and elsewhere.
I so love your words and thoughts on this. What a Wonderful story. Family helping families from a country who is no longer a home for them. What a Blessing they are to this country.. just can’t imagine what they must have gone through to arrive All safe. Bless you for sharing your home and property.
Yes, they are such a blessing to our country! It would have been nicer if folks would have realized this when they came. Back then, they were looked on by many just like illegal immigrants are now. Nasty stories about violence and their danger to communities, etc. Just like many Vietnam vets, like my late husband, Bob, were spit on when they arrived home. Very sad times, just like now.
All of my Vietnamese family worked very hard from the time they arrived, and all have good jobs and a wonderful outlook on life.
Jackie, You are such a loving, giving person. What a wonderful surprise. Hopefully, many more visits with Alexis. God bless you and your family.
God continues to bless us every single day and we’re so grateful. I’m looking forward to lots more visits and hope to be able to get to California to visit in person with my Vietnamese family again.