We have found the perfect boat.  It is big enough to fit my wife, Quy, myself, and our three children: Thuc, Quynh, and Phuc.  We have packed just enough to sustain us; we pray the boat doesn't sink ...

We are excited, yet fearful: we don't know if we will make the long, treacherous journey, but anything is better than risk getting shot at or found by the enemy ... our country is embittered in war, and right now, everything is in a chaotic state.  Planes drone overhead at a constant pace, and we hear the distant thunder/rumble of bombs or gunfire; it just isn't safe for us to remain.

We have no other choice but to go elsewhere.  Our lives are at stake.

We plan on leaving in just a few minutes.  We are at the river's edge; we just said prayers to Buddha, asking for him to keep us safe.  We are all quiet, terrified.  We don't know where we will end up, and we pray that someone can help us.  We'd like to go to the United States to start our new lives, but we could very well end up in Australia or Europe somewhere.  That's okay, too.  Just as long as we're away from the war, that's all that matters.

Please pray for our little family as we start our journey.  It will be long and very dangerous, but we are willing to do this in the name of our safety and peace of mind.

To be continued.