Wow God! I feel like so much has happened in the past week. My heart is so full and I am so excited for your plans in my life. Vietnam is incredible so far. I am so excited to be helping here and to be connected with such wonderful people. However, I feel like I haven’t quite processed all that happened in Cambodia yet. Travel days and adjusting to a new schedule haven’t left me much time to blog, journal or even reflect. 
Traveling to Phnom Penh was a refreshing break from village life. The dirt, absence of food and just lack of common sense drove me crazy in Cambodia, and although it was my favourite ministry so far I had such mixed emotions about leaving. I really connected with some of the kids and wanted to just continue loving on them and “fixing things” in their lives. Now, all I can do is pray and trust that they are in God’s hands.
We crossed the Cambodia-Vietnam border
on March 2nd and that was quite the adventure! At one point we stopped at what we thought was just another rest stop and a bunch of girls got off the bus to go to the bathroom at the back of someone’s house. Vivian and I were the last girls to walk back and when we came out of the house we realized the bus was gone! We looked around and saw a group of our girls up ahead, a river and a few ferries. Then all of the sudden, Paul came running towards us and yelled “hurry up, the ferry is leaving”! We had no idea that we were even at a river, let alone boarding a boat. So we started running and then a whole ton of motorcycles flew onto the ferry at the same time and we had to run through such small spaces. As soon as we stepped on the bus the ferry left shore. Paul had been so worried about me, but I was just laughing over the whole situation. Then, a couple of hours later we arrived at the border and got held up because apparently we overstayed our visit in Cambodia by 2 days (despite what our visas said) and had to pay $10/person in order to leave the country.
By the time we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City I was desperate for a shower (I also had a mysterious outbreak of hives on travel day), American food, and a bed. However, we went straight to the place we’re working at this month for orientation. After only a few short minutes my negative attitude changed into pure excitement for what the Lord has planned here. I feel so honoured to be in such a modern and beautiful place this month and I’m already falling in love with Vietnam.
We’re living in District 7 which is the “international community”; it kind of looks like California – with beautiful architecture, green space and a winding river. We have bicycles to get around and there are lots of cafés, cheap fruit smoothies and a variety of places to explore.
We can’t say much about what we’re doing in this country because of the political situation, but I can assure you it is totally LEGIT and we are loving every minute of it. Please pray for safety, protection and that we may hear God’s voice stronger than ever before.
