This past month has been a whirlwind of fun and change! At the end of Cambodia we were introduced to our new team for the next leg of the race. My new team is Abide in J.O.Y!
This month we are in Da Nang, Vietnam. Some months (most) on the race are spent sleeping on the floor in hot humid rooms with no AC and no hot water. This month, however, we feel like queens with a cold AC unit, hot water, and a hostel only 2 blocks from the prettiest beach you ever did see. Praise!
This month we are partnered with CRU, College Campus Crusade. Vietnam is a communist country and as such it is illegal to be a missionary….So we are English teachers and hold class in random coffee shops all over the city for any college student that wants to attend. Through our meetings we get to answer any questions about faith and present the gospel!
Part of our ministry is to build relationship with the students. That means when we get an opportunity to spend the day with a group of University students, we eagerly say “YES!”.
This past week looked like breaking the cardinal rule of the World Race…No Motos!
Motorbikes can be very dangerous, yes. Motos are the main choice of transportation in Asia and the streets are mass chaos at every turn. But when the budget is tight and the whole point of ministry IS to build relationships, why would we say no?…
So we strapped on our helmets (because we are adventurous, not stupid), hopped on the tiny motto bikes and took an exhilarating ride to the ancient city of Hoi An!
In Hoi An we spent the day laughing, shopping, and eating the best street food with some pretty amazing students. On the ride home, with full bellies and happy hearts, we sang Christmas carols loud and proud with the students as they drove us home. It was a magical night I will always remember.
My beautiful and talented teammate, Juliana Grinols captured the day perfectly with her vlog. Hope you enjoy!
Please pray for the students we encounter. We have had great opportunities to share the gospel with eager students that clearly want to know more about Jesus. Most Vietnamese are Buddhists and walking away from their family religion can be met with aggression, abandonment and even persecution from the government.
Becoming a Christian here is no light matter but the students in this country are so hungry for the hope that comes from the Gospel.
Please pray for the students that have accepted Christ as their Savior. Their boldness and determination to share Christ with their lost classmates is by far one of the bravest and most beautiful things I’ve seen on the race.
God is at work in this country, it’s a beautiful thing to be apart of.
Thank you for the prayers!
