Never in my life did I ever dream that that I’d ever be in Vietnam. I didn’t actually know that I was going to Vietnam until May.
When I signed up for the World Race the original route I chose had only 3 months in SE Asia. I specifically chose that route because I didn’t know if I could handle being on this continent for 6 months. To be honest I was not at all excited about Asia all that much.
6 months into the race I am eternally grateful that God called me to change routes. I’ve absolutely fallen in love with SE Asia and Vietnam specifically.
One of the college students I met this month asked me what we Americans thought of Vietnam. At first I didn’t know how exactly to answer this question. I mean what did I think of Vietnam before I arrived here? The truth? I didn’t think about Vietnam period. I wasn’t on my radar at all… I mean sure we all know about the Vietnam war in the 70’s and to be honest that tends to be a pretty touchy subject in America, and that the country is now a communist country. Aside from those two nuggets of information I knew nothing else about Vietnam.
I didn’t know how quickly I would fall in love with this place.
I didn’t know how easily the Vietnamese people would capture my heart. I didn’t know that their hospitality and genuine desire to get to know me would just fill my heart to overflowing.
I didn’t know that God would bring me to DaNang, a city nestled on the coast surrounded by mountains. A city that continually took my breath away and constantly reminded me of Chicago, of home.
I didn’t know that this country had such a hunger for the gospel. I didn’t know that although this country is so closed God is moving in powerful ways.
view of the coast from a temple in the mountains
I didn’t know that I’d have the privilege of assisting in putting on a Christmas pageant open to the all the residents of DaNang – the first time the real story of Christmas was proclaimed openly in the city of DaNang to hundreds.
The Christmas pageant
I didn’t know that just by having conversations with people in coffee shops and various English clubs I could so freely and honestly share my faith and God’s love with people who had never heard about Jesus before.
Coffee shop ministry
I didn’t know that God would use my time in Vietnam to show me that family can exist is so may different forms, and while I may be away from home for the Holidays I will NEVER be alone.
I didn’t know that leaving this country would be one of the hardest goodbyes yet… (you’d think that after 6 months in I’d be a pro at this).
I’m currently sitting in a coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City enjoying my final hours here before boarding a flight to Dubai and then on to Uganda. As I think about the next 5 months I have left on the race I wonder if I’ll ever come back here to Vietnam afterwards. I wonder if God will bring me back to this place, I sure hope He does… but I really don’t know….
– Jess
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