This year for thanksgiving, was unlike any other. I love to cook and serve people, especially when it’s a holiday. But this year on the race, I didn’t think that was going to be a possibility. Well it wasn’t, at least not in the way I am used to.
The Bread of Life Western Eatery in Da Nang, is a place that’s so wonderful for people from America, Europe, and Australia looking for some western food such as pasta, pizza, burgers, and of course a killer breakfast menu! It was such a ministry to us this month to have some fave foods from home.
One of the best parts of Bread of Life is that it’s not just a restaurant but a ministry. A ministry for the deaf in Da Nang. In many countries, people who have any type of disability are treated as if they are below the majority of the population. They are given little to no opportunities for school and work and treated so poorly it is heart breaking.
The food there is a bit more expensive than what you would find from a street vendor or most of the smaller restaurants in the area, but it’s well worth it. Not only is the food incredible, but part of the money goes to employ and help out the deaf staff of 20. 20 people who wouldn’t be given this great of an opportunity elsewhere. It’s an incredible place.
For thanksgiving they were doing the full traditional thanksgiving meal and taking reservations, since it’s one of the busiest days of the year. 2 people from each team were able to help serve and the rest of the teams got to come enjoy a taste of home! Being that my favorite part of thanksgiving is the preparation, cooking, and serving of the meal, I was so excited to help.
I had no idea the impact these people and this place was about to have on me.
I’ve had a little experience with sign language in the past, but haven’t used much in so long that I only remember a few words, so I was praying that somehow I’d still be able to talk to the people I was working with. The Lord just continually blows me away. He was right there in every conversation, making them just work as if there weren’t any limitations to our communication to begin with. There’s no way this could have happened so well without Him!
Out of the 20 staff members, all but 3 are Christians! In a country that is so closed to the gospel being shared and where people are openly persecuted for believing in our Lord, that is such an amazing thing! More than that, these beautiful people are bold and love their faith! I loved them talking to me about how we are family and how we will see each other in heaven one day! How one girl asked me if I was married and when I said no, she told me she wasn’t either but that she was praying for God to pick out her husband and how she would pray for Him to pick out my husband too. Just so many beautiful people. So many talks that just touched my heart so much. Here I thought I was going to help and to ‘minister’ to them, and I was more blessed by them!
I’ve always wanted to have a restaurant of my own somehow, someday. More and more, God’s been showing me ways I could do that and still use it for ministry. Bread of Life has given me even more confirmation that this is something I want to pursue in the future, Lord willing. I just love how God gives us just what we need, just when we need it. This was one of the most life giving days on the race thus far for me. Such an affirmation from God in my gifts and passions and future dreams, and just how much He can use all of them!
I can’t even put it into words well enough how much I loved this day. How much my heart just loves them. I will never forget this thanksgiving. Thanks Abba for such a beautiful joy filled day!
