From St. Paul MN-Toua Vang faced war and famine in Laos and lived for years as a refugee in Thailand. Those experiences laid a strong foundation for faith -- and are a frequent source of sermons for the St. Paul man who will soon become the only ordained Hmong Episcopal priest in the world.
"I came from a country of war, became a refugee, and came to this country, learned a new language, was caught between cultures," said Toua Vang, who will be ordained Thursday during a service in Golden Valley. "I had marriage and financial problems. I was a top student among peers, but now I'm the poorest."
All of that happened for a reason, Toua Vang believes: "I understand that God wanted me to live among the poor, serve the poor and demonstrate God's love for them."
Toua Vang, 47, is one of hundreds of Hmong who attended the Church of the Holy Apostles on St. Paul's East Side in 2005. At the time, the church was about to close its doors, with only 60 or so members remaining. The 725 Hmong, making up 78 families, were searching for a new home after leaving the St. Vincent de Paul Church because of divisions there, Toua Vang said.
More here-
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_23546586/st-paul-man-become-only-ordained-hmong-episcopal
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