This month we are in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. We are living at a hostel with AC, normal showers, a mini fridge and a Western toilet (no squatty potties) – Hallelujah!
We can walk across the street to Starbucks, down the road to an amazing bakery, or walk along the alley next to us for some street vendors Vietnamese Pho (pronounced Fuh).
We take taxis to our ministry sites. We have pretty decent Wi-Fi wherever we go. We can drink iced coffee and fruit smoothies at basically any time of the day.
So where is God in all of this?
I found myself asking that many times in the first week.
We are teaching English this month. To students from 1st grade to University age and even up to 29 years old.
We are preparing some students for their Visa exam so that they can pass and study abroad in the US, AUS or Canada.
We are teaching kids the difference between nouns and adjectives and similar sounding words.
We are having normal conversations with the older students about life here in VN, life in the US, our families, the difference in government and freedoms.
But we can’t bring up Jesus. We can’t share our purpose here as missionaries. We can’t evangelize or talk about the World Race unless we are in a Christian home or setting.
Those kind of things aren’t allowed here. Freedom of speech? Freedom of religion? Nope. Not in public.
It’s all pretty hush hush. Don’t say that here. We have to practice extreme caution. This is a Communist country. A closed country.
So because of all of this I found myself asking why we are here. We can’t be missionaries.
“What do you want of me God?”
I was actually with my team doing a silent, non-obvious, prayer walk at a park when I asked God the above question. I was standing by a pond looking across the park asking the Lord what He wanted for me. He said He wanted me to go sit at the bench across from the pond. “Ok, cool God. Thanks so much for that.” But, I moved anyway. Besides, it was shaded and cooler than standing in the sun.
So, I’m sitting there for maybe 2 minutes before this guy around my age comes and stands next to me. He introduces himself as Dao and asks if he can sit down with me. Surprised that he speaks English and that he wants to sit with me, I say yes (only after looking back at Megan and Katie to make sure they can see me). He asks where I’m from and why I’m here…I have to give him my generic answer of being here to teach and do humanitarian work….which is true but only half truth.
I ask him how long he has been speaking English and he says only for 1 year (it was really great English so I was very shocked). He goes on to say how amazing he thinks it is that we would leave our country and visit others to help people. He says he wants to do that also. He says that he is listening to what God wants for his life and that is why he chose to learn English.
I tell him I think that is great and that he is smart for choosing to listen (I couldn’t say anything more as we were in a very busy, public park). He says that becoming a Christian was the hardest yet easiest thing he has ever done. Hard because he lost all of his family and friends and he has felt like he is being watched ever since; Easy because he hears from God everyday and knows He is in control. He knows He is loved by the Most High. He encourages me to keep going and believing in the task that is at hand…because it is good.
He tells me that our purpose here is so much more than I could see and that we are a light in ways we do not even fully understand. (remember, I said absolutely nothing about the real reason we are on this trip or who I am or what I believe)
As he is leaving he smiles, shakes my hand, calls me his “new friend” and says “God bless you.”
This was my encounter with a Vietnamese man of God. A man who so fully trusts and depends on God’s provision and love that he is fearless.
It was such a perfect moment. A reminder of why I am here. It renewed my wonder and awe of God.
Such a simple, small experience was used in so may huge ways. It is so beautiful to see that God has planted believers who are walking in faith, in the streets of Communist Vietnam. They are fearless, bold.
Pray for Dau. Pray he would be protected, blessed and meet new believers to be in community with. Pray for Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, that they would see God and be in awe of who He is. Pray for them to be in wonder.
None are like our God. He deserves all honor and glory and praise. Holy, Holy, Holy is our God. We cannot even fathom His beauty. And so I sit in awe and wonder of who He is.
“Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”
Exodus 15:11
