Hyut Kpuia - juːt
Hyut Kpuia was born into a Christian family in the mountains of Vietnam a few years before the end of the American Vietnam War. Her whole life has been surrounded by the conflict that has plagued her home country. Being born into a minority racially and religiously created complications throughout her life.
Life as a child was unpretentious. Hyut grew up working hard to provide for her family alongside her mother, and learned the ways of life from her. At a young age, Hyut professed her faith as a Christian, following in her family's tradition. To her though, it really was much more than her family's beliefs. Through a lifetime of arduous years, Hyut had always remained centered, relying on her faith that provided hope for better things.
There had always been conflict and war in Hyut's life. She had never lived in a time that war was not pressing in from all sides, until the day she stepped foot into America. This constant outside straining in her country of Vietnam, produced a woman that valued family and stood strong in her faith. All throughout Hyut's life in Vietnam, the government had forced regulations on her religious beliefs. The Vietnamese government feared the capabilities of the Christian churches when they met together. The government feeling threatened by the Christians created regulations that limited the actions of Christian groups. The regulations were written with far too much ambiguity. Due to the lack of clarity, the local enforcements took the regulations and enforced their own harsh versions of the laws.
Hyut and her believing family were constantly pestered by legal enforcements. They would show up at their family home at any time of day or night and demand the family to desist from their religious actions. Because of their faith, Hyut and her family would be respectful of the legal enforcers until it came to infringing on their beliefs. At that point they would return to their actions based on their desire to please their God over their government. Frequently taking this stance against their government enforcements resulted in imprisonment for one or several of the family members.
Until 2006, Hyut and her family tolerated it. That year she packed up her son along with a few other family members and moved to the USA. They have lived in the Charlotte area since.
At the inception of Upcycle Life, Hyut was selected as one of the employees and began the job training. For her, learning English is one of the greatest struggles because of her age. Her mind does not take quickly to new information. Despite that, her mind is sharp and her hand for sewing is excellent.
With language being a huge struggle for Hyut, she is not one of the ladies at Upcycle Life that has a high likelihood of moving into a new job. To get another type of job, she would have to become completely fluent in English. For her that is not degrading. Her love for the sewing work that Upcycle Life does and the women she works with is more than enough to fulfill her life.
The most memorable encounter that I have had with Hyut since I met her, speaks to where she is in life. It happened on just another ordinary day in the Upcycle Life office. As usual there was worship music on while the clunking of sewing machines clambered on creating a consistent beat in the background of an average days work. As the chorus of "How Great is Our God" drifted into the buzzing air, an additional voice rung out in unison with the chorus. That subtle voice came from Hyut. She was not singing along with the English track, for she truly does not understand much of the language. Hyut was crying out in her native tongue of Jrai. Though she did not know all the English words to the hymn, in her own language, she offered up her praise. The other staff members and myself sat in disbelief. Having been informed of the agonizing experiences Hyut had endured, the hope she eluded was manifested in the pure hope shining from her face.
Hyut exudes joy in the instant you encounter her. Her soft manner disarms anyone that is around her. Hyut is known for giving out hugs to each friend that arrives at the Upcycle Life office. It was that spirit about her that provided a way for her and me to form a unique bond with each other and lead to her inviting me into her home.
Life as a child was unpretentious. Hyut grew up working hard to provide for her family alongside her mother, and learned the ways of life from her. At a young age, Hyut professed her faith as a Christian, following in her family's tradition. To her though, it really was much more than her family's beliefs. Through a lifetime of arduous years, Hyut had always remained centered, relying on her faith that provided hope for better things.
There had always been conflict and war in Hyut's life. She had never lived in a time that war was not pressing in from all sides, until the day she stepped foot into America. This constant outside straining in her country of Vietnam, produced a woman that valued family and stood strong in her faith. All throughout Hyut's life in Vietnam, the government had forced regulations on her religious beliefs. The Vietnamese government feared the capabilities of the Christian churches when they met together. The government feeling threatened by the Christians created regulations that limited the actions of Christian groups. The regulations were written with far too much ambiguity. Due to the lack of clarity, the local enforcements took the regulations and enforced their own harsh versions of the laws.
Hyut and her believing family were constantly pestered by legal enforcements. They would show up at their family home at any time of day or night and demand the family to desist from their religious actions. Because of their faith, Hyut and her family would be respectful of the legal enforcers until it came to infringing on their beliefs. At that point they would return to their actions based on their desire to please their God over their government. Frequently taking this stance against their government enforcements resulted in imprisonment for one or several of the family members.
Until 2006, Hyut and her family tolerated it. That year she packed up her son along with a few other family members and moved to the USA. They have lived in the Charlotte area since.
At the inception of Upcycle Life, Hyut was selected as one of the employees and began the job training. For her, learning English is one of the greatest struggles because of her age. Her mind does not take quickly to new information. Despite that, her mind is sharp and her hand for sewing is excellent.
With language being a huge struggle for Hyut, she is not one of the ladies at Upcycle Life that has a high likelihood of moving into a new job. To get another type of job, she would have to become completely fluent in English. For her that is not degrading. Her love for the sewing work that Upcycle Life does and the women she works with is more than enough to fulfill her life.
The most memorable encounter that I have had with Hyut since I met her, speaks to where she is in life. It happened on just another ordinary day in the Upcycle Life office. As usual there was worship music on while the clunking of sewing machines clambered on creating a consistent beat in the background of an average days work. As the chorus of "How Great is Our God" drifted into the buzzing air, an additional voice rung out in unison with the chorus. That subtle voice came from Hyut. She was not singing along with the English track, for she truly does not understand much of the language. Hyut was crying out in her native tongue of Jrai. Though she did not know all the English words to the hymn, in her own language, she offered up her praise. The other staff members and myself sat in disbelief. Having been informed of the agonizing experiences Hyut had endured, the hope she eluded was manifested in the pure hope shining from her face.
Hyut exudes joy in the instant you encounter her. Her soft manner disarms anyone that is around her. Hyut is known for giving out hugs to each friend that arrives at the Upcycle Life office. It was that spirit about her that provided a way for her and me to form a unique bond with each other and lead to her inviting me into her home.
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