When Zabine and J.T. visited Hanoi in 1992, there were Baha’is in the south of Vietnam. As you perhaps know, if you’ve read Zabine’s account of the history, it was to those Baha’is that she appealed for help to save the life of her husband after he fell ill. The story is here. It all ties together into really fascinating history.

Please note also that I’ve updated the article to include the name of the speaker I had previously omitted.

Thank you so much for your many posts about Vietnam. Not only are they a joy for us to read personally, but they form part of an indispensable record of this very significant event in the development of the Bahá’í community of Vietnam.

I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve quoted parts of this post on my own blog describing the National Convention, and linked and attributed it. Cheers!

Although the Baha’i community ebbed greatly after North/South unification, it never vanished. It was the Baha’is of Ho Chi Minh City that Zabine called in 1992 when her husband, J.T. Linkins, was near death in Hanoi. And it was one of those Baha’is, Le Ha, who risked his own life to bring J.T. the meds and antibiotics he required for survival. To understand the courage and heroism of that act, one would need to know the other circumstances of Le Ha’s life — a life certain to inspire generations as yet unborn.

I rather like your nice and very innovative use of Rainn Wilson’s “Soul Pancake.” From what you have shared here, and, from what Zabine has told me – including her mad ride on the back of a motor cycle through frightening and on-coming traffic – it truly felt like “Seoul Pancake” to me!

Thank you for sharing brother!

Sherlock I. Graham-Haynes

You can read the background in an earlier article on this site: New “high-def” Heart to Heart Site.

For most users, these free resources are excellent. But for anyone who wants more, there is a “pro” version available as a standalone PDF file (CD or download). It has an embedded search engine, fast and easy navigation, screen sharing, works offline, and much more. At $7.95, I think it’s an incredible value. Please check it out at Zabine’s amazing site, hearttoheartpublications.com/sharing-h2h, where she also offers a plethora of free supporting resources.

Unfortunately, the video sort of “got loose” on YouTube before most readers of The Astonished Tamale! could see my article. Thus many people never really knew the back-story. You wouldn’t know the context simply by seeing the video itself, and I therefore felt the impact was under-appreciated.

Be that as it may, thank you again, dear friend!

Also, I had intended, at the outset of the series, to post an airport photo of Zabine and Peter saying their goodbyes. Looking back, I now see I never did this. My mistake!

So please click this photo. This depicts Zabine with two lovely young women, Ha and Huyen, who guided us on a tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter on our second day here. Zabine is of course the one on the left. (Just kidding! Zabine is over 35.)

Or check out the first photo in Hanoi from the Handlebars, where Zabine “Motorcycle Mama” Van Ness is being outfitted with helmet, just before first taking to the Hanoi streets.

I believe that Zabine was getting her nourishment from spiritual food.

Gary, if possible, please post a picture of Zabine. Somehow I have not identified
her in group pictures. Thanks.

Meanwhile, please check out back articles and photo galleries. More are on the way. Your enthusiasm energizes us!

One perpetual wrinkle is that the more things are going on, the less time and energy remain to document them. As a chronicler of events, I prefer — in theory anyway — to remain detached. Almost a disembodied watcher, continually transmitting my observations. But the reality is that I’m caught up in the vortex of experiences I’m striving to share. These pull me along, day after day, nonstop, affording little opportunity to process and less to share.

I’m therefore playing continual catch-up, posting occasional updates in hope of retaining enough viewers for when I finally get to upload the rest of the wonderful sights, sounds, and discoveries with which Zabine and I are blessed.

Loved the videos. Would you please post more videos of the Vietnamese Baha’i community.

Thank you.

Please note that although I’m trying to post frequent updates about the Vietnam trip, there won’t necessarily be new stuff every day. At times there might even be weeks in between, depending on how busy Stonehaven Press and my other Baha’i and non-Baha’i projects keep me. (Also, please remember that this isn’t a “Baha’i” site, per se. Over time, many articles, if not most, will be much more generic.)

May I therefore suggest that you subscribe to the site using the “E-mail Updates” form in the upper right column? This way you will be automatically notified whenever there is new material. And in any case — thanks again, and God bless you and your wonderful group.

I am a close friend of Denny and Marsha [Rule], have been for many, many years. I currently live in a teeny tiny town just outside of Toledo, OH. My husband, Marc and I, are actually home front pioneering! We have formed our little Baha’i Group and are enjoying our teaching experiences; learning as we go along and trying to do our best.

You know, I think we owe Denny a HUGE thank you for bringing us, and so many, many others together. I look forward to KEEPING up with you! Thank you so very much for this wonderful, wonderful opportunity to come along with you on such a bountiful journey. God be with you.

The interesting thing here is that I saw a fledgling Blue Jay and it sat on our patio table for a long time. The first I have ever seen that young. I live a simple life.

Checking out the list one more time….

Next stop Hanoi

Zabine

Thank you ever so much for such a wonderful job on making Heart to Heart available to many many friends. It is now truly easy to use and beautiful to look at.
Technology is a gift from Baha’u’llah, but it is us who have to use it to share His claim.
I want you to know Miles and I appreciate all of your hard work and dedication.

Much much Bahai love

Zabine Van Ness

Too bad I didn’t read your blog in time to cover the 1,613 miles between me and Knoxville without resorting to time travel, which requires a great deal of energy. Not green travel.

PS. I used to live in the University of Tennessee Football stadium.

Thank you also for the state information link. Please check it out, folks: Breathtaking views, fascinating facts. Of course we all know about Idaho and potatoes, but I didn’t know it was called “The Gem State” — or why. (Although, from an Astonished Tamale! perspective, potatoes are gems.)

Come to think of it, this most romantic state is known as a retirement haven for the elderly. Not in “real age” terms, just calendar years. But maybe we’re seeing a pattern anyway.

What a cute story and discoveries about Knoxville and their marriage happiness insights. Not sure where Seattle fits into all of this…but being a Senior newly wed all I can say…”Life is Good!”

Look forward to read more stories..you have a wonderful writing style

Zabine Van Ness

Rach & Jas