1. 25+ new family members
Getting to go on The World Race is already a rare opportunity… to add to that, I got the chance to meet my family in Hanoi, Vietnam! Even though it was my first time meeting them, I felt at home… literally. There were so many striking resemblances between my grandma and her sisters and I loved getting to hear more about my family history. I felt I was gaining a piece in my heart, something I didn’t even know I was missing. I still don’t quite understand the whole family tree but it doesn’t matter to me… I love each and every one of them.
2. Attending school is a privilege, not a right
In America, every child has to attend school. There is even a thing called truancy, where you have to go to court for missing school. Going to school is just a no-brainer… a thing you have to do growing up, whether you like it or not. That’s not the case around the world. Vietnam has taught me that going to school is a privilege. My team was assigned to a ministry in Vung Tau, working in a very poor fishing village. The vision of the ministry is to provide housing and a loving environment so the children do not have to work in the slave-like conditions in the fisheries. There are about 18 children that live there… but not all of the children’s parents can afford to send them to school. Because some of the kids went to school for part of the day, we were given the opportunity to teach the children that could not go to school! Without any schooling, these children would eventually have to get low-paying jobs for their rest of their life with very little opportunity to move up in society. They taught me what a privilege it is to learn and how much I take that for granted.
- The Lord taught me to love kids
Ooooh, if you know me at all…. You know I’m awful with kids. I even told people before the race that I prefer prison ministry than working at an orphanage. Well, The Lord completely took my ignorance for children and put the most loving group of kids in my life this month. I don’t even know how to put it in words because there are no words to describe how much they found a place in my heart, even when I thought it was impossible. I’ll just post some pictures to capture some of the sweet moments with these children!
This has been the hardest goodbye so far on the race. Good thing it’s more of a “see you later!” I can’t wait till we all get to heave and resume our giant dance party!
4. Teaching is HARD WORK but so extremely rewarding
Sorry, totally taking from my Instagram caption but I can’t describe it any other way. I finally understand why teachers do what they do and they are totally superheroes. My spiritual gift is DEFINITELY not teaching or that my place is in a classroom… but I finally understand why teachers do what they do. Days are long, planning lessons are difficult, and keeping your class’ attention is about near impossible. But I honestly can’t describe to you the feels when a student gives you a beautiful homemade card, complete with a stick figure version of you and your name possibly misspelled. Or when all of your students run up to you in the morning and drag your hand up to the classroom because they’re so eager to learn that day. Or to see your students not wanting to go to recess because they rather re-copy their notes and spend time with you. Or my favorite… when they try to use the English phrases you’ve taught them in class on your friends back home over FaceTime. It’s a type of pure JOY that I’ve never experienced before.
5. Embracing my heritage, but most importantly… who God made me to be
Read my last blog about How God transformed me to stop hating Asians here
6. How to sing Joy to The World in another language
I knew being away from the holidays were going to be hard but I made it even harder on myself when I started playing the comparison game. I was comparing myself to what I was allowing my eyes to see. My mind was being filled with Facebook posts of families coming together, pictures of cool gifts my friends received and fun outings of Zoo Lights or Secret Santa Exchanges on Snapchat. Satan was able to get into my head that God was making me miss out and for a while, I believed the beast. But it was Christmas Eve service that made me realize… I was exactly where God wanted me to be.
My team and I had the special privilege of singing Joy to The World with the students that we had been teaching this month. We spent the last two weeks teaching the students how to sing Joy to The World in English… and vice versa, we learned how to sing the song in Vietnamese. I’m not saying it sounded pretty… but definitely a moment I’ll always remember.
My best friend’s mom so eloquently put it: “That choir picture of the little ones is what heaven is going to look like.
7. Fear of Rejection
If you read my blog last month, I expressed that the Lord revealed to me the next way He’s sanctifying me: my addiction to approval. I wanted to tackle my unhealthy need of people pleasing head on! I confessed this so my team, as well as both of my community groups at home. It’s like the Lord put this huge thing on my plate but no way to grasp on to it. I kept praying and praying about it. Here were some cool things I learned from this month about it:
- Rejection hurts because we see people as mirrors, who reflect back on who we really are… BUT like Mark 6:6 says, “He wondered at their unbelief.” How people treat you says a lot more about them than it does about you so don’t take it personally. Jesus didn’t second guess Himself… He was amazed/wondered about THEIR lack of faith.
- John 15 says a slave is not greater than its master. YOU represent Jesus… so because He was rejected, you will be rejected as well. Other’s attitude towards Jesus will then may became their attitude towards you, even subconsciously. Instead of expecting honor, approval, or popularity.. if you’re a Christian, expect SHAME, REPROACH AND REJECTIONS. But still “Even if people disagree with what you believe, live in such a way that makes them glad you are on this earth.” Pastor Todd Wagner 🙂
8. Vietnam is a “closed” country
We were in a country where it was extremely dangerous to be a missionary. Praying out loud was not an option… we had to have code words like Jerry for Jesus, Big Papa for God, Yarping for praying. To be honest, I was thrilled with the challenge… I felt like we were undercover spies for God. Then, I was reminded of the darkness that occurs when God or the presence of God is despised. BUT GUESS WHAT. People are still coming to Christ every single day because that’s how powerful He is…
On Christmas eve, over 30 people accepted Christ and it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
9. The True Crisis of Anxiety
I listened to a sermon from the Quarter Life Crisis Series and it gave me a new perspective of anxiety. Anxiety is not a new thing in my life. Like many of our youth today, I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder during my junior year of college. What I didn’t know is worrying is a sin. This command isn’t to make you feel guilty, but more so you can treat it like a sin. You can gather in community about it… pray about it… confess it… He says do not worry about ANYTHING.
- Worrying is a waste of life: Stress or worrying is negative productivity. It does nothing to your life.
- Worrying is worldly worship: Is God ever wrong? “Worrying is being fearful that God will get it wrong… bitterness is believing that He did.” -Tim Keller
- Wage war with worries: Remember what God is doing, remember that God is GOOD and take it one step at a time.
So friends, let’s battle worry with WORSHIP and fear with FAITH
10. God’s timing is PERFECT
I’m FULLY FUNDED. I’ve said this before but this past year, I’ve learned that the real F word is FUNDRAISING. Almost all missionaries have to experience it at least once and boy, it is full of highest of highs and lowest of lows. When I got accepted on The World Race last December, I had a side of me that said “$17,000… game face on, we’ll have it done in 3 months” and another side of me that said “$17,000? YEAH RIGHT, that’s never going to happen.” And guess what…!? He provided. Not a minute earlier and not a minute less. I still have some teammates that need funding to stay on the field so read some of their awesome blogs.
amandalarue.theworldrace.org
audreykeith.theworldrace.org
11. This was my first time in the motherland but definitely not the last
