One thing I try to do before getting to our next country is write a letter to the country. I want to share a few parts of the letter I wrote to Vietnam that I recently re-read and was shocked at how true it spoke of my experience there.  

Letter I wrote to Vietnam: 

I want you to show me how to love sacrificially like Christ. I give you permission to wear me out physically, mentally, and spiritually. Show me how to display joy in the midst of sorrow and pain. I want to eat all your food and fall in love with your culture. Strip me of my selfishness and pride and western thinking. May I be humbled by the example of your culture. Vietnam, I commit to you to give every day my best effort. I commit to opening myself to try new things, experience new joys and let myself be poured out til I have nothing left. See my joy and peace in trials. Treat me well Vietnam. Keep me healthy and safe. I’m ready for all the adventures you have waiting for me to experience. 

I also looked back on my personal and team goals for the month of Vietnam and was so encouraged to see how several of them had been met or made great progress in. So cool!

After my time in Vietnam came to an end, I felt the need to conclude the month with a summary/thank you letter. Enjoy! 

Vietnam, thank you! You brought sweet relief from Africa by not staring at me 24/7 as if I were a movie star walking down the street. You accepted me simply as one of your own. I will forever associate face masks, bare-big bellied men, snot rockets, karaoke, pho, motorbikes, and helmets with your country. I will always remember the feeling of holding my breath as I watched your swarm of helmets flow in and out amongst cars and buses and walking tourists and praying no one gets hit. The word I got from the Lord when praying into this month was “pilgrimage” and boy did I do some pilgrimaging across your lands. From way down south in Vung Tau to Hanoi, to way up north in Sapa, to Ha Long Bay and finally to your capital city, Ho Chi Minh. I saw your beaches and your mountains. I breathed your fresh air and sucked in one breath to many of your polluted city air. I ate way too much pho (and could still eat so much more) and more seafood than I ever have in my life. Thank you for treating my pallet so well! Other than your coffee, which let me down on more than one occasion, I rate your food 10/10. 

Vietnam, you were successful in doing one thing Africa never was able to do in my fourth months there. You made me cry. And a lot. It probably didn’t help with having team changes and the multiple other changes at the beginning of the month, plus throw Christmas in there and you get Khurry with multiple days of finding a lump in her throat, unable to speak and tears running down her cheeks. To all the tears you brought me, you also did something for me quit unexpected. You lifted a veil from me revealing new areas of growth I’m diving into this month in Cambodia. You revealed new pockets of selfishness and spiritual immaturity I want to intentionally focus on. Thank you for opening my eyes to my weaknesses and giving me the opportunity to change and strengthen them. You have set the bar high for Asia. Thank you for sharing your beauty with me and allowing me to travel across your lands proclaiming Christ as Lord in words, in actions, in smiles, in hand shakes, in listening ears and in interceding prayers. I can’t wait for what the next three months in Asia hold.