The month in Vietnam was full of blessings. We experienced so
much, all over the country. My team traveled to many different cities,
sharing our testimonies and encouraging people everywhere we went. We
had many opportunities to pray for healing, and also saw ~6 people come
to Christ – possibly more 🙂 . We found ourselves traveling in some
not so pleasant circumstances (8 hours in a 16-passenger van filled
with 20+ people with our luggage on our laps, and a 24 hour ride on an
overbooked train with hardwood bench seats), but on the other side of
those rough travel experiences were amazing blessings. We were met by
people who were anxious to serve God and also serve us. People who
gave from nothing, and always put our needs before theirs. Throughout
the month we heard and experienced stories, some shocking, all
inspiring. Everywhere we went we were monitored by the government.
Anywhere our “amigos” (ministry contacts) went they
were monitored. We were even pulled over by the police driving back
from a weekend of ministry, and our contact was questioned for half an
hour as we sat praying in the van for her safe return. It was wild to
think that one minute we could be driving with her, and the next
possibly never see her again. The end result was our driver receiving
a fine from the government officials. He had broken no laws, but that
didn’t matter, the police still fined him for driving us. It was
interesting to openly evangelize in a country where evangelism is
illegal. It is legal to be a Christian but illegal to evangelize.
Still, the church of Vietnam is working around the government
oppression. The gospel continues to move forward in the country,
through the efforts of courageous men and women who care more about
Christ then their own safety and comfort. People who say “Yes” to
Jesus, even if it could mean losing their life. People who say “Yes”
even when facing imprisonment. People who say, “Here I am, Lord, send
me!”, even if it means living a life under constant supervision.
I haven’t been able to write about Vietnam until now, and so I am
kind of spilling out random thoughts that have been bouncing around my mind.
