What a month. I sure am going to miss waking up every morning and saying “Good morning, Vietnammm!” But I am also probably a bit too excited to be able to say “Back in ‘Nam…” when retelling stories from this month.
This month has marked month #5 in Southeast Asia and our second semi-closed country. My month was split between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang (including nearly 50 hours of travel in between the two). I got to experience the beautiful mountains and gorgeous beaches of this country that took my breath away nearly everyday. We sang worship from the tops of mountains at sunrise, spent quality time with the Lord on the beach, and watched the sunset behind the mountains on a bridge. I caught myself asking the question every morning, “Is this really the life I get to live?!”.
Due to it being a semi-closed country, we had to get creative with ministry. I got to be a part of English clubs where we built relationships with college students. To them our purpose was to teach English, but to us our purpose was so much more than that. We talked about all sorts of things, from animals to tourism to our hometowns. And with God on our side, we also got to talk about Him. As a result, two of our incredible students gave their life to Him! Two eternities were changed forever, and that’s means for celebration!
This month was one of my favorites. It was so far from what I expected. I went through a lot of training all month as I step into a new role, and continually had to look to Him for my strength and guidance. I have never felt His presence nearer to me and truly learned what it means to walk in his light burden.
The words of Psalm 46 (TPT) resonated so strongly with me this month:
“God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble—more than enough and always available whenever I need you. So we will never fear even if every structure of support were to crumble away. We will not fear even when the earth quakes and shakes, moving mountains and casting them into the sea. For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves cannot erode our faith in you. God has a constantly flowing river whose sparkling streams bring joy and delight to his people. His river flows right through the city of God Most High, into his holy dwelling places. God is in the midst of his city, secure and never shaken. At daybreak his help will be seen with the appearing of the dawn. When the nations are in uproar with their tottering kingdoms, God simply raises his voice and the earth begins to disintegrate before him. Surrender your anxiety, be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.” (various verses)
Today we fly to Europe and will begin our 3 months in Bosnia! As much as I have loved Asia, I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store in Europe (and for the weather, which will be 30 degrees cooler #PRAISE)!
