Oh Vietnam!
Lord, I watch and listen to this culture and how dedicated they are to their false Gods, how bowing down, getting on their knees and offering sacrifices is a daily thing. This makes me ponder how much more I should want you and desire you the God that is real and the only true life…the God that actually speaks back. We went to a Buddhist temple the other day, I thought I was ready but I soon realized…I wasn’t! My heart broke, it was sad. I was full of all kinds of emotions: confused, sadness, anger, compassion… The people there were worshipping 3-story tall statues who don’t move or speak back. My spirit was heavy I could literally feel the weight of the darkness all around. I thought to myself, “I have to get out of here…why am I here?” Then I realized I’m here just to be able to combat everything I am seeing, hearing and smelling with prayer! Desire rose in my heart to literally pray for everything I was noticing, the people, the tourists, and every level of that temple…it was at least six floors with altars on each floor and multiple buildings with more floors. It just shocked me how much dedication the people put into these structures every inch is covered in decoration and I saw at least over a 100 gods of different forms.
Dear God,
I’m sitting at this beautiful lake surrounded by your glorious wonders. I hear the birds singing, the trees moving in the wind, the lake rippling. The sunshine is buried beneath the sea of clouds; a cool breeze touches my skin. I look around and see people on the banks of the lake fishing for their dinner. Mopeds clutter the streets, flowers in bloom, my fellow teammates deep in thought; leaves are falling all around me. In this moment I have breath; I can breathe in clean air, see the things around me, hear the noises that are piercing my ears: the loud horns, people yelling for someone to buy their items and the sound of engines rolling by. Sweet Sweet Vietnam, you are dear to my heart, I long to reach out to you because of all the visible brokenness I see. People here are entrapped by false gods, temples, sacrifices and fortune tellers. My soul is sadden, my heart leaps for them to encounter the Living Breathing God. Hope is already here; your disciples are roaming these streets following where the spirit leads. Their zeal for you and the lost is something so passionate and beautiful to watch. Thank you for bringing me here, for having a reason and purpose for my time here. May we encounter more college students whose lives could be totally changed by the touch of your spirit. My soul cries out, Halleluiah!
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.”
-Psalm 143:5-6
Update on the team: Ministry days have consisted of coffee dates with college students, majority are from a Buddhist background. A fun day of water gun battles with some college students that we made friends with. Also, teaching English classes from Tuesday- Friday to children, college students, and tribal people from the native tribes outside the city. We are in a closed country so sharing Christian beliefs has been difficult but it has still been happening in some cool ways that only God can manage to do. Praise! We attend a church that is out in the Forrest, first time I came I instantly felt like family. They love deeply there. God’s spirit is hovering all in the woods through those people. I love being able to hike up a mountain far in the woods to worship the Creator with such a diverse people group.
Prayer requests:
-Hung (a man in his 50s who does tour guides, I met him in the park) we talked for a long time, discussed our different beliefs…I pray that he would come to know Jesus.
-Interactions with the college students (made some sweet friends here: Ly, Vy, Sophie, Tam, Thao, Quang) Praying for strength in their faith (some believe in Christ) and also for some of them to know Jesus.
-The English teacher here is awesome…that God will continue to help her teach students English but at the same time show Christ to them…it’s hard for her here in a closed country.
Thank you all my supporters for all the prayers and financial support! If you could be in continued prayer for my fundraising that would be so wonderful!
Love,
Tiffany
