As I leave the lively twinkly city of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, there is so much to reflect on. The best way I can think to formulate my thoughts is to categorize them into my 5 senses. So here you go, enjoy! 🙂
I see the many friendly locals waving “hello” to us with a big smile on their face as we walk pass their home or business.
I see the red and gold colors of the Vietnam Flag decorate the outside of many homes.
I see the Vietnamese language displayed on signs of the streets written in the alphabet, but with different symbols above or below each letter to represent accents in the words.
I see coffee shops at every corner, and at every other few shops in between a street. Coffee is a BIG part of their culture. It’s formed as an espresso shot and drank very strongly.
I see narrow streets and homes that fit only the kitchen, living space, bathroom all in one room: like a studio apartment, but for more than 3 people. I see rows of small businesses lining the outside of the busy streets: restaurants, coffee shops, plant shops, small convenient stores, and many other creative businesses.
I see all the businesses with an open front, so that all motorcycles can drive in and drive off easily. I also see people living in the same space they work. If they own a coffee shop, they live there too. If they own a store, they live there too. If they own a restaurant, they live there too.
I see tiny little altars with statues of Buddha and offerings of fruit and incense set aside at the front of every shop, restaurant or home.
I see so many motorcycles out on the street: drivers wearing face masks to prevent from breathing in vehicle exhaust, women wearing heels driving the motorcycle, women on the back of a motorcycle driver with both legs on the side, and little children and babies riding in front of the driver. No seatbelts. The most a family can fit on a cycle are 6 people.
I see twinkling lights in the night time in town: lights from blinking advertisements, lights dangling from palm trees and other trees to create a fun ambiance, lights of decoration to welcome TET, which is The Vietnamese Lunar New Year which is celebrated the same day as the Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the Pig. It’s a two week celebration where people go back to their provincial lands to visit families.
I see locals at food stands selling dried squid and people selling souvenirs on the street after dark.
I see low prices to eat food, to buy groceries, to buy anything: it’s $23,000 = $1 USD. Everything was cheap there. A bus ride to downtown = $6,000 dong.
I see chickens being sold on the street with their own personal cage.
I see patches of green nature sprouting throughout random parts of the neighborhood: in the backyards, gardens, or front yards.
I see small little children bouncing from one part of the playground to the soccer field to the potty room to the playroom to my arms.
The sound of heavy traffic rings through my ears: vehicles honking, fast motors driving and vrooming by, cutting each other off and slowing down for pedestrians as they try to cross the busy road.
Sounds of roosters screaming “cock-a-doodle-doo” and chickens clucking from feet away as people try to sell them in their stores ring in the background of my ear.
The different tones of the Vietnamese language stands out on the street or in our ministry with children and adults.
The sounds of anticipation for the holiday Tet (The Vietnamese New Year) coming soon sing through the speakers in our ministry and on the streets: three songs. These songs will always remind me of Vietnam.
Other English children songs play over the speaker as we teach the kids new English words: “Open shut them,” “Hello, How are you?,” “GoodBye song,” “Wheels on the Bus,” “
And songs they already knew: Alphabet song, Old MacDonalds, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, The Wheels on the bus, and other nursery songs.
Sounds of laughter, crying, screaming, and other silly sounds came from the little children as we played with them daily.
I hear the strings of my ukulele make a sound after every chord was strummed.
I smell the smog of pollution coming out of motorcycles and car exhaust from nearby as well as pollution coming out of factories from afar.
The smell of grilled veggies and stewed meat with many spices simmers through the air when a meal is being cooked from the restaurants in the streets or at our ministry home.
I smell the burning of cigarettes that many men use out in public, inside hotel lobbies and in restaurants.
I smell the burning mixture of firewood and garbage occurring in the middle of our walk to and from ministry.
I smell the burning of incense that many people who are Buddhists use when giving an offering at their altar.
I taste the warm, strong hint of sweet espresso coffee each morning.
I taste the flavors of white rice, soy sauce, chili sauce, seasonings in meats, and different kinds of soup for every meal. I taste the chopsticks that feeds me on my tongue.
I taste the warm water I drink every day to hydrate my mouth and body, and I taste the fruit that is traditionally given after every meal.
I feel the earth and the floor beneath my feet as I had to take my shoes off every morning before coming into ministry.
I feel the constant itch that mosquitos give me after they bite me day in and day out. I feel the cool sensation of cream on my bites, and the spray of insect repellant on my skin. I feel the hot heat of the sun beaming down over the city and on my body. I feel the beads of sweat roll off my neck and stomach once I stood in the sun too long. I feel the comfort of air conditioner blowing in my direction after a hot sweaty walk home from ministry. I feel the chills run through my spine when the AC gets too cold in my room. I feel the temperature of cold water that runs out of my faucet for every shower I had.
I feel the touch of little children hands tugging at my shirt, little butts sitting on my lap and tiny arms wrapping around my waist to play and learn. I feel my insides wake up to life with energy and love after a drink of coffee and while children are giggling when they are silly or learning something new. I felt tears well up behind my eyes when I realized the perseverance and faith of the persecuted church.
It was an amazing experience to live in Ho Chi Minh City this past month of January 8th to February 2nd.
My biggest takeaways are:
1.)Learning about Vietnam’s past and how the war has affected their lives today.
2.)Learning the impact of a communist country and the lack of freedom of religion; especially Christianity and learning the history of the persecuted church.
3.)Children from all over the world can easily be directed, guided with love and the necessary life skills needed so that they can reach their full potential.
4.) God already exists in Vietnam; even if there is no freedom of religion. He is moving through so many people in so many ways, and it was awesome to witness His love there.
If you would like me to explain more on this, I already have in past blog posts. Please feel free to go back and read them. Titles: “The Persecuted Church in Vietnam” and “I’m Sorry for my Ignorance.”
UPDATES! We have raised about $15,013 out of $18,700. So many people have given during this past month of Vietnam. Now we only have to raise $3,687. I have missed the deadline of being fully funded by the end of January. However, thankfully The World Race – Adventures in Mission has extended grace to me for not making the deadline. Therefore, I won’t go home just yet. They are giving me time to make my deadline, but I don’t want to take advantage of this grace at all. So if anyone has any ideas on how I can raise the rest, please let me know!
I do know that:
If 184 people donate $20
Or 73 people donate $50
Or 36 people donate $100
Then I will be FULLY FUNDED! Please help me get there by spreading the word, praying for me, or personally making another donation or a first donation. Thank you again to all those who have already donated. It is already a miracle that we have raised $15,013 ALREADY! How amazing! Praise God, for sure! I believe raising this much IS a miracle itself. I am so so so so thankful. What seemed impossible at first shows that with God, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. And reaching the entire $18,700 WILL happen. I believe it! 🙂
We are currently in Siem Reap, Cambodia. We are having a retreat/debrief on the past 4 months. Reflecting, remembering, and ending our time with our team, so that we can transition into new teams. Many squadmates have been raised into new squad leaders, and there will be new team leaders. So there will be many changes we will find out in the next few days. Please keep us in prayer with the transition.
Thank you for reading all of this!
With Love,
Jasmine Jaurigue
