Vietnam

[minhthanh]

Jan 12, 2014 9:54:54 GMT -5 CherieKropp said:

Jan 12, 2014 8:19:53 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

The same as you just one day (Sunday) with 2 meetings. Start in Ha Noi... back to the South... then finaline in Saigon at the end of this month.

Thank you for the new photo you just post... Some cause my missing, some cause my feeling afraid with what they had been doing. I know almost of them.

I happy that my three local workers I appreciate the best weren’t present in the picture…

MT:  I believe there are Sp. Mtgs twice a year in VN.  When are the other Sp Mtgs held.
And are they held in the same places as the ones held in January?
When you refer to "local" workers - do you mean "native Vietnamese" workers? 
"Local" workers in America would be those assigned to the fields in which the Friend lives.
Thanks for the clarification.

Another special meeting at the midle  of the year (very often in July).
Yes, there are Vietnamese workers (Uncle Châu, uncle Hoa, and miss Mai Hoa. They are older than the rest).

[sharingtheriches]

Jan 11, 2014 22:47:02 GMT -5 CherieKropp said:

Notice neither Chau or Hoa are on this photo of South East Asia 2013.
 
View Attachment

In case you are not familiar with the usage of first names only (English names) on the Workers Convention photos, they are used to protect the native workers. With that in mind, it would appear that there is one native brother (Tim) and eight sisters (Trudy, Ruby, Tracy, Valarie, Annie, Shawna, Lyrie). These "new native" sisters are given a name by the foreigners that is easier to pronounce and remember. The name is often given by the worker they profess or made contact through.

I feel that workers giving people different names is more about control then the workers learning to accommodate the culture of their converts. I feel that the natives should rebel at having their birth names butchered! I feel that IF and when we need a name change esp. in religious dealings that will come in heaven where it says that a name will be given the faithful that only the one named and the Lord knows that name....I think this will be revealed in the New heaven and new earth....it is the name they will bear in the regeneration....JMOl Seems to me the workers are being a mite lazy in not taking the care to remember and learn to pronounce their converts' names...this is part of being a "servant" but of course, seems more and more workers are losing their "servant" calling and are turning into "little beasties" that the Pope was so concerned about in his religion! Soon, are we to be covered over with these little beasties from every religion? That would be horrible....but then the Lord has warned us that the tribulation would be severe and the saints' time will be shortened in the tribulation but still the saints will have to bear up to some of that tribulation...JMO

[sharingtheriches]

Jan 12, 2014 9:27:46 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

Jan 10, 2014 21:52:26 GMT -5 lazarus66 said:

Welcome to all that post that are from VN. I think if you keep fighting the good fight with a good spirit, you will also have more power as there is also truth behind your efforts.
Keep the love for Chau and all that suffer as he does. He seems to be a man of God.

Here is a worker of God... working under the leading of The Sprit of God.
I am worried when he on his way alone. But He said very confirm "I can see clearly God's has been being with us, arranging and blessing  us. Never mind God will take care of me".
Truly, not only our Lord in the heaven watch for him, we also phone him very often.
Knowing that he had travel more than 2000Km, visitting friends in 11 places, and there are 3 souls professed.
With his hard working within 3 months we have had 6 new friends

Seems to me, that IF the foreign workers were actually into gaining converts in VN, they'd be ecstatic for workers like Uncle Chau who works so well going into all areas seeking the thirsty lost souls! And I can say I know of that time when the workers here in the United States would glory in those native workers in foreign countries that spent their very best speaking the gospel to their country men! But somewhere along the way during my life span, the workers in the more developed countries have lost sight of what a worker is for....there are few of them who seek to preach the gospel of Christ to "strangers" here in the US....I feel that they've gotten too high tech to be able to bend that low to touch a thirsty lost soul...much less recognize one when they see one! May Uncle Chau and any other native worker there in VN keep their eyes on Jesus and their hearts full of love for their fellows in VN so that they might reach out to the lost soul here and there that would be crying out to the Lord!

This situation just reminds me over and over of what Jesus told Peter in the last chapter of JOhn's gospel....Peter got kind of nosy and wanted to know the predictions for John, the Apostle and Jesus told Peter that it wasn't really Peter's concern that IF Jesus wanted John to remain on the earth alive until Jesus returned, then Peter shouldn't be concerned over that, but Peter should "follow thou ME" and "follow Me." Said our Lord to Peter! When the workers get to where they have to follow another man instead of Jesus then this is when deep troubles come and people divided...I read where Paul mentioned the divisions within the saints and that those divisions had to be so that the chosen would be evident! Pushing the weak out of their midst. Now here I'm not saying those who've been pushed outside of the golden days friends are NOT following Jesus, but strongly suspect those who've been pushed out of the 2x2 fellowship ARE THE ONES who are following Jesus...May you continue to do that! My prayers are going your way every day!

[CherieKropp]

MT wrote: Another special meeting at the midle of the year (very often in July).
Yes, there are Vietnamese workers (Uncle Châu, uncle Hoa, and miss Mai Hoa. They are older than the rest).

About how old was Miss Mai Hoa when they put her out of the work?

A lovely sister native worker, Miss Mai Hoa, met with a lot of trouble with her companions and she has been very afraid. Miss M. H. is the oldest Vietnamese sister worker now. She still respects our two native workers as before, and never has there been a word of criticism come from her mouth. We all still love and respect her as ever. But she very afraid to meet us--even by accident, or to take our phone calls when her companion is there beside her!

One time she and her younger companion disagreed together. The younger Worker reported the matter to Darrel at my relative house. She thought that the landlord couldn't understand her; however, the daughter in that family heard and understood all the details.

We were very disappointed when Miss M.H had to leave the work after that. After 2 years they restored her to the work and now she is under the control of her younger companion, the same as uncle Châu is.

Minh Thanh - please check your private messages.

[minhthanh]

Jan 12, 2014 10:40:10 GMT -5 sharingtheriches said:

Jan 11, 2014 22:47:02 GMT -5 CherieKropp said:

Notice neither Chau or Hoa are on this photo of South East Asia 2013.
 


In case you are not familiar with the usage of first names only (English names) on the Workers Convention photos, they are used to protect the native workers. With that in mind, it would appear that there is one native brother (Tim) and eight sisters (Trudy, Ruby, Tracy, Valarie, Annie, Shawna, Lyrie). These "new native" sisters are given a name by the foreigners that is easier to pronounce and remember. The name is often given by the worker they profess or made contact through.

I feel that workers giving people different names is more about control then the workers learning to accommodate the culture of their converts. I feel that the natives should rebel at having their birth names butchered! I feel that IF and when we need a name change esp. in religious dealings that will come in heaven where it says that a name will be given the faithful that only the one named and the Lord knows that name....I think this will be revealed in the New heaven and new earth....it is the name they will bear in the regeneration....JMOl Seems to me the workers are being a mite lazy in not taking the care to remember and learn to pronounce their converts' names...this is part of being a "servant" but of course, seems more and more workers are losing their "servant" calling and are turning into "little beasties" that the Pope was so concerned about in his religion! Soon, are we to be covered over with these little beasties from every religion? That would be horrible....but then the Lord has warned us that the tribulation would be severe and the saints' time will be shortened in the tribulation but still the saints will have to bear up to some of that tribulation...JMO

I do agree that the Vietnamese workers should be called by the name their parents had given them. Having only one name.
Very funny that some Vietnamese friends went to the Singapore convention asked me. Who was these workers (Tim, Trudy, Ruby, Tracy, Valarie, Annie, Shawna, Lyrie) , and where is our native workers in the list.
My older sister although being with them very often, but she couldn't match their new name with Vietname name.
I know for sure, none of Vietnamese friends in the countryside know who are these workers !!! (Tim, Trudy, Ruby, Tracy, Valarie, Annie, Shawna, Lyrie). It's a shame for them and for their parents too.

[CherieKropp]

Minh Thanh: 

Would Tim be Cường?
 
Do you know where the picture of SE Asia was taken...Singapore or Ft. Dickson?

Any ideas as to why they didnt give the particular conv. name with the photo?

[CherieKropp]

MT:  So very sorry!  I should have been more careful copying her name.
My sincere regrets.  It was not my intention to be disrespectful.

I have changed it...you might want to delete the quote of my post from your post.

[minhthanh]

Jan 12, 2014 12:17:03 GMT -5 CherieKropp said:

Minh Thanh: 

Would Tim be Cường?
 
Do you know where the picture of SE Asia was taken...Singapore or Ft. Dickson?

Any ideas as to why they didnt give the particular conv. name with the photo?

Yes Tim is Cường.
The picture maybe taken at Port Dickson. My father said "Uncle Lyle still in VN while the others went to Singapore". But I saw him in the picture...
I had no idea why they didnt give the particular conv. name with the photo? 

[CherieKropp]

Jan 12, 2014 12:45:26 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

Jan 12, 2014 12:17:03 GMT -5 CherieKropp said:

Minh Thanh: 

Would Tim be Cường?
 
Do you know where the picture of SE Asia was taken...Singapore or Ft. Dickson?

Any ideas as to why they didnt give the particular conv. name with the photo?

Yes Tim is Cường.
The picture maybe taken at Port Dickson. My father said "Uncle Lyle still in VN while the others went to Singapore". But I saw him in the picture...
I had no idea why they didnt give the particular conv. name with the photo? 

Was Tim/ Cuong the only native brother Worker in the work in VN (besides Hoa and Chau)?

How many brother and sister workers are there in the work in VN?

[fixit]

A lovely sister native worker, Miss Mai Hoa, met with a lot of trouble with her companions and she has been very afraid. Miss M. H. is the oldest Vietnamese sister worker now. She still respects our two native workers as before, and never has there been a word of criticism come from her mouth. We all still love and respect her as ever. But she very afraid to meet us--even by accident, or to take our phone calls when her companion is there beside her!

One time she and her younger companion disagreed together. The younger Worker reported the matter to Darrel at my relative house. She thought that the landlord couldn't understand her; however, the daughter in that family heard and understood all the details.

We were very disappointed when Miss M.H had to leave the work after that. After 2 years they restored her to the work and now she is under the control of her younger companion, the same as uncle Châu is.

Two words stand out here:

Afraid and Control

It seems that a successful Christian fellowship of love has been infiltrated and taken over by foreign "teachers", and its been replaced by a culture of fear and control.

[minhthanh]

Three brothers (Uncle Châu, uncle Hoa and Cường) and about four brother foreigner workers.
Ten Vietnamese sisters (Miss Mai Hoa, Nhung, Ân, Vân, Hải, Tân, An, Quỳnh Anh (new), Sáu, Công.) and about five sister foreigner workers.

Too many workers !... There are still a long list sister waiting for their call.



Just only uncle Hoa left them, but the result of his work is more than all the rest.

Now they exert all their's strength to keep the friends still belong to them.



Uncle Hoa had told me that he couldn’t stand in a small area “The field” belong to a couple worker. Such as in Saigon, they divided into three fields, one field about 15-25 friends. Couldn’t do any thing else accept given the teaching 2 time a week.

That’s one in many reason uncle Hoa had to leave for fullfill his promise with God.

Uncle Hoa didn’t mind Who, What, Where, Why they complain or against him. In spite of any speaking or declaring he hasn’t any part in the work in Viet Nam..

He is going on as before, as he had written in his heart letter.

“Impelled by love I’ll go again, to seek the lost and dying men. For in my heart there is a flame, of burning love for Jesus name.”



In my heart there is a flame too, but just only support F&W keeping faithfull to the end… in order my ship go along with them and reaching The Heaven as well.

[minhthanh]

Jan 12, 2014 13:19:11 GMT -5 fixit said:

A lovely sister native worker, Miss Mai Hoa, met with a lot of trouble with her companions and she has been very afraid. Miss M. H. is the oldest Vietnamese sister worker now. She still respects our two native workers as before, and never has there been a word of criticism come from her mouth. We all still love and respect her as ever. But she very afraid to meet us--even by accident, or to take our phone calls when her companion is there beside her!

One time she and her younger companion disagreed together. The younger Worker reported the matter to Darrel at my relative house. She thought that the landlord couldn't understand her; however, the daughter in that family heard and understood all the details.

We were very disappointed when Miss M.H had to leave the work after that. After 2 years they restored her to the work and now she is under the control of her younger companion, the same as uncle Châu is.

Two words stand out here:

Afraid and Control

It seems that a successful Christian fellowship of love has been infiltrated and taken over by foreign "teachers", and its been replaced by a culture of fear and control.

Not only Miss Mai Hoa but also uncle Châu now. Being among them, he is very afraid to contact with us even by sending email or by telephone.

[CherieKropp]

Jan 12, 2014 13:24:53 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

Three brothers (Uncle Châu, uncle Hoa and Cường)
Nine Vietnamese sisters (Miss Mai Hoa, Nhung, Ân, Vân, Hải, Tân, An, Quỳnh Anh (new), Sáu.

Thank you for this information.  I am surprised there aren't more brother workers...
So is the Overseer and Cường who also translates for him the only brother workers in all of VN?

Or are there some foreign brother workers?

And who are the foreign sister workers?

Thank you.

[fixit]

One time she and her younger companion disagreed together. The younger Worker reported the matter to Darrel at my relative house. She thought that the landlord couldn't understand her; however, the daughter in that family heard and understood all the details.

MT: Can you tell us what her younger companion reported to Darrel?

[minhthanh]

Jan 12, 2014 13:36:07 GMT -5 fixit said:

One time she and her younger companion disagreed together. The younger Worker reported the matter to Darrel at my relative house. She thought that the landlord couldn't understand her; however, the daughter in that family heard and understood all the details.

MT: Can you tell us what her younger companion reported to Darrel?

I heard the story from the landlady (she is my relative), but she didn't mention what her sister reported to Darrel.

[minhthanh]

Jan 12, 2014 7:02:04 GMT -5 lazarus66 said:

It was my understanding that Saigon was called Ho Chi Minn (spelling??) City, after the Americans left in 1975. Is this a regional thing, or is Saigon used so people will not get confused?

Yes, that's right. Now people preferred to use Saigon than Ho Chi Minh City.

[Sylvestra]

Jan 12, 2014 10:55:11 GMT -5 sharingtheriches said:

Jan 12, 2014 9:27:46 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

Here is a worker of God... working under the leading of The Sprit of God.
I am worried when he on his way alone. But He said very confirm "I can see clearly God's has been being with us, arranging and blessing  us. Never mind God will take care of me".
Truly, not only our Lord in the heaven watch for him, we also phone him very often.
Knowing that he had travel more than 2000Km, visitting friends in 11 places, and there are 3 souls professed.
With his hard working within 3 months we have had 6 new friends

Seems to me, that IF the foreign workers were actually into gaining converts in VN, they'd be ecstatic for workers like Uncle Chau who works so well going into all areas seeking the thirsty lost souls! And I can say I know of that time when the workers here in the United States would glory in those native workers in foreign countries that spent their very best speaking the gospel to their country men! But somewhere along the way during my life span, the workers in the more developed countries have lost sight of what a worker is for....there are few of them who seek to preach the gospel of Christ to "strangers" here in the US....I feel that they've gotten too high tech to be able to bend that low to touch a thirsty lost soul...much less recognize one when they see one! May Uncle Chau and any other native worker there in VN keep their eyes on Jesus and their hearts full of love for their fellows in VN so that they might reach out to the lost soul here and there that would be crying out to the Lord!

This situation just reminds me over and over of what Jesus told Peter in the last chapter of JOhn's gospel....Peter got kind of nosy and wanted to know the predictions for John, the Apostle and Jesus told Peter that it wasn't really Peter's concern that IF Jesus wanted John to remain on the earth alive until Jesus returned, then Peter shouldn't be concerned over that, but Peter should "follow thou ME" and "follow Me." Said our Lord to Peter! When the workers get to where they have to follow another man instead of Jesus then this is when deep troubles come and people divided...I read where Paul mentioned the divisions within the saints and that those divisions had to be so that the chosen would be evident! Pushing the weak out of their midst. Now here I'm not saying those who've been pushed outside of the golden days friends are NOT following Jesus, but strongly suspect those who've been pushed out of the 2x2 fellowship ARE THE ONES who are following Jesus...May you continue to do that! My prayers are going your way every day!

Sharon, amen, amen, amen to your last two posts!  My husband and I are praying intercessory prayers for Uncle Hoa and his faith to go out as he is, Uncle Chau in his situation, the "golden friends", AND the VN government.....that they will see the fraud and deceit of the western workers there under false pretenses and that they will prevail to deport them, but with protection for Uncle Chau!

[fixit]

Jan 12, 2014 9:27:46 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

With his hard working within 3 months we have had 6 new friends.

Were the six new friends strangers from outside of the fellowship, or relatives and acquaintances of the friends?

Were they all new contacts that Uncle Hoa found, or did the friends bring them into contact with Uncle Hoa?

[minhthanh]

Jan 12, 2014 22:41:10 GMT -5 fixit said:

Jan 12, 2014 9:27:46 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

With his hard working within 3 months we have had 6 new friends.

Were the six new friends strangers from outside of the fellowship, or relatives and acquaintances of the friends?

Were they all new contacts that Uncle Hoa found, or did the friends bring them into contact with Uncle Hoa?

At first these strangers have contacted friends and they have the need to listen to the gospel. The friends invited uncle Hoa to come to preach. In spite of long distances, through mountains, valley, forests, rivers he overcomes and rides on simple motorbike to get them. Impelled by love, he seeks the lost sheep.

[fixit]

Jan 12, 2014 23:34:01 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

Jan 12, 2014 22:41:10 GMT -5 fixit said:

Were the six new friends strangers from outside of the fellowship, or relatives and acquaintances of the friends?

Were they all new contacts that Uncle Hoa found, or did the friends bring them into contact with Uncle Hoa?

At first these strangers have contacted friends and they have the need to listen to the gospel. The friends invited uncle Hoa to come to preach. In spite of long distances, through mountains, valley, forests, rivers he overcomes and rides on simple motorbike to get them. Impelled by love, he seeks the lost sheep.

Workers in the West were like that 100 years ago.

The friends used to share their faith with friends, neighbors and relatives.

I don't feel confident that new converts would be treated properly, so I'd be reluctant to recommend today's ministry to anyone.

[Deleted]

It will be interesting to see how things turn out now with Chau back in the country - and maybe difficulty for the now reigning 'kings of 2x2ism' to remain in the country. Wonder if they will try and appoint a puppet leadership amongst the native workers ? or?

They don't give up easily! -- And they will stop at nothing!

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 11:19:35 GMT -5 NathanB said:

For the golden friends and Hoa to enjoy their golden days they must let Chau be in charge again like in the past. All of the foreigner workers MUST leave VN. They can enter back in VN as visitors. This way, it gives the natives friends and workers to work things out among themselves, and to correct some of the past, hard feelings, misunderstanding, so they could move on with the gospel. The last 3 yrs problems have hindered the gospel progress in VN.

And, THAT, Nathan, I doubt will EVER happen on its own.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 11:19:35 GMT -5 NathanB said:

For the golden friends and Hoa to enjoy their golden days again, they must let Chau be in charge like Fred Allen had appointed him, in the past. All of the foreigner workers MUST leave VN. I believe the Vietnamese gov't will be watching/monitoring them carefully. ALL of the foreigners MUST leave VN. The last 3 yrs. they have cause BIG problems in VN. They can come back as Visitors a few weeks stay in VN. This way, it gives the natives friends and workers to work things out among themselves, and to correct some of the past, hard feelings, misunderstanding, so they could move on with the gospel. The last 3 yrs problems have hindered the gospel progress and growth in VN.

That's probably the only way it can get fixed Nathan.

[quizzer]

Jan 12, 2014 12:12:34 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

Jan 12, 2014 10:40:10 GMT -5 sharingtheriches said:

I feel that workers giving people different names is more about control then the workers learning to accommodate the culture of their converts. I feel that the natives should rebel at having their birth names butchered! I feel that IF and when we need a name change esp. in religious dealings that will come in heaven where it says that a name will be given the faithful that only the one named and the Lord knows that name....I think this will be revealed in the New heaven and new earth....it is the name they will bear in the regeneration....JMOl Seems to me the workers are being a mite lazy in not taking the care to remember and learn to pronounce their converts' names...this is part of being a "servant" but of course, seems more and more workers are losing their "servant" calling and are turning into "little beasties" that the Pope was so concerned about in his religion! Soon, are we to be covered over with these little beasties from every religion? That would be horrible....but then the Lord has warned us that the tribulation would be severe and the saints' time will be shortened in the tribulation but still the saints will have to bear up to some of that tribulation...JMO

I do agree that the Vietnamese workers should be called by the name their parents had given them. Having only one name.
Very funny that some Vietnamese friends went to the Singapore convention asked me. Who was these workers (Tim, Trudy, Ruby, Tracy, Valarie, Annie, Shawna, Lyrie) , and where is our native workers in the list.
My older sister although being with them very often, but she couldn't match their new name with Vietname name.
I know for sure, none of Vietnamese friends in the countryside know who are these workers !!! (Tim, Trudy, Ruby, Tracy, Valarie, Annie, Shawna, Lyrie). It's a shame for them and for their parents too.

That is awful - giving someone a name. Granted, I have a tough time pronouncing new names, but I'll try. I've been fortunate that some of the folks whose names are tough to pronouce - well, they've given me their nicknames. Still, it was a name they had chosen, or their family had chosen.

If I were one of those sister workers, I'd be tempted to shorten the foreign overseer's sheets during convention.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 12:32:04 GMT -5 quizzer said:

Jan 12, 2014 12:12:34 GMT -5 minhthanh said:

I do agree that the Vietnamese workers should be called by the name their parents had given them. Having only one name.
Very funny that some Vietnamese friends went to the Singapore convention asked me. Who was these workers (Tim, Trudy, Ruby, Tracy, Valarie, Annie, Shawna, Lyrie) , and where is our native workers in the list.
My older sister although being with them very often, but she couldn't match their new name with Vietname name.
I know for sure, none of Vietnamese friends in the countryside know who are these workers !!! (Tim, Trudy, Ruby, Tracy, Valarie, Annie, Shawna, Lyrie). It's a shame for them and for their parents too.

That is awful - giving someone a name. Granted, I have a tough time pronouncing new names, but I'll try. I've been fortunate that some of the folks whose names are tough to pronouce - well, they've given me their nicknames. Still, it was a name they had chosen, or their family had chosen.

If I were one of those sister workers, I'd be tempted to shorten the foreign overseer's sheets during convention.

Can you imagine a bunch of Vietnamese workers coming to the US and expecting all the friends to change to a Vietnamese name? Nope, not on your life.

The Western workers don't even realize that they are practising racial superiority. To do it properly, the Western workers in VN should all take a Vietnamese name to make it easier for the locals. There has been an occasional worker who has done that. One Westerner in South America changed his name on the workers' list to "Miguel" from Mike (sure, same name but translated to the local language). What Mike did is what all Westerners should consider when in another country for a long period of time.

[Deleted]

We had a lovely Vietnamese family move into our field 11 years back. None of us tried to shorten their names, but speaking for myself, it took me some time before I felt confident I was pronouncing their names correctly. I always think of what my Mom would say when people tried to call me by a shortened version of my name: if I wanted to have her called by that name, I would have named her that.

Even my cat doesn't mess with my name. It's Meow and that's the way it stays.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 12:46:38 GMT -5 hberry said:

We had a lovely Vietnamese family move into our field 11 years back. None of us tried to shorten their names, but speaking for myself, it took me some time before I felt confident I was pronouncing their names correctly. I always think of what my Mom would say when people tried to call me by a shortened version of my name: if I wanted to have her called by that name, I would have named her that.

Even my cat doesn't mess with my name. It's Meow and that's the way it stays.

It used to be commonplace for immigrants to Anglicize their first names when coming to North America, which made sense, but I am seeing less and less of even that. For foreigners to go to someone's country and expect them to change their names to a foreign name is actually quite preposterous. I wonder what your cat would think of you if you tried to change her from speaking Cat language to English?

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 13:07:56 GMT -5 @clearday said:

Jan 13, 2014 12:46:38 GMT -5 hberry said:

We had a lovely Vietnamese family move into our field 11 years back. None of us tried to shorten their names, but speaking for myself, it took me some time before I felt confident I was pronouncing their names correctly. I always think of what my Mom would say when people tried to call me by a shortened version of my name: if I wanted to have her called by that name, I would have named her that.

Even my cat doesn't mess with my name. It's Meow and that's the way it stays.

It used to be commonplace for immigrants to Anglicize their first names when coming to North America, which made sense, but I am seeing less and less of even that. For foreigners to go to someone's country and expect them to change their names to a foreign name is actually quite preposterous. I wonder what your cat would think of you if you tried to change her from speaking Cat language to English?

The Cat would be highly amused, because from his perspective, all things feline are perfect. As to the folks from Vietnam, they might have decided to shorten their names for the sake of their work/college colleagues, but they live in an area now with many Vietnamese folks and likely they haven't needed to.

To change a person's name to something like Ruby in their native country where everyone ELSE could pronounce the original name correctly is absurd.