If I had to describe The River in two words it would be unconditional love.
When the kids walk through the front door everything else is left outside their circumstances, their finances, their hurt and pain, nothing matters beside that they’re perfectly made in Gods image and they will be loved as just that.
The Lasan kids blew us away with their intelligence, English, and social skills. After visiting the school itself and meeting other kids who don’t attend The River we quickly realized why we were blown away is because this program has broken down barriers for them and loves on them in a way that makes them believe they’re capable of anything. The River recharges their childlike imagination and creativity and gives them a new hope and faith they don’t get just being in local Vietnamese schools.
The Life Skills kids are so special and The River is 100% responsible for that. These kids are from some of the most affluent families in Vietnam and their parents are sending them to The River to get another level of education, to one-up the other overly worked kids of this country.What these kids are receiving though is a heart for people, confidence in who they are, and the ability to communicate effectively and equally. This month they were learning about compassion the last assignment was an oral report where they had the freedom to create a story that demonstrates what they’ve learned. These are kids that worry about nothing, everything is taken care of for them and there they were delivering a report on taking time to stop and talk to and love on those less fortunate then them because of what they’re getting here at The River.
This is their unknowing connection to our Savior and it’s a beautiful thing we feel blessed to have witnessed and taken a part in. Every day before classes start we would sit around pick a card with a picture of one of the kids on it and pray for them. Joel is an amazing individual, the Spirit is so evident in him, we can not thank him enough for opening his doors to us and inviting us in to share in what God is doing here. But, he didn’t stop there he took time to pour into us the way he does with the kids. He is a true definition of unconditional, equal, yet individualized love which is a direct reflection of our Heavenly Father.
Thank you and your amazing wife, Marie, for listening to the Holy Spirit so intently. Thank you for spending two years prayer walking the broken city of Ho Chi Minh. Thank you for your patience, waiting for Jesus to open the right doors to make The River a reality and a light in the center of hopelessness.
You will be missed,
Team Ahava-Chara, World Race S-Squad 2017
The Lord has placed it on our team’s heart to share our contact’s information from Vietnam with all of you. The River is a busy place during the week where children come and learn English and Life Skills. These children fall into two categories of the rich and the poor. Both groups of kids get the opportunity to walk through the doors at the River and be loved in the same way. Both sets of kids get to experience creativity, passion, and purpose.
The River operates through having interns and long term volunteers come teach English and Life Skills. It is such a wonderful opportunity to spend a year in Vietnam teaching English and Life Skills, while also showing the love of the Kingdom. It is also a chance to be poured into by a wise man named Joel Watson and work with such an incredible team that is at the River.
Below is Joel’s contact information. My hope is that someone from my network, or yours (since you’re reading my blog-yay!), would feel called to join the River’s team. Or that you may know of someone who has desired to spend a year over seas serving or feels called to teach English, and could point them toward this place.
Joel Watson
+849.3878.8648
[email protected]
riverconsultants.com
Our time at the River has been incredible and we know whoever signs up to be a volunteer with them will be joining a wonderful team, and will have a year of growth and encouragement themselves. I am praying myself about returning to Vietnam for the 2018-2019 school year.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about the River, Joel Watson, and possibly serving in Vietnam PLEASE please reach out to me or contact Joel Watson through his email.
We are trusting in the urge God gave us to share his information and also praying for long term volunteers to be called to serve alongside Joel at the River.
Love,
Jessica
