Victory, Victory, Conquered Death, Set Me Free.
Back in ‘Nam, I spent some time with a pretty cool team, the Unsoundables. We taught English and through some sports and coffee shop conversations attempted to build friendships with the people in our city. This is one of many stories I have yet to share from this World Race journey.
We rambled down a dirt trail with water, food and tents in tote. The trail was marked with sweet smelling flowers and tropical palms. The view eventually opened up and we found ourselves staring out over an empty beach and inlet that led my heart to leap with joy. We had a little farther to walk to where we would set up camp for the night. Our new friend, Victory, was leading the way.
View of the beach from the trail
He had befriended Jonathan on a bridge while riding back to our hostel one day. We played volleyball with him several mornings and then he invited us to camp at a beach with him. It wasn’t ruined by cars or buildings he would tell us enthusiastically. It worked out that his class schedule and our off days were the same. So off we went.
Jonathan’s trail-selfie.
We jumped in the blue-green waves, and all laughed over a super scary stingray that turned out to be an old pink dress shirt washing up on shore. Some of us played ultimate frisbee, wishing that we were in better shape to try and pivot in the soft sand. We found ourselves back in the water again, cooling off from the heat of the day and our play.
Victory claimed luck over meeting Jonathan on the bridge. Over the sound of the waves rolling in, our team looked at each other in hope. I told him I didn’t think it was luck that brought us together. And everyone else agreed.
“Maybe it was your God,” He replied.
It was. It was.
We spent the rest of the evening chatting around a fire, cooking dinner and s’mores and setting up our tents on the beach. Victory and Jonathan, both intellectuals shared conversations about searching for more in life. It was definitely not luck that brought them together.
In the morning, we made our way back up the dirt path. I looked back satisfyingly over the beach, knowing full well that day and night at our own private beach would hold some of my favorite memories with my co-leaders, the Unsoundables team and our friend, Victory.
Today, Victory knows the Gospel. And he is now a brother in Christ. All because God saw fit to send a motley crew of ragamuffins to Vietnam, and put Jonathan and Victory on the same bridge at the same time. It’s not luck. And we know through contacts and friends in the area, that Victory continues to find fellowship with other believers around his age, because God is a provider and constant friend.
Allie and Victory outside of church.
This is my last full month on the field with S squad. I will journey home with Lo and Tammy, my co-leaders in the beginning of June. I have the opportunity to join them again in month 8 and month 11 of their journey for a weeklong stint of in-person encouragement and discipleship. S squad is full of kingdom bringers and world changers and I have no doubt that stories like the one above will continue to happen. And I can’t wait to hear about them. Feel free to peruse their stories! They’re a great group of storytellers. Follow the Get to know my squad link on the left.
If you would like to help support my continued journey with the S squad family, you can use the link on the left. I’m currently in need of $1200 to be fully funded!
Most of Team Unsoundables, including their tagalongs for the month, myself and Dani (far right)
*Photos stolen from Jonathan Mantay, & Allie Redding. 🙂 thanks guys 😉
