I am currently out of Vietnam and in Port Elizabeth, South Africa! But I still have a few tidbits of Vietnam to sort out for you all…
In each new place that we visit, I have loved having the opportunity to learn the language. So far, I’ve gotten a taste of Thai, Khmer, and Vietnamese. I love watching people’s faces when I great them in their native language because it is the last thing they expect from the crazy white girl walking into their store or past them on the street. I think its an incredible way to begin to show them the respect I have for them and their culture. Plus I am having withdrawals from having something to study and learn, being a college graduate and all, so this is a perfect way to fill that school-shaped hole.
When I came to Vietnam, I expected to learn Vietnamese. Fair assumption, right? I thought so. In the end, I did learn some Vietnamese, but I also learned a little bit of French and German along the way.
The French came into play when we visited a Catholic elderly home and I was talking to one of the ladies who lived there. She told her story of how she had been a French teacher throughout her life because of the invasion and influence of France during the time of the war. She was all smiles and laughter, cracking herself up with her own jokes. It was absolutely beautiful and filled me with joy. Not only that, but one of the women who works with her often told me that this was the first time in all the 4 months she had known her that she had seen her smile or laugh when visitors came. What a blessing! I love that woman and told her so in some very broken French.
Je t’aime
The German was also a surprise. We were blessed with the opportunity to work alongside a young woman from Germany at our ministry. She is spectacular in every way and was a huge encouragement to us in Vietnam, me especially. I’ve never wanted to love a stranger in such a strong way as the way I did when I met her. Honestly, it felt a little creepy how much I loved her and I really cannot explain it in any other way than God giving me His heart for her. It was incredible. Among the random words I learned throughout the time we had together, “I love you” was an absolute necessity for my new sister.
Ich liebe dich
Being in Vietnam, I of course fell in love and was loved by so many different people. It was awesome to see God outpour himself into my life and others’ even though the country is “closed”. He blessed us with so many people in our lives and showed us how much bigger He is than a government’s attempts to control and limit Him.
Toi yeu ban
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
*Sorry no photos, wifi is simply too slow!
