October 9, 2011
It has been an amazing week and the church is alive in Viet Nam. This being a closed country is not stopping God from moving here among the people. This past week we have had the privilege of meeting a lot of great people and I learned so much about what God is doing in this country. We have gone to the Buddhist temples to pray, had bible studies with a deaf community, spoke and sang at an underground church, met with students so they could practice English, went to an institution for children and adults with disabilities, and went to a remote community to encourage the persecuted Christians. It has been busy but so wonderful.
One of the first things you notice about Viet Nam is that about 99% of the people drive motorcycles to get around the country. It is crazy and seems chaotic to the spectator, the streets are so busy. Most of the time to get to our ministry sites we would ride with one of our contacts friends on the back of their bike. There are 7 of us so that meant at least 7 bikes heading off to wherever we were going. I loved the drives in the country or along the beach seeing the country side of Viet Nam on the back of a motorbike was amazing.
I have realized on this race that in nature is the place where I feel God the most. I remember telling people that I felt like I woke up in Ecuador riding in the back of the pickup staring into the beautiful night sky. I felt my intimacy with God increase walking in the cow pasture in Honduras. It is only God’s peace that I feel riding along the roads of Viet Nam on the back of a motorbike. I feel God protecting me with his hands and guiding my life to the direction that he has for me. There is no fear of what is coming next as we near the end of the race because looking back I see that God has been right there with me each step of the way and he is planning the next chapter so I don’t have to worry.
Traffic in the city
Riding with one of my friends
Just me and the gang
