This month hasn’t been easy. It’s been hot, crazy schedule and routines, not much team unity, and on top of all that- homesickness from not being home for the holidays have kicked in. We work at a coffee shop in speaking rooms. Customers come in, order a delicious drink, and come upstairs and we sit and talk (in English) help with new vocabulary words and pronunciation, but mainly just talk about anything and everything. Overall this has been a shorter month too so we squeezed in lots of things during our time here. We served a huge traditional Thanksgiving meal to 160 people at the coffee shop. Also with Vietnam having much history, I was sure to take advantage of those neat opportunities. I visited the Mekong Delta for a day as well as the Cu Chi tunnels from the Vietnam War as well as all sorts of local restaurants and markets.
With lots of sweat, rice & noodles, restless nights, and conversations about Trump being elected. I heard God whisper to take it all in, to choose joy. My joy can be contagious to those I interact with in the conversation rooms, but it’s a choice I have to make. There are so many opportunities every day to seek joy and be thankful for. So here is the list I’ve complied about some joyful moments I have witnessed in Vietnam.
-Decorating the apartment for Christmas with my Vietnamese housemate & some of my teammates! Lots & lots of tinsel!
-Self-date to get a pedicure with Christmas music playing in the background.
-Eating an amazing dinner at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant where no one speaks English!
-Playing Ultimate Frisbee on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with locals & other missionaries.
-Getting a coffee surrounded by all sorts of dogs! Great cheap therapy.
-Asked if I know a ‘Desmond Johnsoon’ because they are friends on Facebook & he’s an American (just like me).
-Approaching a local to get help with getting a wifi password & then having to the wave to people they’re skyping.
-A few Chinese girls excitement to see other foreigners on the street when asking where the closest mall is on my walk back home from the coffee shop.
-Cleaning lady always counting how many of my teammates come out of the elevator & her excitement to count in English.
-Attending a 3D museum to take lots of silly photos.
It’s been such a great experience being in the city of Ho Chi Minh. God has been so faithful. I have been reminded of the importance of choosing joy and saying thanks to every opportunity I come across to better myself with acknowledging His presence & be in constant dialogue with Him.
Thank you for all your support. It’s crazy to think month 4 is wrapping up. I am 1/3rd of the way done. And I am so thankful this journey continues.
Be sure to check out the video I complied of my time so far on the Race. This video was shown at my home church, Woodcrest, for their annual mission fair a few weeks ago.
Woodcrest Mission Fair 2016 from Mariah Brammer on Vimeo.
