Reaching out

I know there is interest in some of you about the church in Vietnam. I was very pleased in what I witnessed. Many of us have no idea what God is up to in many parts of the world. One privilege of teaching at Korean Nazarene University is my glimpse of the world-wide church. I see students from many different countries. Let me just say that God's church is alive and well. I heard the same songs sung that we sing in America. I heard the same creeds recited and the Lord's prayer offered. I heard and saw how the church reaches out to the marginal people and ministers in many ways to improve the lives of its communities. I was at home there. They raise and give mission offerings just like we do, only their offerings come from far less resources.

Pictures above are from a dormitory we visited coming back from the wedding. The church built and runs it. High school students come and live there and attend school close by. The dormitory was built to help students finish their high school education. Schools do not exist close to where the students live. Due to the distance to school they have to drop out after middle school (8th grade I think). The students would have to be taken to school 2 hrs. away; too far for their parents to take them. So the dormitory idea was born to allow students to move in and then be taken to school a very short distance away by a van. The school is sponsored by anyone willing to give money toward it. It takes $400.00 a year per student. This gives the students a nice place to live while attending high school. They of course eat, sleep, and study in this dormitory. Again, it is very nice. I have walked through it and was impressed by its design and comfort. The building is paid for! If you are interested in sponsoring a student write Roland for details: daoust@dacbiet.net He can answer all of your questions about procedures. They are simple. The pictures are of 2 students in their room, our wedding group and the dormitory personnel who run the dormitory, and an outside picture. The room where the group is sitting is where the students study and eat. A very nice kitchen is off to the side and cooks provide the meals. The District Superintendent is in the dark shirt in the middle of the men on the right side. He speaks some English and I was with him on 2 occasions. His wife pastors the church I attended. He was on crushes from a Christmas Day motorbike accident! (Roland is recovering from an injury from a motorbike wreck a few weeks ago. He had to have hand surgery. Phuong was thrown off a motorbike but uninjured during her trip.)

It is good to see the church reaching out like this. Where ever the church goes and lives up to the greatest commandments the communities are always affected in a positive way. I was honored to see this and meet the people who dedicate their lives to it.