Every morning I wake up in Ho Chi Minh City wondering what ministry is going to look like. It is so different from what I would have ever imagined, especially being in a closed country. We have the opportunity to stay in a hotel this month and be involved in a variety of ministries.
This is a typical week of ministry, or what it says on our schedule anyways:
Sunday: International Church, Village Ministry
We are now becoming regulars and building relationships with some of the people there. It is really cool being able to go to church. Even though we are in a closed country, we are able to go to church because it is recognized and affiliated with the Vietnamese government. Our team got to go to a village and play with children that were not loved enough after church this past week.
Monday: Free day, Orphanage = Canceled = Street Ministry, Mekong Delta Rural Area
We started off with having Mondays as our “off days” for the week of ministry, but the next week we were told that we were going to an orphanage. That was canceled due to some unknown reason, but instead of just doing nothing the rest of the day our team decided to make it into a street ministry day. Street ministry is where we go around asking the Lord where He wants us to go, who to talk to and who to love. We have built a lot of relationships with some of the street vendors, people in the bars from previous street ministry nights and backpackers.
Tuesday: Rehab Center, Bar/Street Ministry
The first week we were here we had the opportunity to go to a rehab center for men that were recovering drug and alcohol addicts. It was a really cool night being able to spend time with some of our Brothers and sharing stories. The next week we were able to continue investing in the people we have already built relationships with and start new relationships with the friendly people in Ho Chi Minh City.
Wednesday: Bar/Street Ministry
Thursday: Bar/Street Ministry, Rehab Center = Canceled = Street Ministry, Leprosy Hospital
Again, a ministry was canceled. This was a little saddening at first, because I was really looking forward to going back to visit my Brothers, but I was thankful to continue working on the relationships with the people on the streets. When we visited the hospital, we were told we were just going to a hospital. It turned out being a leprosy hospital! It was one of my favorite places we've visited because the people were so loving and so kind. We sung Christmas carols and played silly games with them that made us all laugh really hard.
Friday: Street Ministry, Off Day
Even on our “off days” ministry does not take a rest. We are always going and building relationships with people that are wanting to work on their English, who want to sell us items or want to help us cook food in the kitchen. Some of the people I have been spending a lot of time with are around the hotel. They are the two ladies that work from sun up to way past sun down. They work on laundry from the people in the hotel and other small hotels nearby. Whenever I come in to make my rice and vegetables or my oatmeal and bananas for my meals, they are sharing their delicious iced coffee with me, teaching me how to cook and even though there is a huge language barrier, smiles and hugs are always communicated clearly.
Saturday: English Class, Water Park, Mekong Delta Rural Area
We had the opportunity for half of our team to go to a coffee shop to teach English to some Vietnamese students and the other half to go to a water park and play with children all day. I went to the coffee shop and shared some deep conversations about Encouragement and Hope in the world. The other members of our team came home exhausted but with huge smiles on their faces as they shared about the adventures of playing with children all day long.
This week has been really fun for street ministry because there is a giant Cultural Cuisine Festival going on at the park across the street from where we are staying. We get to spend time there walking around building relationships with new people or bringing new friends to eat new foods with us.
Our ministry in Ho Chi Minh City has been one where you have to choose to be intentional in building relationships or sitting in your hotel because our schedule will say Tuesday: Street Ministry 4pm. We are not here in the city by mistake or for ourselves. So many people to love on and spend time with surround us! There is never a dull moment when you are surrounded by the city. I have found time of rest in the air conditioned room, in a coffee shop and on the streets. I am so thankful that I am learning more about what it means to rest in the Lord, wherever you are. However, it is challenging when you are never alone.
So every morning you really do say, “Good Morning Vietnam!” because you never know what the day will look like.
Love, Kaitlyn
