Summertime in Danang

Faith and Natalie holding their fish on the beach.
Poster for Squid Rings...like onion rings, only not.

Gas station crowd. An interesting challenge.

Hello, all—

It’s about 10:30 at night, still hot, so I sit here directly in front of an oscillating fan. I could unplug the computer and take it upstairs to an air-conditioned room, but I find myself a little too lazy tonight. This is our third summer in Danang and it is the hottest yet. To make the situation even more blissful, the city government has been cutting the power off every third day, from 6 in the morning until about 6 at night. Tomorrow is the day, so I have been getting ready tonight. We are heading for the pool after breakfast. I am finishing up computer work tonight, and organizing books and cross stitch for poolside. The girls’ swimsuits and towels are all together, ready for the morning. The pool is beside the ocean, so most often there is a pleasant breeze. Still, by the end of the day, we feel baked, broiled and a bit fried.

During the last power outage, I had to put gas in the motorbike. The closest two stations were also in the power shut-off, so the third station I came to was packed out. Bikes were pulled in from every direction. There is no order to the process; you simply squeeze in and keep pushing your way to the front.

Another item of interest to me is a new taste-treat offered by Lotteria, a fastfood-type restaurant at Big C. It’s “Squid Rings”—just like onion rings, only chewier and, well, not as tasty.

Marissa, Audrey (another Orphan Voice staffer) and I went to a local beauty shop to have our hair washed (a nice treat). They do a great job and include a head/neck massage for about $3. We have decided to go back regularly and enjoy this bit of pampering; next time I’m getting a manicure, as well for another $1.

Orphan Voice has been hosting a “Sports Camp” for 3 weeks. Each morning, the children are brought to our “play site” for volleyball, Frisbee, swimming or soccer. The camp begins at 7 am and ends about 10 before the hottest part of the day. Frisbee has been a new experience for most of the kids. Anna Mei has perfected her own special move—she does a cartwheel over the Frisbee, then picks it up and throws it as she finishes her “move” and slides into the splits. I’m sure most of the Vietnamese kids don’t know what to make of it.

Anna Mei and Elizabeth went to the countryside with Duc and Linh last week for a couple of days. While they were there, they helped make some food deliveries to families. Elizabeth really loves that—she is getting to know the families with children and remembers their particular situations. I am so happy that she does not shy away from children who are suffering. She reaches out to them in such a sweet and genuine way.

Jillian is amazing us all with her understanding of Vietnamese. She is fast becoming the family interpreter. She has been babysitting for an English family with 2 children, 3-year-old Jack and 1-year-old Natalie. Jack is very outgoing and full of energy. He is usually pretending to be Spiderman, Superman, or Buzz Lightyear. The other day when Jillian arrived at their house, Laura (their mom) was struggling to get Jack to eat his lunch. She told me Jillian saved the day when she told Jack “Superman always eats all his lunch. It makes him strong.”

Faith and Joy are two peas in a pod, as always. They play together with hardly a cross word ever between them. Joy is quite the jokester and is always looking for ways to make people laugh. Faith is her own “cool” little self. She knows what she likes, how she likes it, and she is comfortable with her own style no matter what anyone else thinks.

Our church fellowship has missed the presence of our pastor and his wife as they have been in the US since February. Many people in the fellowship have served in our Sunday services—leading in preaching, offering, music, communion and prayer times. It has been a great blessing. Each person has been used of the Lord to encourage and challenge our body. This time of year is always bittersweet for our church—many folks who come to teach are leaving. Some will return to Vietnam, many will not. We have been blessed by their friendship and comforted to know that we will spend eternity together.

So, days are passing by here with joys and struggles, challenges and triumphs, and just day to day demands. We often think of “home” and pray that you are finding the daily strength, wisdom and help you need from the Holy Spirit. We are learning to rely upon Him more and more, yielding, trusting, surrendering. It is the path of deep, inner joy and peace. God is good. All the time. Yes and amen.

Grace and peace!

Two Years

Hard to believe we have lived in Danang for two years now. Life here is good, but very different than what I had experienced or even what I expected.

For example, today there was a noisy, windy, pounding rainstorm with bright lightening and crashing thunder, just as our language class dismissed. Jillian, Anna Mei and I decided to wait for the worst of it to pass before we headed for home on the motorbike. After about 20 minutes or so, we were on our way, wrapped in thin, colorful plastic rain ponchos. Driving with rain hitting my face is not the most pleasant experience I have had here. It is cold, stinging and somewhat blinding. We were making our way across the Han River bridge when I felt a familiar wobble—our rear tire was flat. We exited the bridge on our side of the river, then turned back to the road that runs under the bridge and took shelter from the rain while we waited for our friend Duc to come to the rescue (Tony was in his language class at the time). Duc graciously gave me his bike to drive home while he walked my bike to a repair shop and took care of the tire. Two years ago, I’m not sure I would ever have thought I could drive a motorbike…in Vietnam…in the rain…with two children.

I don’t think I would ever have imagined myself fishing an ant out of my tea, then finishing the drink without another thought. I would not have considered using toilet paper as table napkins, chopsticks as a spatula, or flip flops as formal footwear. I would have scoffed at the idea that I would not blow dry my hair every day…or curl it…or spray it. I abhorred sweat.

There are many other things I would not have guessed. I could not have imagined the immense beauty and revitalizing breeze of the Danang coastline. I had never seen the indescribable mix of pewter, blue and gray hues as the harbor water meets the mountains then the sky on a dusky evening when clouds shield the brightness of the setting sun. I could not have possibly anticipated the sorrows and joys of children pressed down by tragedies and difficulties, then finding help and hope in so many different ways. Their stories, their circumstances, their lives…have changed me.

Daily life is challenging. From safely navigating crowded streets to dealing with authorities to communication to finding everyday items (yesterday’s challenge: mustard). But I am learning to appreciate the resiliency of the people here…and their sheer strength and bravery to press on through the difficulties of their daily lives as well.

I think I am more thankful for small things. I hope I am learning to turn to my Father more quickly, with more trust, with greater surrender. I hope I am more patient with my precious daughters, and more appreciative of their participation in our purposes here.

Times…they are a ‘changin’. And I am resolved to change with them (in the best sense). Of course, some things never change. I still abhor sweat.

Grace and peace!