Joshua 1:9 was a pivotal verse in our week in Vietnam. "This is my command-BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! Do not be afraid or discouraged. FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO." I thought the bold section of the verse would just provide the scripture verse as we lead children's group our first two days in country.  What I didn't expect was that it would define each part of our trip and all of the people we had the distinct honor of working with.  

Everyone has courage.  We had courage crossing the streets in Ho Chi Minh City, stepping into a unsteady boat in the Mekong River, or putting a boa constrictor around our neck. We all have courage, but not everyone is courageous. Being courageous is constant courage in the face of need, danger or persecution.  That is not a dictionary definition, but a realization God gave me as we worked with pastor Hoi and AWANA leaders Quang and Janice. 

When I met Pastor Hoi I noted his calmness, what I saw was his courageous spirit for God. In one breath he was telling us that we could not go to Tong's church Sunday morning due to government warnings, but in the next he had the exuberance of having us come to his church Sunday evening to praise and worship together.  A church that exists under the constant threat of persecution that is lead by a passion of serving God is an example of courageous living in faith.  

Quang and Janice have a courageous vision.  They want 10,000 AWANA clubs by the end of the decade. They have a blind unmitigated faith in God and that He will protect and provide for them.  They are in need of leaders. They need to train these leaders, who ever they may be.  They will need much more in the way of resources as they approach their goal.  They also have to be aware of the government and how they view what Quang and Janice are putting into motion. All they have is needs and questions, but each day they start with two hearts open to God and how He will provide.  Not just courage, but courageous living.

My experience in Vietnam was one that will continue to change me.  The one thing I will never forget is the courageous people of Vietnam. "Be strong and courageous, for The Lord your God is with you everywhere you go!" 

Brian  

I'm sitting here trying to encapsulate a week filled with surprises, relationships, and near death experiences. How do I put into words an adventure that can only be described as humbling. While I could describe the buildings, infrastructure, roads and even traffic, what my lasting memories will be is deep within the view of the Vietnam people. Before coming on this trip, Vietnam was a country known only in my vocabulary by the association to veterans and loss. A country that had relation only to something that happened forty years ago. How narrow of me. My view began changing while reading the history of this country online. Sitting in a hotel room looking out over of the Saigon skyline that was being described and seeing a mixture of old and new, history and reinvention. But what about the people? Quiet, determined, respectful. Living a life where working is expected and respect is demanded. There is no wining or complaining. There is no demand for bigger. There is only an understanding that working hard and community is common place. I'm not sure if the first layer view is cohesiveness or acceptance of circumstances which do not change. There is a change though. A generation of children who are being shown God's light. A generation of leaders rising up and reaching the youngest generation of Vietnam through love and tangible needs. A group of people that are focused not on self, but on the love and thirst for Christ's words. Teaching that a Heavenly Father is awaiting with a vision to alter a seemingly changeless course. So I leave Vietnam, with a heart changed. A realization that there is a people half a world away, resigned to a life of unchanged. Yet a group of people daring to change that view, to expose a purposeful way of life that leads to the arms of God.

Many new leaders in the Awana programs are 15-18 years old, and are "unlikely" leaders in the traditional sense. Kerry encouraged the Awana leadership teams in VN to embrace these new "unlikely" leaders as they manage the explosive growth of Awana clubs.

In the last year, Awana clubs in VN have grown from 20 to over 200!!!!

Then Compass crew at the celebration of Awana in Vietnam. In 2 years, the organization has grown to 202 clubs!!!

Things didn't work out so well for Brian as a street vendor, so he is now trying his hand as a snake handler! Good luck Brian!

We shared a meal with our hosts, and proclaimed the Good Word of God's faithfulness even under pressure

The Compass team explored the Mekong Delta in style!

We sing!

We consult

We teach

A moment of traffic zen from Cindy

Cindy helps train the local teachers in the process of transformational teaching

Dorothy assists the kids at a VBS demonstration with kids at Hoi's school

The crafts were a big hit as Brian and Kerry help the kids make their prayer journals.

Keeping the troops fed and happy with some real authentic Vietnamese food at Ngon

We found gainful employment as a street vender for Brian!

The Compass Crew!!

The crazy thing is: check out the JAL plane in the background! The other 3 members on our group were on that plane and went through Tokyo while we went through Seoul. The took off within 5 min of us from O"Hare, and landed 1 min after us in Saigon!! Crazy!!!

The journey begins!

You are invited to follow the journey of The Compass team as we share the Good News in Vietnam!

Kerry and Jeff Haake, Dorothy Foster, Cindy Sanderson, Nancy Hanna and Brian Klaft traveled the arduous 36 hour flight and arrived safely in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) at midnight Friday morning.

More to come this afternoon when we meet with our church plant.....