Oh, Vietnam. Where do I start? I was a little culture shocked when we walked out of the airport, especially coming from Madagascar. I was not used to seeing big flashing signs, shopping malls, restaurants, and riding in an air-conditioned bus. We flew into Ho Chi Minh, stayed at a hostel for two nights and then took a 26-hour bus ride to Da Nang where we spent the month teaching English.
When I found out we were teaching English I was not excited. I had never taught before and honestly the thought of it terrified me. Also, I didn’t see the point of doing ministry in a closed country because we weren’t able to openly talk about Jesus.
Turns out, I loved teaching. I had a night class with college-aged students and I taught some of the staff. In between classes, I hung out with the younger kids. We spent time at the beach, rode bikes around the city, and I even killed a chicken.
Although I really enjoyed ministry, I hit a bit of a plateau when it came to spiritual growth. I was too comfortable and didn’t push myself the way I had previous months. Sure, we were in a closed country, but I made that an excuse to not chase after the Lord.
Although this was the most comfortable month I’ve had so far, I did still learn from it. I learned that in pursuing a relationship with Christ, you can’t let yourself get comfortable. It doesn’t matter if I’m back in the states, in a hotel room in Vietnam, or am taking a bucket shower in Madagascar. We should never stop learning or just “take a break”. God wants us to pursue him actively and relentlessly, the same way He pursues us, short and sweet.
God Bless.
