Hello Hanoi!

It was noon on Good Friday.  A fitting reminder of His grace that brought us this far.  Happy to be back in Hanoi, but exhausted after 20 hours of flying, we were a little anxious knowing we still had to get through the COVID checkpoints and Immigration.  But, taking our documents without question, the official slammed his stamp down onto our passports.  30 days have been granted.  30 days.  “We’ll see”, I thought.

Without a word we loaded our bags into the prearranged vehicle and headed away from the airport toward the city.  The sights and sounds, although familiar, were somehow different.  The gray skies seemed more solemn now.  Like the rest of the world, Vietnam has struggled through the global pandemic.  Businesses have closed,  Apartments stand vacant as 80% of all foreigners have left.  Streets once crowded with motorcycles, cars, and pedestrians all moving in one giant mass, now are strangely wide open.  Hmmm…

Our apartment was a welcome sight.  The building manager ran outside to welcome us, smiling from ear to ear and shaking our hands over and over.  Dragging our heavy bags up to the 4th floor, we had no idea what we would see after two years of heat and humidity had taken their toll.  On the surface, everything looked fine, but opening the closet… ugh! Mold!   It’s not good to breathe this stuff.  We knew we couldn’t unpack our bags until the moldy clothes were removed.  Some could possibly be washed, others tossed.  Too tired to deal with it, we left our bags in the middle of the floor and walked to a favorite cafe.  After a hot shower and a meal, all we could do was collapse into bed.  Eleven hours later, we awoke.  And so it begins…Now what?  

A favorite verse stays in our minds.  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)   Yes!  He will direct our path.  But, as the saying goes…“You can’t steer a parked car”.  And so it begins.  One day at a time, one step at a time.  It’s just that simple.  Offer yourself willingly to Him and let Him direct you.  He will.  He always does.

As we seek options for securing a longer visa stay, we’ve already connected with old friends and are meeting new ones daily.  I’ve been invited to talk to an English Center class on pronouncing American English and common idioms based on scripture.  (Like “The writing is on the wall.” or “By the skin of my teeth”)  These students are not believers, so we are thankful for this opportunity to form new relationships and introduce scripture.  We can’t speak very good Vietnamese, but we can speak English!  A good reminder…give Him what little you have and let Him use it.  Great is His faithfulness.