Well, i’ve been gone now for just about 10 months and learned a new lesson just this evening… man, they weren’t kidding when they told us this trip would only be the beginning.
We have cared for orphaned babies and “orphaned” elderly. In a country that worships their ancestors, I was shocked to see emaciated elderly in the woman’s home that we visit. There is a jewelry making project that works with elderly women as a way of encouraging them. We get to sit with them and chat while they make necklaces that a partner coffee shop sells. It’s pretty cool, too, because all the money made goes back to the women’s home. It was quite dehumanizing to see women in their 60s+ lying on cement beds that had drains in the middle for when they need to relieve themselves. They are attended to, but my heart broke to see these women forgotten by their families. The Lord stirred something new in my heart for the elderly. I pray that he shows me where to go with it in the states.
We also spent time in the University meeting students and inviting them to a coffee shop where we would meet and practice English. I loved this time for the students were fun to chat with and always asked us what movies we had been in. I really had to fight the urge to share my “extensive” film history!
On Saturday we’ll board a bus to
Cambodia leaving Viet Nam behind. I’ve met many amazing Christians
here and attended some underground church meetings which was awesome.
It is illegal to evangelize in Viet Nam so many groups meet secretly so
that they can invite friends and non-Christians. It’s awesome to see
the heart for Viet Nam that our Christian translators have. They truly
love their people and love to show us foreigners real Vietnamese life.
you can check out my other blog to see photos from the cerebral palsy schools we have been volunteering at if you have missed those. You can click here.
So, we will visit Angor Wat for a few days then ministry in Cambodia for two weeks then back to Bangkok for final debrief before coming home to the states!
