Vietnam is a great place because of its people. The
personality of the people exudes warmth and is welcoming to newcomers. If you
smile, they smile back—even total strangers who see you in a taxi going down
the street. People who know they will never see you again, take a moment to
smile and wave.
Even without a job assignment, a team member can spend time
just praying for people and for others more actively involved in ministry. This
works for me for a portion of time but I have discovered that I prefer to have
an active role at least part of the time.
This time my role was to teach women during a few sessions
of both their Leader’s Retreat and their classes for those getting more
seminary type training. They opened up the training to all and this enabled
many ladies to attend the second event. The first meetings were for leaders so
most of my ladies were pastor’s wives or those who had been in the past.
I had enlisted many people to pray for me as I prepared for
the trip, preparing teaching material and to pray during the trip. This is an
essential element for a successful mission trip. Without power there is little
purpose except for novelty of travel to a new place. While that may be enough
motivation for many, it is not enough for me. Thank you to those of you reading
this who prayed. I realize you don’t get much immediate feedback for your
prayer but know they were felt and powerful. Although I enjoy the novelty of a
beautiful coastline or in trying a new food, nothing compares to being in a
place where my purpose is to pray for the people I see and meet. Also, I love having
a task to complete that is unique to me—to the way God has gifted and taught
me.
Getting to Vietnam is no quick trip. It involved a one hour
flight from Mobile to Atlanta, a 14-15 hour flight from there to Tokyo and then
a 6 hour flight on into Ho Chi Minh City.
Although I vaguely remember a time when flying was fun, it is not quite
torture but let’s just say I’m glad I’m not claustrophobic. We had no big
issues on the way over. We easily met up with other members of the team at the
airport as well as some Vietnamese Christian Leaders. As the only female, I
received a lovely basket of pink bud roses upon arrive outside immigration. We
stood outside in the 81 degree heat at 11 pm and took photos. I don’t have one
because my camera was buried too deeply in my backpack and I didn’t think to
ask any of them to use my i-phone. Anyway, we had a quick 30-minute trip to our
hotel.
We had checked out the hotel online after our team leader
told us about it. It was a nice place to stay. I have stayed in lots of
accommodation on mission trips and this was one of the best. It did help all of
us to be able to come back to a cool room at the end of the day, and be able to
eat a good dependable breakfast each morning before heading out. Aside from a
mix-up that almost got us kicked out of the hotel a few days early, it was
great. Thanks Phi for handling that snafu that kept us from packing up our
stuff at the end of a long day and going to a new place. The snafu was that all
Americans look like to Vietnamese and they had gotten Thomas confused with
another team member. That may sound crazy to you but it is true. The guys took
compliments for each other’s sermons the entire time. I think they were able to
not confuse me with the others since I was the only female on the team.
The meeting we helped lead was for pastors and leaders from
all over Vietnam, Baptists gathering in one place for spiritual enrichment and
training. That meeting was two days with
two days following of training. The crowd was highest the first two days but as
time went on people had to return home and the crowd varied some depending on
time of day. Many people were local and came when they could.
The first two days were the hardest, longest days. This was
because we were more tired, having had poor sleep over two days and because the
day started early and ended late. We had planned to end our work by 5 each day
but because of scheduling, three of us (including myself) returned the first
night to teach an evening session.
My first group teaching time was moved up by two days after
our leader realized some attendees would have to return home before the ladies
could meet. So I taught the first night. This was a group of mostly pastor’s
wives and I gave my testimony and taught portions of my prepared material. The
topic that God led me to was becoming a Woman of Faith, of Prayer, and of the
Word. Every time I taught, we learned something in all three areas.
During each session I would spend some time getting feedback
from them through allowing them to ask me anything. Their questions were deep
and led us into some more study that I probably would not have broached if not
for this input.
Before I left, I had asked whether I would have a woman
translator and was told that it would be a man. I was disappointed in that
since I think women can be more honest when no guys are around. Not sure this
is true, but even if it isn’t—wouldn’t you be uncomfortable translating for an
entire group of people of the opposite sex? Anyway, after my arrival, God
provided a wonderful woman translator who had lived in the states for a number
of years. That was an obvious answer the prayer.
I had worked through trying to contextualize my teaching so
that we would not get bogged down with attempting to translate some American
concept that would be of no value for the Vietnamese. I was glad that I had
done that because it kept us from unnecessary time spent explaining some aspect
of American culture so they could “get” the illustration.
During times I was not teaching, I attended the meeting.
Having been in many Asian meetings through the years. I’m familiar with being
led up to the front to sit during the meeting.
They had tables across the front for the Vietnamese leaders and for us.
I enjoyed having a table for my “stuff” and the fresh flowers at my spot. I
listened to each presentation that was translated and took notes. When it
wasn’t translated I watched people, prayed for them, and read my Bible. I know
that probably sounds super spiritual but I considered all of it work time and
it was just how I decided to work.
One illustration that was shared (I didn’t write who
preached it—sorry guys on the team) was how with seasons we see more evidence
of growth at some times than others. During winter the plants are either unseen
completely or have little greenery or bloom. Then suddenly spring comes and
there is a mass of evidence of growth that had taken place under the surface,
out of our view to produce a lovely spring.
How true this is in our own lives and in the lives of
others. My position at church involves trying to influence people to invest in
their own spiritual growth. It is difficult when I see people not come to
gather with the body or attend any type of group that would help them grow
spiritually. I know that this outward behavior often tells me that spring will
not be very beautiful. But the illustration did tell me that sometimes we
aren’t privileged to see the growth that is taking place in someone’s life. It
is hidden. One day a person prayed for meets Christ or someone who has put off
being baptized takes that step. Even better, I see someone leading others
spiritually. Then the spring is beautiful. Are you in for a beautiful spring in
your life as you invest through prayer, Bible study and gathering with the body
for fellowship and accountability?
The Vietnamese are vibrant, active worshippers. The music
was loud and the people moved a lot during worship. Since we were sitting in
front of the speakers, we experienced the volume full force. None of the songs
were translated and I recognized very few of them so I found it difficult to
worship with them. I really wished that had been different. But languages do
divide. I was thankful for the occasional hallelujah and Jehovah that I could
join in on. Maybe one or two songs sung, I recognized. Heaven will not be like
that. That is another reason to look forward to worship in heaven.
We had originally planned to drive down south on Saturday
afternoon (7hrs) and fly back Monday morning to depart on Tuesday. But due to
illness of my husband on Friday night, we decided that long in a van would not
be advisable. So, we stayed in Saigon and were able to visit in two house
churches on Sunday. The second one we went by motorcycle so that was a new
adventure.
House churches have been legal in Vietnam for two years. The
people are happy to be able to meet openly. Thomas preached and I shared my
testimony and we had additional opportunities to visit some of the people who
had come to the meeting in their own home and church. Although we were
disappointed to not get out to the countryside, God used it just the same.
Mission trips always teach me something about myself. I take for granted all the opportunities I
have for learning. This meeting was a feast for them. It was a reminder for me
not to waste time and utilize opportunities for God to teach me. I. have access to teaching in my language any
time but many of them do not. I also forget that I need to be busy teaching
others what I have been taught.
The most difficult part of working through a translator is
you are never quite sure how well you are communicating. I would periodically
stop, since I was in a small group, and allow them to ask questions. They were
on target so then I would continue. There is a lag in feedback and that can
make it hard to concentrate but we all persevered.
There is power in the Holy Spirit’s presence in believers.
That same Holy Spirit helps enliven that word of God as it is taught. That
happens in any language. For any of you who have access to a Bible and good
teaching: utilize it, invest in it. God will change your life through it and He
can use you to change someone else’s life through it.
I am glad I spent a short time in Vietnam this spring. It
gave me names and faces of a new group of people to remember and pray for. I
have seen their homes, their church, and their city. God bless Vietnam and may
the believers be numerous and strong. I pray they can use the little bit I was
able to invest in them.
