Vietnam

Vietnam was days spent at the beach, delighting in the intricate and stunning design of the Lord’s creation.

It was rainy mornings spent curled up in coffee shops, sipping hot tea while reading the word.

It was laughter and love through meals shared and new foods tried with new friends.

It was karaoke and just dance nights after English club, when everyone begs for just one more song.

It was moments of deep intercession and bringing the will of heaven down to Earth as we drew closer to our heavenly father.

It showed me what it means to truly rest at the father’s feet. It showed me what it means to be dissatisfied with anything in this world that’s not our father.

It was a time that showed us what it meant to press in and choose to live out our faith radically, even when surrounded by modern comforts. It showed me that ministry is a lifestyle, and a conscious choice that you make daily. It showed me that ministry can be done anywhere, in any way.

I made deep friendships that made me laugh until my sides hurt and crushed me with hugs. Through countless conversations and coffee dates and tours of the city, I quickly came to realize that that the beauty of Da Nang was its people, not its beaches. Saying goodbye to them was saying goodbye to dear friends that I may never get to hug again on this side of heaven.

I learned the power of prayer and fell in love with intercession. I saw God answer my prayers over and over again, both big and small. I quickly found that my intimacy with the Lord multiplied exponentially after time spent with him. He quickly changed my desires to long to become more like his with each passing day.

I learned how to seek people out, and how to love them better. I made mistakes, but was met with grace. I learned how to speak truth over people, yet call them into more.

I explored the creation of the Lord and marveled at his glorious design. I see his heart in the intricate ways that he knit each piece together.

Vietnam was a time of both joy and challenge. Surrounded by modern comforts, I had to chose to continually die to myself and depend on the Lord, even when I wasn’t inherently in need of dependence for my physical comforts. I had to trust the Lord to open doors for conversations and relationships, and trust his timing and methods, even when I didn’t agree. I struggled with being separated from my squad, whom I was accostomed to living with for the past 4 months. I fell deeper into love with the Lord as I began to know his heart more through prayer. I grew closer with my team and as experienced new types of ministry and faced challenges of life and the race. I’m sad to say goodbye to these people and this place, but am confident that the Lord is on the move. The harvest is abundant in Vietnam, and he is stirring up an uprising of faith across the country. He is faithful to complete the good works that he has started, and I can trust that he is working, even when I am not.

Thank you loving me as I loved you, Vietnam. Until next time.