============================================================== To reach ALL SJD members, please send to sjd@satjadham.net ... Do NOT include any other addresses when sending to the list... Include as LITTLE of the original messages as possible........ Message sent by: "Toon S.Phapphayboun" *** Announcement: *** Please register for SatJaDham Fifth Annual conference at the website http://www.satjadham.org/sjd5sd/ ============================================================== All, This is the last of series of our reposting from our archives for the emptied seats of April 17, 18, and 19. We are representing some of the pieces that highlight the creavitiy, the talents, and the uniqueness of our group. Unless there are signees for the rest of the emptied slots for our bash this month, we shall reach in our treasure bag and bring you more gems to treasure for those days as well. For those who do not know Sonny, he was another instrumental person during SJD1 Fresno. Those who were there, I'm sure, still remember camping out in his parents' backyard. Though he's no longer with us, he is getting his share of SJDism from his brother Adisack and his most favorite cousin in the whole wide word, me ;o)! Enjoy, Toon Publication Core __________________________________ In his own words, Sonny Nhouyvanisvong preluded: Sabaidee Everyone, My journey home in the Summer of 1994 affected me immensely. The tastes and smells, and the sights and sounds of Vientiane life still linger in my mind. I saw the affluent and the abject poor. My heart belongs to those that struggle each and everyday. They have endured so much for so long. True, theirs is a simple life, devoid of many complications that we face in our respective countries. But it is not a life without much sweat and tear. As we struggle in our third country, we must also appreciate the strength and stamina of our people back home. This poem, I am sure, reflects many of your hopes and dreams as well. This is dedicated to the people of Laos. It is to simply say that we still care. Restoration We walked together into the blooming rice field. We walked together into the gushing river. We walked together into the dawning sky. I ran away from the burning rice field. I ran away from the bloodying river. I ran away from the foreboding sky. I felt agony in my desolate heart. I felt misery in my woeful body. I felt lost in my hollow soul. I return to a blackened field. I return to a poisoned river. I return to a darkened sky. I see your hunger through the empty field. I see your thirst through the mucky river. I see your fear through the stormy sky. I put a seed in the blackened field. I put a drop in the poisoned river. I put a ray in the darkened sky. Others join to nurture the field. Others join to nourish the river. Others join to brighten the sky. You wipe the sweat off of my haggard brow. You wipe the blood off of my battered hands. You wipe the tears off of my weathered face. We walk together into the blooming rice field. We walk together into the gushing river. We walk together into the dawning sky. _____________________________________________________________ Check out our community at... http://community.lao.net and access the world's best search engines instantly at... http://search.lao.net _ ***************************************************************** Visit SatJaDham Homepage at: http://www.satjadham.org (or .net) *****************************************************************