this is the second of two blogs meant to be read together…the first here:
Learning the culture of Vietnam has been an adventure already, but it’s only part of why I’m loving this month of the Race. As we’ve faced spiritual blocks and challenges together, I have seen our squad come together to BE the church, to BE the family, to BE the body of Christ on earth, in a new way.
Our first night in Vietnam we took communion together, led by my strong
brother Zach Parish. He challenged us to step up and stick together and
truly become a family as we are immersed in a new culture and a very
different spiritual atmosphere from Central America.
brother Zach Parish. He challenged us to step up and stick together and
truly become a family as we are immersed in a new culture and a very
different spiritual atmosphere from Central America.
By our second night in the hotel we’re staying in for the next two
weeks (where, for only $3/night per person, we have beds, air
conditioning, small refrigerators, and real bathrooms!), we realized
something horribly sad about the street we’re living on. After dark,
the prostitutes come out. There’s regular racketeering involving pimps
(yes, actual pimps), girls and their clients.
weeks (where, for only $3/night per person, we have beds, air
conditioning, small refrigerators, and real bathrooms!), we realized
something horribly sad about the street we’re living on. After dark,
the prostitutes come out. There’s regular racketeering involving pimps
(yes, actual pimps), girls and their clients.
As our squad realized this, I’ve been amazed to see their faith rise up
as we stand together, our combined strength much greater than
individuals added together. We had an incredible time of worship
together, our voices strong and loud, and the hotel employees one floor
below probably wondered what the heck we were singing about. (Hillsong
— “Shine your light and, Vietnam will see, we’re singing for the glory
of the Risen King!”) They probably continued to be mystified when, all
night long, we were sitting in their stairwell two-by-two for
apparently no reason at all. But as we held a night watch to pray for
this street and this city, I could feel my faith growing stronger
because of the enriching of my squad’s faith.
as we stand together, our combined strength much greater than
individuals added together. We had an incredible time of worship
together, our voices strong and loud, and the hotel employees one floor
below probably wondered what the heck we were singing about. (Hillsong
— “Shine your light and, Vietnam will see, we’re singing for the glory
of the Risen King!”) They probably continued to be mystified when, all
night long, we were sitting in their stairwell two-by-two for
apparently no reason at all. But as we held a night watch to pray for
this street and this city, I could feel my faith growing stronger
because of the enriching of my squad’s faith.
The crazy things continue. When we visited a Buddhist temple this afternoon (the one right down the street from our hotel), we took our shoes off respectfully to enter the altar room, just like the Buddhists do. But before long we joined hands as a squad, encircling the altar to the false gods, and began praying to the one true God and his son Jesus Christ.
A little old Buddhist lady kept looking at us as we surrounded the
altar. Who knows what she thought we were doing, but I doubt she
thought we were Buddhist…!
altar. Who knows what she thought we were doing, but I doubt she
thought we were Buddhist…!
As we continue in various ministries–the expected (visiting churches and orphanages and hospitals) as well as the unexpected (night prayer watches to fight spiritually against sex trafficking)–I look forward to digging deeper into God alongside my squad. Keep us and keep Vietnam in your prayers, because God is doing something here!
