Vietnam.

From December 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014 I went to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with five other people.  Going there I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I knew our trip was predestined and God would do just what He wanted with our time there.

The main ministry focus here was meeting people, and hanging out with them.  Kinda seems simple right?  You may think that it's something you can do anywhere, and you're right.  But it wasn't just to become great friends, that was just a huge plus along with it.  Our main focus was sharing the love of Jesus Christ and sharing the incredible heart-aching love story of the gospel.  The short time that I was in Vietnam I was able to make countless lasting friendships with the Vietnamese that God totally made happen.  Three days a week we went to an English club, where we got to talk with Vietnamese for a few hours.  Within the first night we were able to make plans to meet with people.  Many say that miracles only happen in the times of when the Bible was written.  Yet, I saw miracles.

Many heard the name of Jesus for the first time in their life. (Let that sink in)
People started to believe & seek after Him.
God planted seeds in those who were consumed with the world.
God focused peoples eyes away from the love of money.
The poor were served & loved.
There was healing of the broken.
Hope given to the hopeless.
Love to the unrighteous.
Girls being truly loved & called beautiful for the first time. 
Satan defeated.

When I would walk down the streets of Vietnam my heart just kept breaking. It was full of abuse, alcoholism, pain, broken hearts, prostitution, sex trafficking, drugs, lies, false idols, and beautiful people.  Beautiful people that God loves so dearly.  People that He SO desires to have a relationship with.  People that have gotten themselves so deep in sin that they feel as if there will never be hope for them. But they are souls. Souls that God created for such a greater purpose.  Souls that will either end up in Heaven or Hell.  

When we really think about life, how short it is, and what is to come... It should make us RUN after these people to tell them the incredible grace that Jesus has for them.  The grace that is given to us so freely and yet we ignore or push it away. And even then God still pours it on us. 

But that's when we need to make sure we're careful.  That WE aren't trying to do it ourselves.  That we let God do it.  To let HIM use us. We cannot expect to change the world by ourselves. The only world changer, is Jesus Christ.  Yet, we cannot use that excuse to sit around in our comfort and just say "Welp! God will use someone else."  He has called ALL of us to go be His hands and feet.  "He said to them, Go into ALL the world and preach the gospel to ALL creation." Mark 16:15.  Whether it's America, Asia, Canada, Africa, some far-out jungle, anywhere. We are His hands and feet. 

My pride and my heart was constantly tested when I would see older white men walking around with young Vietnamese girls strung to their sides.  I kept getting angry.  Angry at the men that were & are misusing these women, and seeing how little there was that I could do.  I constantly had to keep going to God asking Him to change my heart.  Because here's the thing, when you actually are seeing it happening in front of you, to countless women and children, anger starts to build up.  Where every ounce within you wants to beat the crap out of the men.  Obviously, that's not from the Lord.  Good thing i'm not God! Yet, as time would go by my heart turned from anger to love.  Love for the men that use these women.  Seeing the deep need of Christ in their life and how lost they are.  Seeing how I am no better than them, and how our creator has such a beautiful life He wants for them full of love and grace.   

We are no better than those men.  They need Jesus Christ just as much as the prostitute, the person you passed while going to work, the cashier behind the counter, the pizza delivery man, and you.  We all don't deserve it.  But, He freely gives it. 

Please continue to pray for Vietnam, and all the people that God touched and loved.  They need Jesus. We all need Jesus. And without Him we are nothing.   Thank you everyone who has continued to support me and pray.  God used your prayers to make miracles happen. Here is a video from the outreach, hopefully it helps you understand everything even more! 

 Copy and paste the Video Link in your search bar: http://youtu.be/lCFBTS4Cuuo

"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."  And once more He bent down and wrote on the ground.  But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before Him.  Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."  John 8:7-12

 "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news."

 

Romans 10:13-15