Greetings from Saigon!
I fell asleep on the bus here. I know that we crossed over from Cambodia to Vietnam. It was dusty and hot when I slept. When I awoke, we were in a green garden. This is my first impression of Ho Chi MInh City. It is Springtime in Vietnam. I sat on a heap of bags and lazily strummed a guitar, still half wondering if I were dreaming.
The park has become more of my daily reality. We walk in it, through it, by it. It is the heart of the city. Last Tuesday, as my team prayed for direction, one member felt strongly that we were supposed to go on a bus. There was some divine encounter to be had on the bus. Later that day,we had a destination. Only half of the team showed up and we were already running late. So, the four of us ventured out via taxicab. No worries, we will catch the bus on the way back. And then we didn’t. We missed the last bus of the day. Taxi, again. Out of sheer exhaustion, I fell asleep in the cab. The others had a few more errands to run. I fought to keep my eyes open. Then, finally, we head back to the hostel via the park. My teammate Becca expresses her disappointment that we didn’t have a divine appointment. No sooner had she said this, we spot an unusually high number of locals clustered around travelers. Odd. We approach and ask what was happening. A polite French woman informs us that we had stumbled upon English club- an informal collective sharpening their English via tourists.She then invites us to join. Within moments, I am enveloped by an inquisitive troupe of young people. When asked about my whereabouts in Vietnam, I had to be evasive. For overall safety, we are “Humanitarians traveling the world to better understand culture.” One of the girls there beamed as I told her about our time in Cambodia. She said I had a heart of gold.
Most strikingly, however, was my second encounter at the English club. One particular student stayed back past the alloted time and conversed with me in very clear English. He was asking about my views on ethics, politics, history, preconcieved notions and war. His English didn’t really need to be sharpened. He was seeking answers. He was seeking Jesus. I don’t know when I will see him again, but I pray that I am ready. 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
This month has surely put me on my toes. God has been asking me to stay prepared, because you never know who He puts in your path next.
Thank you for following along on my journey! Prayers are appreciated.
