By Armando Cervantes

Imagine you find yourself in a culture you are unfamiliar with, without any recognizable customs or words, yet something mysteriously unites everyone. In the summer of 2008 I embarked on such a journey with 28 young people from the Diocese of Orange, California, where we experienced learning, caring, and living with people from a completely different culture and language. I have been blessed with traveling to many places, which have always taught me a little more about my faith. This trip was no exception. Despite our differences, I returned from Vietnam with memories that will last a lifetime.

With God as our guide and with the support from some diocesan offices, particularly Bishop Dominic Luong and Sister Catherine Nguyen, we were able to embark on a missionary trip to Vietnam. There we learned that we are all called to live together, not only with those who are familiar to us but with everyone.

At the beginning of the trip some of my companions complained about the food, the weather, and the language they could not understand. But as the days went by, their attitudes began to change. What started out as a complaint became admiration for people who love God just as much as we do. A people who smile, have fun, and want more out of life … just like us. Sure we had some differences, but we also shared many things in common. Yet, it was the differences that filled our journey with great beauty.

The largest community of Catholic Vietnamese, outside of Vietnam, resides in our Diocese of Orange. They have much to offer, but sometimes in our society we can be blind and reject the gifts of people from other cultures, which can lead to isolation by refusing to learn or getting to know those who live in our community.

We are all the children of God. Let this be an invitation not just to learn, but to love and live with our brothers and sisters. I am grateful to Vietnam for reminding and teaching me how simple and beautiful our faith is and how important it is to share it.