November- Vietnam!!
population:89 million, Total Area;127,243 sq. miles. About the size of New Mexico. (708 people per sq. mile)
Languages- Vietnamese,Chinese,Thai, Khmer,Muong, Nung, Miao,Yao, Jarai.
Religions- Other 74%,Buddhist 14%, Roman Catholic 7%, Cao Dai 3%, Protestant 2%.
Vietnam is the worlds largest exporter of cashews, black pepper, and the second largest exporter of rice.
Instead of bells, traditional gongs are used to call the Vietnamese children to school.
Although Vietnam is a developing country, it has a literacy rate of 94%!
An estimated ten million motor bikes travel on the roads of Vietnam every day.
The Vietnamese language has six different tones. A change in tone changes the meaning of the word. This makes their language somewhat difficult to learn.
People- No political or press freedom.
Weather- Tropical, well November is the beginning of winter monsoon season… yay. There are several different climate zones sooo… average winter temp. in the north is 63*, in the mountains it could be below 50*, and in the south, a mere 8* north of the equator we’re looking at little variation between 80*-90* F.
From the World Race: After nearly a century of French rule, in the mid-20th century, Vietnam was split into communist (north) and non-communist (south) halves. By 1975, Vietnam was made whole again, but as a communist country. Even with the economic reforms and restoration of diplomatic ties human rights are limited in Vietnam, especially freedom of religion; most of Vietnam is Buddhist, less than 10% is Catholic. Here you’ll be fed with pho, delicious beef noodle soup, and in turn feed believers and pray God’s light and presence everywhere you go.
Connected to Vietnam:
I’d say at the moment I connect with this country a little more than any other. My military family and friends almost instantly relate with a memory or personal experience from the War time stateside and in Vietnam. When sharing with friends about Vietnam I’ve received responses like, Vietnam? my “nail girl” is from there! or “Vietnam? Hey, the BEST Alterations business in town is operated by a wonderful Vietnamese couple.” I’ve had a lot of Vietnamese classmates throughout grade school and college. Multiple businesses in my community are operated and owned by first generation Vietnamese Americans. And this past summer one of the summer staff guys I was privileged to work alongside is from Vietnam. I am surrounded by great people from this country, to ask my questions to and get a bit of insight. What is Vietnamese culture like? Hows the food? What are some cool Vietnamese customs? Where is your favorite place? Are there Churches? Whats School like growing up in Vietnam? How can I avoid offending people?
Vietnamese is the 7th most common language spoken in the U.S. I think thats a BIG DEAL! I know when I return from the race I’ll get to share with my friends new and old what I learned about their home country. I feel like I’ll be able to relate and connect here when I make a new friend from Vietnam. I can already hear and feel the life giving conversations being produced….
“Hi, I’m Beth it’s so nice to meet you, where are you from?”
“You’re from where? “VIETNAM!?”
“Where in Vietnam?”
“Oh wow WOW! No Way! I lived a couple of miles right outside of there in November 2014! I worked with local fishermen to count and sell their fish at the market, we cleaned boats, cooked for the community, we worked at the local school playing group games and we LOVED your country and community the entire time.”
“I loved your country!!! Will you tell me more?”
*cue the happy tears….. of relief, of a unexpected bond, an undeniable connection.
For them I pray for the future opportunities to be that small sense of comfort of being understood in a land away from home. I really do dream of this.
If you’ve ever been there you know how precious it is to meet someone who, (even if it’s a struggle) does their very best to help you feel not so alone in a place thats not your first home. Ohh my heart dreams of this sweet future situation. The Lord is so good.
Peace & Blessings,
Beth Milam
#Beth Beyond Borders #InVietnamAsItIsInHeaven
“Then I heard the voice of The Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? And Who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here an I. SEND ME!”
Isaiah 6:8
