It is truly amazing how quickly the months fly by. I feel like I just started the race and here we are… about to start month four. This month in Vietnam has been great, but short-lived. I love this country. There is just something about it that draws me in… I haven’t even begun to truly dig in and we’re leaving. I have a good feeling I’ll return someday. There’s no way I could ever write about all the things I loved about this month… but here are a few.
The Food
Coming into this month, I was a little nervous about the food. I’ve never been huge on the asian foods I’ve tried in the states. I quickly realized that I had no reason to be nervous. I love Vietnamese food. It is seriously so good. I’m in love with noodles and proud to say that I can now successfully use chopsticks.
A few of my favorites were Banh Xiao, Ban My, really any noodles, and smoothies.
Bread of Life
The Bread of Life was a huge blessing to us. Not only were we blessed by the comforting Western food they provided us with, but the employees there are amazing. We’re going to miss them so much!
Here’s the description they give:
“Bread of Life has been serving quality, fresh and authentic Western food since 2005. Our mission is to provide the Deaf with opportunities, training and employment. The Deaf make all the items and the breads fresh from our own bakery. All profits generated at BOL support Deaf projects.”
“We currently have 19 deaf employees. They are responsible for all of the cooking, baking, and serving. All of the meals and drinks are prepared by our deaf staff. If you have time, they would love to teach you a few words or phrases in sign language. We also have 10 ‘hearing’ employees who take care of ordering, serving, accounting, and other various duties.”
For more information about BOL you can go to their website at http://breadoflifedanang.com/?page_id=9&lang=en
Sleepover
The night before Thanksgiving we had the opportunity to have a sleepover with the daughters of a missionary family here in Danang. Honestly, this age of girls usually sends me running, but I felt that I needed to go. I am so glad I did! These girls stole my heart. We had a blast eating gummy bears & s’mores, making cookies, playing games, and watching 7th Heaven re-runs. We had lunch with the family on Thanksgiving day and then were blessed to be able to help them decorate for Christmas. We got to set up a Christmas tree!! It was such an amazing blessing.
The People
We met so many amazing people. I can't even begin to list them off.. but let me try… Our wonderful contact/translator and everyone we met through ministry at orphanages, the Vietnamese churches we visited, the Bread of Life, Danang International Fellowship, and in our day to day life.
Girl Time
At debrief, Mama P, our female squad leader, challenged us as women to intentionally look into our identity in Christ this month. She dubbed this month, “Identity Month” and she was spot on. At this point in the journey, many of us are at a place of brokenness. God has been revealing things to us and working in our lives and the timing was just right to look into who we are in Him. I had the pleasure of being my teams representative for our identity study and was incredibly blessed to get to study and teach on the fact that we are fully known and fully loved by God. These times with my K-Squad sisters were so precious to me.
At the end of the month, we made a video to show what God has been speaking over us.
You can watch the video here (and check out my team leaders blog):
http://erinfritz.theworldrace.org/?filename=out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new
(Video credit goes to Tim Larson http://timothylarson.theworldrace.org)
The Moment When the Stars Aligned
I’ve talked multiple times about how God is pulling the gift of worship out of me. Honestly, for a couple days this month, I felt it was more of a burden than a gift. They enemy has been trying to shut down what God is bringing out. I heard lies: “People only like me because I can sing…” or “All I have to offer is my music…” or “No matter what, I always have to lead worship.”These lies began to play in my head and I just felt burnt out. I felt so much pressure.
I’ve been looking into going to school for worship leading/songwriting, but these thoughts began to make me doubt that I was supposed to be doing it. God used a moment to “align the stars” and affirm to me that worship is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.
Monday nights we attend a church service at our contacts church. Every week they ask a squad mate and I to play a couple songs for them. Going into it on this particular night I had a bad attitude. Not only was I doubting that I was truly a worship leader… but I knew the response I had gotten from the people there the week before. I was tired physically and mentally. I really just didn’t want to do it.
Alexa and I went up and began to play Nothing But the Blood. And something clicked. Even through the odd accompaniment the people there tried to offer (yes, a recorder was included) I found such joy. Me: on stage, singing into a microphone. Never before have I felt so at home on a stage. Usually I dread singing into a microphone. It’s just added pressure and complication to something that I’m already nervous about, but at the end of our two songs I was not ready to leave the stage. I found my place. It just felt right.
