Our time to leave Vietnam came WAY too quickly. There was something so special and dear about the country, the ministry, our wonderful host, and the incredible kiddos we got to love on for the month! A part of my heart was completely broken when we had to say our good byes to them. I knew I would work with kids eventually on the race and honestly was kind of nervous about it. I love kids, but let’s face it, they make you feel awkward sometimes. I mean, what do you talk about? What do you do when you’re just sitting there and nobody’s talking, awkwardly staring at each other? What do you do when you don’t speak the same language? You simply love them. It has been an amazing month letting Jesus love those children through me and see them love us back. They didn’t see our flaws or our insecurities that we see in ourselves every day. They saw one more person to love.
I mentioned in my first Vietnam blog the heart behind the ministry and how genuine it was and now that the month is over with, I still stand true to that and 10 times more. Our host poured into us just as much, if not more, as we were pouring out at the center and into the kids. He empowered each one of us in things that we strive in. He took the time before we even got here to study our Bio’s on our WR information page to see what our passions are and placed us in areas that he knew we would enjoy growing in. I know nothing about photography or media but I decided to join the media one just because I love taking pictures and ended up loving it. It was just really awesome to see him support us and use our talents and desires instead of clumping us all together as 1.
Another thing that was so awesome to see was just how much the kids love him. They trust him (Here, it’s very difficult to let another person, especially a non-Vietnamese person, in to personal life). Those kids are so special. If only they knew they get prayed over/for every single morning. If they only knew that there’s someone SO much greater than we as humans could ever be. That there’s someone that is going to provide for them and protect them and never let them down. That there’s someone that loves them unconditionally and that there is nothing that will ever separate them from that love. God sees them and he will never stop pursuing them. My prayer is that He sends someone along that will be able to open their eyes to see Jesus and his love for them. We might not have seen any person come to Christ this month but I know that we planted seeds and watered the seeds that have already been planted.
Please continue praying for this ministry!! It will always be near and dear to my heart now! They’re in need of people who are willing to go teach English for a year with them (or longer). Pray that God continues giving our host the energy and the stamina he needs to continue pouring into these children the way that he does.
-Leah
