Hi! Writing from Vietnam here. This month has been a bit different. It is my first month with my new team and we are loving the combination of… well, of us! We are team True North. Named under the inspiration that even though a compass can be pointing North, it may not be totally true because even the magnetic fields of our planet shift a bit day-to-day…. But True North… True North is perfectly pointed. It is sure and unwavering in the direction it runs.
~1 Cor 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Vietnam is a closed country. Meaning that evangelizing is illegal. So what exactly have we been up too? Relationship building!
We began our time here helping backstage for a Christmas production where we met many people from the international church. We took on the task of keeping the 48 little bodies of the children’s choir quiet backstage and queing them on and off in their lines when it was time for them to sing. A couple of us also helped with makeup and painting props.
It was a joy to be a part of such a large Christmas production while in a closed country. This annual event is put on by the church. The script has to be given to the police for approval. Some people we met told us stories of being interrogated because of it. We have heard that it feels like a spiritual stronghold has been broken over Da Nang because the play goes on each year with the approval of the communist police and more and more people are filling the audience. What an awesome light in the darkness these folks get to be!
Some mornings we walk to the beach at 6am to look for people to invite to coffee with us or to the English club we help at in the afternoons. It is all about getting to be friends with people so that you can share Jesus with them. Getting them plugged into the English club that our hosts run so they can continue to pursue them for the Lord even when we leave. Here we are with our club of friends at the pizza place our hosts own. They employee some of the deaf community here which is super cool!
On Sundays we teach the 3-5 and 6-12 year old youth classes at the international church.
And some days we have been able to spend decking the halls of the pastor’s home. I have to admit I was thrilled to be able to put up and help decorate a tree this year. Even if it was for people whom I had just met and it wouldn’t be a tree I would be gazing at come Christmas morning.
This month has also been an opportunity for my team and I to pour into eachother. You should never forget that ministry is not just with other people, it is also with the people that you do ministry beside each day! We love eachother well by speaking easy and hard truth while having open hearts to receive it and become better people.
Just a few days ago we became a team of 5 instead of 6. Ben has made a personal decision that where he needs to be right now is at home and not here on the race. We love Ben and are supporting him in prayer. He will always be a part of True North and family to us all. I hope to see you again someday, friend.
Over the next 2 weeks we will be saying goodbye to our last month in Asia and hopping the puddle to Africa (Ethiopia to be exact).
Will you be praying for us as we transition once again? Will you pray for Vietnam and for a revival to strike and strongholds of the enemy to be broken so Jesus can be shared openly here? Pray for Ben as he adjusts to being home again and also for our team as we will be shifting one or 2 people over to us to fill the gap. Thanks! Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Vietnam below….
