came and went in far too quickly!
is non-stop “go go go” and millions of people race around on motorbikes.
We stayed
the month in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) on a busy street that was
always alive with activity. It was a real change for us and pretty fun; minus
the 4am karaoke sessions that happened here and there.
centered in the city but I was lucky to go on a couple excursions into the
villages and towns in the less populated areas of Vietnam too! We worked with
underground churches, schools, orphanages, elderly homes, discipleship groups
and a leper colony. All of which were hugely rewarding and I would do again in
a millisecond.
The elderly
home was one of my favorite places we visited. The people were so desperate for affection and quality time!
They were incredibly welcoming and clearly grateful for someone to take the
time to speak with them (even if we couldn’t understand each other. It broke my
heart. Many men there were war
veterans with no one to care for them. They, just as much as all the others
welcomed us Americans with joy! It was wonderful. One of the best days I have
had this whole year.
colony was a favorite too. These
amazing people had all suffered from leprosy long enough to lose limbs or
hands. One woman (my favorite) suffers in her back and legs but also has major
deterioration on her face. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen! She responded a lot to our singing and
our prayers for her. Another man
who’d lost both hands from leprosy welcomed us all with a huge grin and a
performance. He held his hymnbook with one arm while the other was on his heart
and he beautifully belted out praises to the Lord for us! It was incredibly
moving. We also visited the home
of two men who were from a tribe in one of the bush villages. They said they were lucky to find the leper
community and church because they had been completely cast out of their tribe
and village when their family and friends found out they had leprosy. They were disowned and left to their
own devices. Can you imagine?
While God
really gave us a glimpse into the heartache and hardship the lepers had faced, He was also faithful to make His
presence in their lives known. Each and every person in the leper colony had a
testimony of where they used to be and what God has done in their lives! Many
had been healed from the disease but remain with the community friends. Their spirits were so full of joy and
peace, that I felt comforted when I
left.
So, the
country of Vietnam is technically a “closed” country. Which means the gospel
cannot legally be preached. But is it preached? Oh yes. Coming
into the month I expected maybe a tiny church here and there and people that
were timid, afraid and secretive about their faith. But that is not true in the slightest. What I experienced in
Vietnam just proves that no governmental legislation can keep God away from his
people and that nothing can keep the people who know him from spreading his
love and telling of his goodness.
last days in Vietnam I met a man who has spent the last 20+ years walking the
streets of Ho Chi Minh and telling people the about Jesus. He has to take an
hour bus ride into the city each day from his home where he lives alone,
bringing nothing but his Bible and depending on God to provide food for the day
(which He always does). He has been jailed 8 times over the years yet continues
to speak the truth to anyone we passes by! He told me about healing miracles he
has seen God perform and stories of people coming to know God: he had an arsenal
of them! The man has no shame, no
fear and no alternative desire. He is fueled solely by the love and truth of
Jesus. Dang it was humbling.
I hope I
can live a life full of the boldness, compassion and joy that these believers
live. I was so inspired and awed at Gods work Vietnam, and with his people. I’m
praying I can come back someday.
