This month in Vietnam team Overcome does not have a ministry site or host. Our mission is “Unsung Heroes.”
Unsung Heroes definition-Men and women who are dedicated to serving some of the most impoverished populations in the world, yet rarely receive recognition for their dedication and service. These givers may also live with meager conditions but give consistently from an abundance of God’s love. Their names may not be in history books, their acts unknown to the rest of the world, while unrecognized, they shake a generation and move a culture and ultimately build the Kingdom.
Our mission– is to find these unsung heroes and to hear hearts, document visions, and empower hopes.
We are staying at a hostel in Ho Chi Minh City. We have spent a lot of time praying and trusting that God will lead us to these people. God has been so good and gave us 3 contacts in 30 min! Through former world racers who came back to Vietnam to serve.
We were able to meet up with all 3 already (God provided translators for all 3 meetings!) and it has been a huge blessing and encouragement to hear about their ministry, their vision and love for the Lord. I am beyond excited for the opportunities for future WR teams to come along side these ministries and serve! I wish I could spend the rest of the month engaged in these ministries.
Meeting with a contact at a coffee shop!
The gospel has only been in Vietnam for about 100 years and the churches have been growing incredibly. These unsung heroes have a passion to see the believers grow in their relationship with God and create disciples to share the good news to everyone. The gospel may be restricted by the government, but the people are ready to embrace the gospel! God is at work in Vietnam!
We also had a new member join our team in Cambodia. Huong, is from Vietnam and is considered our first exposure racer. She has jumped in last month and is a huge part of our team! Sadly though, she will only be with us till the end of this month. But it has been so fun having her show us around her country and teaching us her culture!!
One thing we been told is to not expect anything except that God will do the unexpected and work in amazing ways. And He has. Even though we don’t know what we’ll be doing or where we’ll be at next week, I know that God has a perfect plan for us and I’m so excited to see how God is going to continue to bring us to these unsung heroes!
Last week during our Unsung Heroes training meeting, I was given a task for the month and that is to assist our UH coordinator Beth in whatever she needs help with. My first thought was I can’t do that. I need something easier. But I didn’t say anything and as I was thinking about it I realize that I was putting a limit on myself on what I can or can’t do with my hearing loss. I was telling myself I can’t do this or that in ministry because I won’t be able to hear.
And I’m tired of doing that. Last month I taught 2 English classes by myself. Without a team member who could hear. But with a translator. Yes, it was difficult for me to hear but God enabled me to do it.
Just because I can’t hear doesn’t mean I have to tell myself what I can or can’t do. So why limit myself when I have a God who enables me to do far more than I imagined?
Just last night during a meeting with the unsung heroes at their school, we were able to join in one of the English/Koran class. And I was thrown into one out of four groups of students who hardly knew English and was told to teach them a song. Uhhh, ok. Let’s do this. (They had just given us a dinner of octopus and rice right before class so I was ready for anything after that.) And you know what? I had a blast! I (we) taught them the first verse to “Joy to the World.” And they all sang it beautifully!
Part of being willing to be used by God is letting HIM enable/empower you to do the things He has called you to do; without limiting yourself or doubting. When you allow Him to work in you like this, you will gain confidence in Him and in what He has called you to do. Whether it be teaching a song in English, sharing your story, quitting your job, leaving home for a year, throwing your hearing aids in a lake, loving on kids, eating crazy food or whatever else God calls you to do.
When I say “but God…” He tells me “Stop limiting yourself and let me work in you.”
I don’t know what else God will ask me to do, but whatever it is I can do it through Him who will enable me. I just need to obey and act on what He tells me to do and have faith that He will give me what I need to do it.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
P.S. Eating Octopus has been added to my bucket list and crossed out all in the same day!
Prayer- Unsung Heroes- Pray that God would continue to give us contact.
Pray that we would have discernment and wisdom in where God wants us to go.
Pray for Vietnam- They see the freedom in Christ and are reaching for it and growing in it.
Pray for the Fusion squad- Spiritual, emotional and physical health.
Pray/praise for funding- Praise God I only need $800 more before the end of the month! Pray for the $800 to come in before April and the $5000ish I need before July.
Pray for me- That I would continue to grow in God and have joy. That I would be willing to obey and believe in what He tells me to do.
