Wedding bells

One of my main agendas in Vietnam was to attend the wedding of Phuong's older sister. I arrived on Friday afternoon and on Saturday morning at 6 we loaded up a van full of Nazarene people and headed on a 2 hr trip to Phuong's village. The pictures tell it better than I do. Upon our arrival the wedding party was already in the processional walking from Phuong's house to the church a few blocks away. The party stopped as Phuong and her dad broke rank and greeted us. We then joined the processional to the church. The church was on the main street; no air conditioning of course, or padded pews. The ceremony was beautiful with singing, a brief sermon and vows. We then walked back to Phuong's house and had a feast of chicken, shrimp, soups, many dishes and all delicious. 300 people joined in the feast! All the pictures of the outdoor feast are taken from Phuong's house. The cake and balloons were on her front porch. The house is hidden by the decorations and table settings. It was a great day and it was what I looked forward to the most. Everything after that was icing on the cake for me.

From Phuong's perspective she told me her dad was very honored and proud I came to their village. Most of the time he has to go to Ho Chi Minh City to greet any westerners, but I came to the village and to their home. I was very touched by what Phuong told me about how happy her family was that I came to see them. I felt good in my heart knowing that I had made them so happy that day. I would do it over again just for that. I did not go to Vietnam to see the tourist sites. I went to see Phuong's family and have interaction with them. On 3 occasions I got to do that.

[A personal reflection]

At this stage of my life I am content to just interact with as many of my fellow humans as possible. Seeing the world is not my goal or purpose. Building genuine relationships with the world community is what I seek. It is fun and exciting. Don't ask me what sites I see in my travels. Instead, ask me who I met and what kind of relationship I built with them. (Ask about the barber in a previous blog). That is my exciting adventure for now. The back roads of Ho Chi Minh City interest me far more than the sunny beaches of Hawaii. I would rather sit in a hot/humid church with a strange language all around me than visit the Eiffel Tower and eat the food in the grandest hotels. It seems I am closest to God in such places. It is all a glimpse of heaven. And, I love it. The people are great.

If all the world smiled at each other and respected each other there would be no more war. I want to be part of the peace process. I know the whole world won't smile back. But I can do my part to make some of this happen where I go. And, when I sit down with my fellow human and fellowship in a strange land, I believe I am a peace maker in a troubled world. Just give me your hand in fellowship and we will have peace between us. I don't ask anyone to learn my language, or my culture, just look me in the eye and smile and fellowship with me, that is all I ask. Many weeks ago I wrote a blog about how words can be over rated. I really believe that. Many times I cannot share words, but laughter, smiles, hand shakes, pats on the back all communicate positive messages. I want all prejudices to be cleaned out of my heart. I am an American but no better than anyone else I meet. I was just born lucky, and am grateful! It is one world, one God, one race( oh yes). "Love thy neighbor..." said Jesus. When we really do that miracles will happen. If we fail to do that strife will result every time. I am still learning, and sometimes it is very difficult, but I want to learn what it means to love my neighbor, and my enemy. Will you join me?

I hope in some small way when you read my blogs you are challenged to step out into the broader world and make an attempt to fellowship. I cannot put a price tag on what it means to me when a man takes my hand and shakes it to welcome me to his part of the world. As Paul Fitzgerald would say in the BreakThrough Seminars, it is not just hand to hand, but heart to heart-- 2 hearts connecting, really connecting. Wow! Life doesn't get any better than that. I am truly blessed!!!