Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
December, 2016
The moment I met Twe I felt there was something special there. That a spiritual engagement evolved and that it was divine.
Alex, a teammate of mine, and I were walking the park near our hostel right off the infectious tourist-pleasing Bui Vien street in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. People from all around come to get their midnight fix through music blaring bars, prostitutes pulling on the sleeves of anyone within reach, or the drugs passed out at each corner.
The aroma echoing the sounds of beer bottles hitting the ground, women screaming and laughing, and ear numbing music at full blast. The park, so near to all this, is packed with a combination of people at all hours of the day. From Zumba-type classes to groups playing with a ball-juggled back and fourth, something resembling a soccer ball.
The park is engulfed with entertainment and activity from when the sun rises to when it sets. At that point, when the sun is set, came the individuals we strived to seek out most throughout our time in Vietnam.
This is where my relationship with Twe began.
We walked, with stomaches still rumbling due our 24 hour food fast, seeking out unpredictable appointments the Lord often flooded us with in this place. Alex and I were standing talking casually when a woman approached and reached out a closed hand for an unspoken fist to fist bump invitation.
We accepted, then she scurried off.
We looked at each other, smiled, then pursued with curiosity.
We caught up with her and asked her name, “Twe”, she replied soft and shyly.
Intriguingly seeking out this woman’s story, we both felt such a draw from the Lord to interact with her so we continued conversation. We came to the conclusion that she was currently a prostitute, as a means for providing for herself.
Business seemed slow from what we could tell, she was dressed in old dirty clothes and appeared to have not showered in a while. She briefly spoke about her children, they live near the city, roughly an hour or so away, but she didn’t get to see them much due to being financially unstable.
When asked where she lives, Twe looked down, embarrassed, and placed one finger on the bench we were currently sitting on.
She is homeless.
Our 24-hour food fast had concluded. We decided what a better way to end our fast than to invite Twe for a late night meal. So we decided to walk down the street to Burger King with Twe along side us, receiving a meal she wasn’t expecting.
I thanked God for such a memorable night to conclude the fast. I felt the Lord asking me to let go of something more than just a few dollars at Burger King. I quickly told Alex and Twe both to stay there and ran back to the hostel where I grabbed my travel pillow and a hoodie I had from Nepal.
Full of excitement, I sprinted back and with only the sound of heavy breaths, handed the gifts to here and she immediately began to tear up and repeatedly continued with thanks over and over.
I had to keep repeating that these gifts aren’t from us, but from our Father.
A few days passed by and I decided to walk through the park again, this time during the day, just to see who I could find and love on.
Twe was sitting on the same bench we met, wearing her new hoodie.
I sprung to the bench in excitement and yelled her name while rushing in for a hug. She responded monotoned and unpleased. I asked if she was okay and she shook her head with tears in her eyes. I asked her if there was anything I could do and she again shook her head. I tried everything I had up my sleeve to cheer her up but it concluded with us sitting in silence looking out upon the park.
It began to rain lightly and most of the individuals in the park fled for cover.
We stayed seated.
A peace coated over me as I sat there with this person I had just met, but deeply cared about. I wanted her to be happy. To be loved. To be comforted. It was obvious I was trying to do all this in my own power, and that’s why we were currently sitting in silence.
I often have to fight the old habit of trying to get things done myself.
I began to pray.
Praying for a word to share with her.
Praying for a lesson I could present to her, and let the Holy Spirit dig in and do what He does in her heart.
I wanted God to work through me…because that’s what I’m here for, right?
As I sat desperately praying for a word to share with her, she shifted her position on the bench that caught my attention. I glance over as she pulls a beer bottle from her purse.
It was empty.
I was watching her eyes as she stared deeply into it. As if getting lost in a different reality she stared. She broke and looked up at me pointing and whispering, “The color is so beautiful”.
It caught me off guard and I proceeded with questions.
She picked the bottle up from the ground empty. She explained that she did not drink it and that she only found it from the place she was currently pointing across the park from where we sat.
I’ve never heard of someone finding such beauty in an object that is filled with such selfish desires. In something used so powerfully by the enemy.
An object I have made so many bad decision in my life. An object that feels as if it has grasped me more times than I’ve grasped it.
She ran her hand down the side of the bottle looking deeper than what appeared.
Then it hit me.
Isn’t this an aspect of how God looks at each one of us?
I’ve looked at prostitution my whole life as disgusting, sinful, and unforgivable. I had also never been face to face with one. However, He’s changed my perspective completely.
He sees beauty.
He sees past the shape, the ridiculous content we fill ourselves with at times, and past the action and looks at our true color.
He sees US, even when we turn to the world for a refill.
He stands by as a patient Father with His arms stretched out, always merciful.
When we feel as if there’s nothing left, as if everything has gone wrong, or as if this is the end, He sees us FULL.
You see, I was praying for God to present a word for me to share with Twe. Expecting to work only through me, He blew me away once again.
He always comes through, even when we feel as empty as a beer bottle.
So I ask you to look at yourself. What do you see?
The color is there. Look deeper.
