Pretty weird equation huh? But I think it’s one of the coolest things I have heard on the race so far because it hits so close to home.
My brother struggled with drug and alcohol addictions for a while through his teens/early twenties. Over the years I have come to have a heart for people who struggle with addictions. I know firsthand that a really loving, funny, kind, and smart person can simply make some poor decisions. At the time my family was living in an episode of “Intervention” I will be the first to admit I was not a good sister and had no compassion for my brother. For that I am truly sorry. But God has changed my heart over the years. Now He has blessed me with an abundance of grace and love for this specific group of people. He has also given me eyes to see them as Jesus does. I get especially excited when I hear stories about how their lives have changed once they have heard the Gospel. AND that is exactly what is happening in Vietnam! 🙂
Vietnam is a closed country with regulated churches but Christianity is spreading, especially in the north. One of the main forces behind this revival is recovering addicts. There were so many addicts in Vietnam that the government didn’t know what to do with them all so they built centers for them. The Christians here wanted to step in and love on these addicts, and the government didn’t object because they didn’t want to deal with them anyways. So Christians started reaching out and these addicts’ lives were changing right and left. They were becoming different people, it was undeniable. They noticed, and their family and friends noticed as well. These addicts who were searching so badly to find something to fill the emptiness in them, were being filled by the only thing that can completely fill anyone : Jesus. The addicts who were leaving their addictions behind to follow Christ had nothing to lose. They wanted everyone they knew to be filled like they were – they begin spreading the Gospel like wildfire. They are still speaking up to anyone who will listen and they don’t care if the government hears. They are literally making huge waves in the Kingdom for the Lord.
After hearing a friend’s personal testimony about how Christ changed his life, it’s undeniable what God is doing here. He showed me this video to get a glimpse of what is happening in the north. Watch this YouTube link and you will see what I’m talking about! IT’S SO AWESOME!!! 🙂 CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT!
The revival here especially warms my heart because it proves that Jesus can change anyone. People who are typically seen as “disposable” or “outcasts” to society are being used to fearlessly further the Kingdom in this closed country. Reread that sentence and think about how crazy and awesome that is! Jesus doesn’t care about anyones past, but He does care about and want their future. God can (& will) use anyone who has a willing heart. God loves to use the weak because then His power is highlighted even more vibrantly! Jesus was friends with the outcasts of society because He saw their hearts for what they really were. Sometimes the people who have screwed up the most are the easiest for Him to mold because they will do anything to change. In my opinion the most dangerous people to be around are the comfortable ones who don’t want to change to have their heart be more like Jesus.
We all have our own versions of addictions, it’s just some of us don’t have illegal addictions. An addicts’ sins are no different than anyone else’s. Addictions aren’t the only thing that we all struggle with in some shape or form, we all have idols too. Sometimes an addiction is your idol, sometimes it’s not. Today I realized we might not have physical statues we worship in America, but realistically anything we put ahead of God is an idol. Whether it’s television, exercising, food, drugs/alcohol, money, relationships, etc. Anything that consumes your life more than God is an idol. Check your schedule and be honest with yourself. I have had a huge reality check when looking at how much time I waste on doing pointless things throughout my day. YIKES! None of us get a “do-over” in life. It would be a shame to waste it away watching pointless shows or revolving your life around pointless things.
My team is in Danang, Vietnam – it is absolutely beautiful! We are working with an organization called Orphan Voice and it’s such an awesome organization! We have been at a few different orphanages playing with kids and spending lots of time loving on babies. It seems like a small thing, but these kids need all the love and attention they can get! We also have been at an elderly home a few times volunteering however they need help there. From young to old, we have seen God moving in so many ways through the workers at OV – they are the ones who really make an impact on the people they work with. In this closed country, building a good friendship is the key to showing people Christ. 🙂 Orphan Voice has this down. Check out their website and pray about donating to the work happening in Vietnam! www.orphanvoice.org
Thanks for reading this extra long blog!
love you all! 🙂
heather
