As I sip on some very strong Vietnamese coffee and sit in a coffee shop that overlooks a very busy part of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, I can’t believe that it has been almost three months since leaving home.
In these past three months, I have experienced three very different cultures, seen how there isn’t a culture that is turned off or closed to the gospel, and loved on many different people ranging from toddlers in tiny villages to the lady who sits on the stairs eating her dinner in our current hostel.
The world is a way bigger place than I ever imagined and God is even bigger than my mind can understand. He is working EVERYWHERE and has His people making an impact around the world, near and far. Getting a taste of what it truly means to live a life for others is completely frightening, but absolutely filling.
Daily I wake up and can feel it in my heart that God has appointed each one of these days on the race to prepare me and sow seeds for the future whether He calls me right back home or around the world. I wake up, get ready, and feel great purpose in each day.
So, month three is ending and we are getting ready for month four. Where am I at with the race? Completely and utterly flabbergasted with all that the Lord has allowed me to experience. Heart aching brokenness, but redeeming love and hope. The race has been a whole lot harder than I envisioned it, but that also means I’m growing in many ways I didn’t even expect. I have watched as God has used past seasons and lessons in my life and brought them to fruition on the race. He continues to connect dots and show me why I walked through different seasons of life and why they were necessary for what I am encountering now and getting to grow in.
Living in community with six awesome women has been difficult, but so worth it. I love the challenge of choosing to love and grow as individuals and as a team. I love watching as God breaks each one of us down and uses the community we have been placed in to share in the heartache of what we are surrendering to Him and the growth that is coming out of this surrender. It has been an immense blessing to lead such a fearless and beautiful team of women. I have thoroughly enjoyed embracing the awkward feedback sessions, worshipping as a team, grabbing dinner together, and dancing around and being silly together. Community is such a beautiful part of life and it has brought so much to my race.
I have a few more blogs to post about Vietnam and our M from this past month so stay tuned! I just wanted to share a brief update of how the race has impacted me thus far and how thankful I am for this opportunity to pursue God and his people around the world.
I will never stop thanking all of you faithful supporters because you are a HUGE reason why I am here in Vietnam and living out this calling. THANK YOU for believing in what God has called me to and following along as He leads me through this year. I am truly grateful for all of you and continually thank God for each one of you.
I hope you have a wonderful and blessed weekend!
Many Blessings,
Michelle
(P.S. $450 AWAY…the FINAL $450!! THANK YOU faithful friends and supporters we are almost to $17,017!!!!)
*I may never see my friend again here on earth, but heaven is waiting for the both of us. Where there will be endless piggy back rides, soccer balls to kick around, and joy to be had by all. I am trusting in the seeds that have and will be planted in this little boys life, he WILL know Jesus as his Savior.
*Grateful for the deep friendship that is being sown with this gem. Keeley is my fellow fitness fanatic, Starbucks buddy, and all around amazing sister to adventure with. Please keep her Uncle in your prayers as He fights an infection and serious medical issues.
