guns and love

This last Saturday classes were canceled so that all of us as a staff could travel to a village in the mountains surrounding Danang. Our mission was to pass out rice and blankets to over 300 families in the region. So, at 7am the adventure began with an hour and half(ish) car ride to the base of the mountain. The car ride was an adventure in and of itself as some of the terrain was pretty rough (there were parts that felt like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland J).

Once at the base, we all piled out of the cars and onto awaiting motorbikes-I would proximate that there were about 15 motorbikes and drivers waiting to take us up to their village. The car couldn’t go any further, because as rough as the drive had been-from that point on it would be impossible for a car to pass through. So, we all got on motorbikes and started off on another hour-long journey up the mountain. The ride was absolutely nuts, we were all bumping up and down as our drivers nearly avoided 2 feet ditches and mud traps! Meanwhile, we were passing through breathtaking scenery as mountainous jungle passed us by. The guy who was driving me was very sweet-he even provided tunes for the ride J At first, they were his own tunes as he began to sing and hum. Then, he took out his phone, pressed a couple buttons and within seconds we were listening to Nsync and Celine Dion-ha!

Once up the mountain we stopped at a central location where people from all over the mountain region had gathered to receive the supplies that we had brought. Some families walked for as along as two hours from their homes. Introductions were made-and then the distribution began.

After we finished passing everything out-we went to go visit the local church building. To get there we had to wade half way through a stream and then ride the rest of the way in a boat. Up until a couple months ago they had a bridge that covered the water but it is now in the list of things that the typhoon claimed in its destruction.

After a short hike, we reached the church and gathered inside to all eat lunch together. It was there that we learned a little bit more about the significance of our journey. We were fortunate enough to be accompanied by the region’s pastor (he was actually the contact that our school’s director had to the village). This faithful man has been serving that particular community for over 20 years. Its hard to describe but this man’s face literally seemed to shine. I had no doubt that I was in the presence of an extremely faithful and committed follower. Anyways, it was then that he shared with us the meaning of our group’s visit. He explained how incredible of a trip it was as this was the first time that Americans had been to the village since the war. He said, as I choked back tears “The last time Americans were here, they brought guns. Now, Americans are here-but they are bringing love.”

Wow.

I was left speechless.

I feel so honored and privileged to have been able to be in this man’s presence and be a part of such an experience.

Some people in the group began to ask him some more questions. The pastor told us a little bit more of his story. There are too many stories to recount-but in a nutshell, this man has been thrown in prison numerous times for his faith and persecuted in many other ways. Yet, his faith remains. Despite circumstance, his faith remains.

What an awesome example.

Grace and peace and the third way,

Kait

23

I think I might venture to say that I have had the best birthday ever this year-which is saying a lot-trust me. My family has always done a phenomenal job at making my birthday a special day…so its not in the absence of a good birthday experiences that I say that I had the best birthday!

My birthday landed on a Wednesday this year. The actual day was going to be pretty hectic with work and the parent meeting that I had in one of my classes. So we decided to celebrate early on that Sunday. I have never liked planning my own birthday so Christ and Audrey took the reigns completely. All I did was show up J

And so it began. Sunday morning Christ, Audrey, Dawn and I went and got breakfast at a great restaurant overlooking the bay. From there we went to church-afterwards was when I received my first clue. Christa and Audrey had created a scavenger hunt all across the city. So, on my bicycle I went…from clue to clue…person to wonderful person…here was where the hunt led me:

1^st stop: Lunch with two of my friends from church. I met them at a vegetarian restaurant and had a wonderful time eating and chatting.

2^nd stop: Hanging out at a park with almost all the TAs from school. We talked, took pictures and laughed a lot J

3^rd stop: The sweet soup shop (a Vietnamese dessert that I absolutely love) with one of my closest friends (she is another TA from school) and her students (she teaches a few classes of her own on the weekends. Her students are SO wonderful. I hang out with them from time to time. They were some of the first people that made me feel so comfortable and at home). The lesson for that day had been translating birthday messages for me. So, one by one they went around the table and each greeted me with their own birthday wishes- “We wish you much happiness” “We wish you learn Vietnamese well soon.” “We wish you stay in Vietnam long time.” It was wonderful, absolutely wonderful.

4^th stop: Meeting Dawn to paint pottery. She brought coffee-thank goodness, I was fading at this point. We spent a relaxing hour or so, painting and chatting.

5^th stop: Eating at one my favorite places-an Indian restaurant with the APU crew. When I arrived and saw Audrey and Christa…I lost it. They hugged me and I just broke down. I was so overwhelmed. It had been such an incredible day-I felt so so so loved…

So after dinner-around 8pm…I thought the day was over.

Nope.

6^th stop: I had about half hour at home and then I followed my housemates to Dawn’s house. Where, about 20 some others were waiting for me! Once again, I lost it. People from World Relief, people from school, people from church…it was incredible. People had brought all kinds of yummy desserts. We spent a couple hours just hanging out and eating good food.

Then on my actual birthday I woke up early to skype Erin (my friend and HIS years mentor). She had sent a package that I promised I would wait to open on my birthday-and I promised that I would skype her in to experience me opening it. Before I could skype her though, two of my friends that live on the next street over came and sang happy birthday to me as I listened form the balcony. Then, with Audrey and Christa accompanying me, we skyped Erin to find that Becca and Ian were accompanying her! With a group of witnesses, I opened an incredible package. It was full of letters from friends and fun gifts.

Then Becca told me that she was coming for a month in June.

Then there was a celebration for me with the staff at school.

Then Audrey and Christa got me a special dinner.

Ok and that doesn’t even begin to cover the texts, calls, emails, e-cards, the cards from my parents, the cards from my grandparents and the other many gifts that I received. This would literally be too long of a post if I were to say everything that people did for me for my birthday.

I was so overwhelmed with love on my birthday. Thank you to all who were involved! I will forever remember my 23^rd birthday!

Grace and peace and the third way,

Kait

Life

I used to say that I am here in Vietnam for 2 years. I think at least initially, I had to say that. I had to have something tangible to wrap my mind around. As big of a change as an international move creates-I think our finite minds need something sound to hold on to. I have noticed within the past few weeks, that I have stopped thinking in terms of a timeline. I have stopped thinking "I will be here for 2 years." My train of thought has become much more simplistic- "This is my life."

I have finally started to feel settled, finally started to feel like I have found my place here. I don't feel as much of an outsider or stranger. My life is here now...and who can ever predict (but the Lord) what kind of timeline that comes along with.

A lot has happened since I last blogged! Along with settling in has come the grind that comes with the end of the honeymoon phase. I knew that it was just a matter of time till the novelty of a new place wore off-but you know, I am glad that the time has come...because I feel more a part of life here and now-rather than a visitor.

I have continued to learn more and more by the day. Time and time again, I am confronted with my very Western mentality that is based off of entitlement and rights. Day in and day out...I am learning about putting into practice what I studied at the theoretical level during University. Day in and day out...I am learning how much harder it is to put said practices to use rather than theoretically writing about them. I think one of my major lessons could be summed up like this - Jesus' power was not founded on his assertion of rights.

You see, I believe in Jesus. And to the best of my broken ability (and thats a very nice way of saying it) I try to model my life after the person of Jesus Christ. I think regardless of what you believe about him-it can still be acknowledged that he lived a pretty radical life. He lived in such a countercultural way-in a world that almost always paints things out to be black and white, good or bad, right or wrong...he showed us how to live in a third way...in a way that our human minds don't immediately resort to.

I believe that Jesus came to earth and showed us how to use the precious life that we have been given- to the best of its potential. I believe that Jesus came down to earth to show us the intrinsic power of a human life if we are willing to fully commit to our original design and purpose. Tangent! Ok, sorry...sorry...reigning it back in...I have been confronted time and time again while here with the lesson learnt from Jesus' life...that I am trying to unlearn from Western culture...that there is power when we deny the lies of entitlement- these are the same lies create privilege and oppression, the lies that create an "us" and "them", the lies that stratify, the lies that create disparity, the lies that ascribe unequal value and worth among humankind.

Power is not found in rights or entitlement...power is found in love.

I am learning that lesson in a new way right now. I am trying to become a person of love. It is a feeble and failed attempt...but I believe each morning is a new opportunity...and I try to wake up...seeing it as that...

Grace and peace and the third way,

Kait

PS: Sorry if this post is a jumbled mess of thoughts...streams of conciousness-hope you can decipher it :)