Chapter 1 - WELCOME IN AMERICA

Quaker meeting every Sunday. We meditated. We prayed for the innocent Cambodians. We pondered the horror of the slaughter. Then we talked and meditated again. And I would start to squirm in the pew. I wasn't good at this part of being churchy. Not good at sitting quietly and praying. I liked outreach, soup kitchen, marches, visiting the elderly, protests, and civil rights. I needed to do something! Meetings were basically silent. We prayed and waited to be inspired. Then, on occasion, someone would feel so inspired they would rise, stand and share with the meeting. Many meetings passed in complete silence, no one feels moved enough to speak. I had never stood to speak and had attended for over three years.

All of a sudden, I felt myself rising up as if something pulled me to my feet! I was so surprised, and so was the rest of the meeting! I felt their eyes on me and wished I had dressed more in the acceptable "plain clothes" as our faith encouraged. No, I had on a clingy amethyst silk blouse with a high-neck ruffle, an oh-so-tight little pencil skirt with a flirty kick pleat, and shiny Italian spikes. I saw Carol grin. I heard my husband gasp with surprise, his face in utter shock. And I felt those eyes judging me. I gulped and began to speak. "I can't meditate any longer, and I can't go home and feel ok. I can't turn on my TV and see the murder anymore and pretend to pray and sitting here safe is enough. If people do not step up, 40,000 people stuck on that border are going to be slaughtered. I can at least volunteer at my home, and help one. I hope some of you will help me with my sponsorship." I sat down shaking, but determined.

I was amazed but happy, my meeting decided unanimously to sponsor me. At first, we had thought of one person, but then decided with the rest of the congregation, a young couple would be better and sent in our application.

I got my first phone call from Loretta, from the office in Richmond. We started to get to know each other, and the situation. She sized me up pretty quickly, she had a knack for that. She explained how the children were the most vulnerable, and it was a shame we didn't have enough room for any children, Loretta had her ways. And she was fishing. I took the bait, and before I knew what happened, I changed my two persons to four. And Loretta knew she had me. I made a quick phone call to my husband, who was in Houston, to let him know, but he was preoccupied and just said, "Fine, if you want that and can handle it. Do what you want." Besides he spent most of his time away, on projects,

Things on the Thai border were worsening and were going much faster than anticipated. I got another call from Loretta. She emphasized how bad the situation was. How urgent. How, if we said no, they might just die. I said yes to six and wondered what my husband would do, let alone the meeting. She kept calling.

So while my husband was on another business trip, and the meeting was busy praying, I volunteered for 11 Cambodian refugees. With only three days’ notice, a small group of Quakers rallied and delivered mattresses, food, and clothes, and I started to arrange as best as I could.

"I guess it will just be ' Surprise, dear!' when my husband gets home," I said to Carol.

"Uhoh! how will that go over?"

I just shrugged, and we carried another mattress downstairs.

" Carol, can you drive, I am going to need two cars to pick them up, and mine isn't big enough-- Bert will drive his van, and if you bring yours?"

" Sure! I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

At Richmond Airport, Bert, Carol, and I counted for the third time. " Yep, thirteen. Not eleven. Hmmmm.", I thought, "Loretta!"

“We won't have a translator until Saturday, so I hope this young fellow understands more than it seems... This paper says you speak English?"

"OK! Speaking good English, me!" he said smiling.

I took a deep breath and looked over all the faces, some puffy, tired, some sad, dazed, confused, frightened, worried hopeful faces. "Welcome to America!"