Boy oh boy, its month 10 and let me tell you I can feel it. Picking up and moving every three to four weeks sure takes its toll after a while. As I come to the end of this specific season in my life, part of me is sad that is coming to a close, and another part of me is looking forward to a little bit of stability back home. I suppose everything has its pros and cons.
Our Neighborhood
Well, we are in Vietnam now! I have been excited for this country. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to see much of it from beyond our little area. We live right smack dab in the middle of a Vietnamese neighborhood. 6 Americans, with all these local families on all sides of us, it’s actually pretty awesome. Every day when we exercise, the neighborhood kids come and try to exercise with us. Everyone is curious. Those that can speak English talk to us and ask us questions. Many Asian cultures are very community centered, so it’s cool to be a part of that this month.
If you have been keeping up with my journey, you know that last month was really tough. Even though it was tough, the Lord showed me how to be happy amidst circumstances that I don’t care for. It was a really great revelation.
I’m trying my hardest to remember and put that lesson into practice this month.
We are working at a bakery this month that provides jobs for people with disabilities, so we are surrounded by many people who are deaf or blind or disabled in some other way. They are all so sweet and so kind. From the short time we have been here I can see the change that has happened in some peoples’ lives who work there. I see people who have gained confidence and self worth, people that society would normally toss aside as useless, but they are far from it. The bakery really is a special and beautiful place, not because of the building, but because of the people in it.
Vietnamese Coffee and our new friend Son
The Challenge this month comes from the lack of direction for us, and a lack of structure. We don’t know exactly who is in charge at the bakery, if anyone, and at times it’s very frustrating when loads get put on our shoulders that we should not be bearing. It’s a confusing situation to be in because, on one hand, we are here to serve and love on these people in any way we can, but we are not here to correct them, run their business or fix all the things that need fixing. It’s just impossible in three weeks, and its been putting stress some of us. We want to love and serve. We want to spend time with the employees here, but how do we navigate around the frustration? How do we be good representations of the gospel in an environment where almost every day, everything is so unorganized that it frustrates the bejeezus out of me?
Sometimes I can’t help but thinking, “What am I doing here, actually? Is doing all of this inventory or teaching the kitchen to bake a cake really going to make a difference in anyone’s life?”
The answer is, I will never know. It doesn’t matter if I EVER find out. What matters is, am I going to be obedient? Am I going to be kind and loving and speak the Truth when chances arise? Will I pray when I am called to pray? And Love no matter the situation? Am I going to show up every day with a smile on my face and a prayer on my lips that these people will see Jesus in me? In our day to day lives, through the grind, the monotony, the joy and the frustration, will we do these things?
