I found myself wandering the streets of Dalat looking for someone, something, anything. I was doing the whole ATL (ask the Lord) and trusting that today in some way in Dalat City Vietnam I could be a blessing to someone. When we first arrived in Dalat at 4:30am, we got off the bus and explored a little of the city looking for a place to sleep at. We stumbled apon a little open square of stores selling all the items that Vietnam is known for. We sampled many of the dried fruits. So I decided to head back in that direction.
As I crossed the street it began to rain and a woman sitting at the front of the stores ushered me in and told me to wait. Her name was Linh. She spoke English very well so we began to talk a little as I waited out the rain. I went back to her shop and she explained the process of harvesting and creating the oolong tea. That was how our friendship began. As I left I promised her that I would come back and see her again
I spent many days walking to her shop to visit her and learn about her family. She is very close to my age, (I would say, but a lady never does) and she has a son who is 6 and full of life. She shared with me her pictures and stories about her family and life in Dalat as a child. Her father is very sick and is living in the hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Please send up some prayers for him. She took me to look for better shoes to wear after I hurt my back. (side note I am better now) She treated me to a special breakfast at her friend’s restaurant. I was able to share my faith and a bit of my life story with her. It was a blessing to talk so openly in a country that is “closed.” On one occasion we were harassed by another business owner who wanted to know who I was and why I was talking with her and going with her to places. She calmly told them I was her dear friend.
Leaving behind the people you come to know and love in each place is so difficult to do. It is not like a vacation where you invest time in site seeing, were investing time in people and relationships and then we part and wonder if we will ever see that person again or find a way to keep in touch.
