I’ve been at a loss for words in describing this month in Vietnam.
God has been so so good to my team and I in divine appointments, but yet – this month has been a struggle for me.
This month consists of Divine Appointments, Lice Lessons, and Truth.
DIVINE APPOINTMENTS
Our ministry in Vietnam is Unsung Heroes, which means we are spending our time ATLing (Asking the Lord), praying, and waiting for His divine appointments.
Unsung Heroes definition: “Men and women who are dedicated to serving some of the most impoverished populations in the world, yet rarely receive recognition for their dedication and service. These givers may also live with meager conditions but give consistently from an abundance of God’s love. Their names may not be in history books, their acts unknown to the rest of the world, while unrecognized, they shake a generation and move a culture and ultimately build the Kingdom.”
(With a potential Ministry Contact!)
Team Overcome’s job is to find people who are seeking the Kingdom and God’s blessing and plans for their location ministry and see the possibility of joining them. By joining, I mean if they’ll allow Adventures in Missions (AIM) to send people to volunteer for up to 3 months.
Even if AIM doesn’t join their ministry, we are acknowledging the people of the ministry and their eagnerness to seek Jesus in the darkness of the world.
(With a potential Ministry Contact! Singing Joy to the World with students at an academy!)
We have encountered multiple different ministries –
- Two pastors who are connected to multiple different churches and a broad span of ministries – youth, women, village, college
- Two Korean pastors who work with church planting and orhpanages
- Talking with the Tourist/English club in the park
- Women’s conference
- Korean teacher who teaches Vietnamese college students Korean, English, Jesus, and the bible.
- A former World Racer who teaches English
- A lady from the states who teaches English, while learning Vietnamese, hosts smaller teams for Summer Camp, and English Club
(At the park with “Talking with the Tourist” English club!)
More divine appointments – We have met different people who we have able to pray for, be prayed over, speak life into, and build friendships.
- A man in a bakery
- A woman at a coffee shop
- Former World Racers
- Strangers in the park
(Eating a HotPot with our Vietnam friend!)
LICE LESSONS:
During our month of ministry in Cambodia, we were living at Hope for Children, a children’s home, that had a lice invasion.
(My teammate, Beth, on a scavenger hunt!)
Early in the month God asked me, “Will you love the kids any different if you knew you were going to get lice?”
“No, I will not love them any different, lice only lasts for a short time – it would all be worth it. Nothing is stopping me from loving these beautiful kids, Your beautiful kids.”
I went on the rest of the month loving the kids and not even thinking about the little creatures! It was easy to just love on the kids without any restrictions!
(So thankful for Young Living Essential Oils! They are helping us defeat the Lice Invasion!)
Well, here’s the verdict we found out in Vietnam – over a week after leaving Hope for Children: Team Overcome – 4, Lice – 4 – and yes, I am included in the lice group.
“You’re funny God. At least I have another reminding of how precious our month was – I wouldn’t change a thing!”
Even when I have to sit and get a “lice check” every night, I am surrounded by memories, I am surrounded by love – from my teammate who is taking the time to look through my hair to each kid that comes to my mind to my Father’s love.
It has been hard though, because Cambodia is what God has asked me to fast, fast because I need to be more focused on Him – trusting and having faith in Him. When I want to think of Cambodia and the memories, I hear “I gave you those memories, I allowed you to make those memories because I love you; because you are mine. Trust Me when I say more are to come when you look to me full heartedly. I have not given you the desire to go back to Cambodia on your own, that’s part of My plan.”
TRUTH!
(Our precious teammate, Jen, surprised us all with notes and flowers!)
“When you rely on Me, when you trust Me – you will be blessed. I want to bless you.” God has spoken so much truth to me – whether it’s through His voice, or the voices of my team members, my squad, my new friends from Vietnam, or my friends and family that are placed throughout the world. God has spoken so much truth in my life this month, especially when I have needed it most. When I am trying to fast where my heart longs to be, when it should really long to be in my Father’s presence – He still speaks truth. He’s pursuing me, when I want to be pursued – and I am not running anymore.
“Saturate me in Your love, Daddy. Grow my faith, grow my trust, grow my love for You.”
