After an adventurous bus ride from Cambodia to Vietnam, we arrived on Monday in Ho Chi Minh City.
What a place. It’s beautiful. It’s big. It’s congested. It’s
smoggy. There are more people in this city than my ENTIRE province.
That’s right…there are approx. 8 million people in this city. There
is traffic – meaning more motorbikes than I can count – everywhere. We
cross streets by just walking into and through traffic. This is not a
new concept to us…we did this in every other country we have been
to…but for some reason, it is something to talk about here!
smoggy. There are more people in this city than my ENTIRE province.
That’s right…there are approx. 8 million people in this city. There
is traffic – meaning more motorbikes than I can count – everywhere. We
cross streets by just walking into and through traffic. This is not a
new concept to us…we did this in every other country we have been
to…but for some reason, it is something to talk about here!
So far, we have visited the war museum, toured the palace and have
familiarized ourselves with the city. we will also be able to visit the
zoo and a place called Mango gardens, as well as have many
opportunities to just relax and enjoy the cities parks and coffee
shops!
familiarized ourselves with the city. we will also be able to visit the
zoo and a place called Mango gardens, as well as have many
opportunities to just relax and enjoy the cities parks and coffee
shops!
It is just us – the Gentle Warriors this
month. A little different, but needed as hopefully this will unite us
together as family, friends and sisters! All is well. We are here. We
are safe. We are healthy. We are enjoying and loving Vietnam!
month. A little different, but needed as hopefully this will unite us
together as family, friends and sisters! All is well. We are here. We
are safe. We are healthy. We are enjoying and loving Vietnam!
We are living off of bread and peanut butter, rice, noodles and
whatever else we can find that is CHEAP that will feed our hungry
bellies. It has been amazing to meet many loving faces and experience
the Vietnamese culture. We have been invited out many times in a few
short days and are loving everything about being here.
whatever else we can find that is CHEAP that will feed our hungry
bellies. It has been amazing to meet many loving faces and experience
the Vietnamese culture. We have been invited out many times in a few
short days and are loving everything about being here.
It has sure been an experience. Bus rides. Coffee shops. English
conversations. Food vendors and restaurants fill the sidewalks. Rain
every afternoon. Bubble tea.
conversations. Food vendors and restaurants fill the sidewalks. Rain
every afternoon. Bubble tea.
There are many broken hearts here. A lot of what we have seen is
“behind closed doors” and is “shady.” Our hearts are broken.
Prostitution is a nightly “ritual” for many men to participate in and
women to be taken advantage of. Seeing the faces of these women who
lose a piece of themselves so quickly…as they are searching for
acceptance. Men who have no consideration for the females that they are
with…only to pleasure themselves! So hard to hear stories and see and
feel emptiness all around us!
“behind closed doors” and is “shady.” Our hearts are broken.
Prostitution is a nightly “ritual” for many men to participate in and
women to be taken advantage of. Seeing the faces of these women who
lose a piece of themselves so quickly…as they are searching for
acceptance. Men who have no consideration for the females that they are
with…only to pleasure themselves! So hard to hear stories and see and
feel emptiness all around us!
We have been encouraged in many ways and our needs have been met
beyond our expectations! There is so much love and hospitality here
between the people we have met and built relationships with. It’s hard
to be on a limited budget and trust that all will work out for the best
– but when we let go of our control, it is amazing to see what happens.
How blessed we are!
beyond our expectations! There is so much love and hospitality here
between the people we have met and built relationships with. It’s hard
to be on a limited budget and trust that all will work out for the best
– but when we let go of our control, it is amazing to see what happens.
How blessed we are!
So, when all is said and done – after a few short days, this is
where we are. This is where we are to be – for now! Who knows where we
will be next, but we are trusting that all will be as needs to be.
where we are. This is where we are to be – for now! Who knows where we
will be next, but we are trusting that all will be as needs to be.
