Vietnam. I have spent the last 3 weeks in a country I knew little
to nothing about, and as I prepare to leave, my heart breaks, my tears
flow, and the question, will I ever be back, comes to my mind.
Every month, no, every day, I am in utter astonishment at who God is
and what He is doing. I never longed to travel the world. I
longed to do His will and to be His hands and feet, but it never really
mattered where. I certainly never desired to travel to the
countries I have been to, and yet, each time, my heart is planted in
the foreign soil, and there it remains, to grow and long for the day
when I can return.
Vietnam has been extremely important and amazing for me. Growing
up, the only thing that I really learned about Vietnam had to do with
the Vietnam war. And even with that, I did not learn much.
I learned what I needed to know and that is about all. When the
original race route was released, Vietnam was on the list. I
immediately knew I was being called to this country. Later on,
Vietnam was removed from the route, but I was still certain God was
calling me there. As we began to prepare for our ATL (ask the
Lord) month, God continued to put a longing in my heart for this
country I new little about. When our team decided together to
travel to Vietnam, my heart leaped with excitement. I had no idea
what we were walking in to. At one point, I wondered if Vietnam
would be like other 3rd World Countries. I knew it was a closed
country and I knew I would have to truly give up all that I was holding
on to and truly allow God to move the way He desires to move. And
now, 3 weeks later, I know more about Vietnam than just the basics of
the war from the American Point of View. I know about their
government, I know about their religious beliefs, I understand why they
belief what they believe. I am in love with the people, the joy
they radiate truly blows my mind. I understand why they all wear
face masks when they drive. I understand why they drive motos
instead of cars. I understand why it is so important for them to
cover up their skin with layers of clothing when it is extremely hot
outside. Even the things that I may not agree with, God has given
me an understanding for it. Not just an understanding, but a
desire for more knowledge, a desire to ask the questions that no one
else will ask. A desire to search deeper within the amazing souls
of the men and women we meet.
I cannot express how welcoming the people have all been. They
welcome us with open arms and do everything they can to help us.
I have made amazing friendships with many university students.
God has opened up amazing opportunities for His Word to be shared in
all of Vietnam. God is doing an amazing, supernatural work in
Vietnam, and it has been an honor to be a tiny piece of the
puzzle. So again, the question, will I ever be back? The
answer, in God’s timing, will be revealed. Whether my physical
body ever steps on the ground of Vietnam again, one thing remains the
same, my heart, has been taken over, by young and old, Vietnamese
people and part of my heart will always belong here.
