This is part 5 of a short story I wrote about our time in Vietnam. Please feel free to find the other parts here.
We were told to speak about the basics
in Christian Discipleship. Tres had organized the talks around the
themes Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
in Christian Discipleship. Tres had organized the talks around the
themes Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I was supposed to give two talks, both
about God the Father, but then Julia unexpectedly got sick and I took
over her talk about Jesus the Shepherd.
“God isn’t mad at you,” I toldthem. “You may not have the best relationship with your father,
but God the Father loves you. He’s not disappointed with you and
he’s not trying to punish you.”
My talk on Jesus the Shepherd didn’t
go so well. The best thing I had was a YouTube video of a bunch of
Scottish sheep that were equipped with LED lights and herded around
to make shapes like fireworks and a game of pong.
go so well. The best thing I had was a YouTube video of a bunch of
Scottish sheep that were equipped with LED lights and herded around
to make shapes like fireworks and a game of pong.
The seminar was held at a coffee shop
run by a European woman. She locked the doors when we started
singing worship songs. What we were doing
could have been enough to get us arrested. Even writing this
now, months later, 15,000 miles away, with the coffee shop and its
owner unnamed, I’m nervous someone with a grudge will read this and
make a few calls to a few officials who might close the coffee shop
down.
run by a European woman. She locked the doors when we started
singing worship songs. What we were doing
could have been enough to get us arrested. Even writing this
now, months later, 15,000 miles away, with the coffee shop and its
owner unnamed, I’m nervous someone with a grudge will read this and
make a few calls to a few officials who might close the coffee shop
down.
The participants of the seminar were
Vietnamese, all English speakers but one. The girl who didn’t speak
English sat in the front and watched us while another participant
translated. Also in the front was Freddy short for Frederick. Though of course that is not his real name. His real name was equally un-Vietnamese. Most Vietnamese have names
like Nguyen and Nguyac and other Nga names. Or if they take an
English name it’s a simple Bible name like Peter or James or Mary. Frederick, Freddy, was unique.
Vietnamese, all English speakers but one. The girl who didn’t speak
English sat in the front and watched us while another participant
translated. Also in the front was Freddy short for Frederick. Though of course that is not his real name. His real name was equally un-Vietnamese. Most Vietnamese have names
like Nguyen and Nguyac and other Nga names. Or if they take an
English name it’s a simple Bible name like Peter or James or Mary. Frederick, Freddy, was unique.
He wasn’t
sitting in his chair, he was splayed upon it. His legs stretched in
front of him, his head lay against the back of his seat. Sometimes
his head nodded and his lids struggled to stay open behind his
glasses. Later I found out he worked nights at a hotel and had come
to the seminar right after his shift. After lunch we sat down over
our empty bowls of Pho and talked.
sitting in his chair, he was splayed upon it. His legs stretched in
front of him, his head lay against the back of his seat. Sometimes
his head nodded and his lids struggled to stay open behind his
glasses. Later I found out he worked nights at a hotel and had come
to the seminar right after his shift. After lunch we sat down over
our empty bowls of Pho and talked.
“How long have you been a
Christian?” I asked.
Christian?” I asked.
“I’m not,” Freddy said.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I just assumed…”
“It’s okay. I go to church a lot.
I just haven’t decided to go through it yet.”
I just haven’t decided to go through it yet.”
“Ok. How long have you been going
to church then?”
to church then?”
“About six months. It’s good. I like it.
The people are very nice. I haven’t gone in the last couple of weeks
though because I’ve been so busy with work.”
The people are very nice. I haven’t gone in the last couple of weeks
though because I’ve been so busy with work.”
“What’s keeping you from going
through with it, as you said?”
through with it, as you said?”
“I love Buddhism. I feel like I
would be turning my back on it. When I was a kid I was a monk for a
couple of years. I… I just don’t know.”
would be turning my back on it. When I was a kid I was a monk for a
couple of years. I… I just don’t know.”
“Sure.”
We talked for a while longer about God
and Christianity and what that meant. Before he left during the
break Freddy said he felt better about being there. After the lunch
break he came back showered and energized. Later, Tres talked to him
and he decided he was ready. He wanted to be a Christian.
and Christianity and what that meant. Before he left during the
break Freddy said he felt better about being there. After the lunch
break he came back showered and energized. Later, Tres talked to him
and he decided he was ready. He wanted to be a Christian.
The seminar followed the Trinity,
Father Son Spirit, and after the last talk we had a time of worship
and asked the Spirit to meet with us. I played songs on my guitar
and Tres and the girls laid hands on the participants. The owner of
the coffee shop played guitar too. She sang and her voice was rich
and warm.
Father Son Spirit, and after the last talk we had a time of worship
and asked the Spirit to meet with us. I played songs on my guitar
and Tres and the girls laid hands on the participants. The owner of
the coffee shop played guitar too. She sang and her voice was rich
and warm.
Lindsay prayed for a girl who started to cry, to sob until
big tears were hitting her arms and falling on the floor.
big tears were hitting her arms and falling on the floor.
“Is it raining in here? she asked.
“No,” said Lindsay, “but you’re
crying.”
crying.”
“No, it’s raining! I can feel it!”
The girl touched the skin of her face and arms. Lindsay remembered
she had prayed that the Spirit would come upon the girl like rain.
The girl touched the skin of her face and arms. Lindsay remembered
she had prayed that the Spirit would come upon the girl like rain.
Then Freddy was stumbling to his seat.
For a minute Tres waited and then held him up protectively. He led
him to a space on the floor. Tres told me later Freddy had been laid
out by God.
For a minute Tres waited and then held him up protectively. He led
him to a space on the floor. Tres told me later Freddy had been laid
out by God.
