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 :)

Typhoon...check! Parent meeting...check!

Well, this week was comprised of a couple of big "firsts"! The week started off bright and early Monday morning with a text message from Mr. Hai "We will not have class because of the storm that is coming" is how it read. I thought this strange as we have gone to school in some pretty crazy weather in the 3 months that I have been here. Pretty soon though, we got word that this was no ordinary storm but rather, a typhoon!

So, not really knowing what to expect, we made sure that we had enough food and stayed home as the winds began to pick up more and more outside. We were content enough, we hung out, watched movies and cooked dinner. We received different reports-"the typhoon is going to hit at midnight", "its going to hit at 6 am on Tuesday", "its going to hit at 1pm on Tuesday"-regardless of when exactly it hit, we spent 48 hours inside while rain and winds (upwards of 90mph) wreaked havoc all over the city. All in all, our house faired well-our roof managed to stay on, the power was only off for about 36 hours and water leaks were the extent of the damage. Not everyone in the city was so lucky. The streets were strewn with debris from trees and buildings. Many people's homes and businesses suffered significant damages. If you pray-I would ask that you pray for those who are having to pick up the pieces from the typhoon. In addition, there are reports of another typhoon on its way-please pray that the city would be protected.

In a daze, we went back to school on Thursday. It seemed like such a weird transition-to be cooped up at home for days praying that our house would stand-to being back at work- preparing to teach. The TAs didn't seem shaken by the typhoon-although they admitted that the one we had just experienced ("Typhoon Ketsana") was a lot stronger than average-storms like that are just a part of life in Vietnam.

The Typhoon messed with our class schedule-thus I was supposed to have a parent meeting on Tuesday evening-but it got bumped to Thursday. Parent meetings occur at the end of a course (every 10 weeks or every 14 weeks, depending on the curriculum). The meetings are a time for the teacher to basically show off what the kids know-demonstrate to the parents all that their children have been learning. I was quite nervous as it was my first parent meeting-as well as my kids' first parent meeting (the parent meeting was for my youngest class that I have written about before). With a full house- the kids demonstrated very well all that they have been learning. They were all so cute and their parents were all very happy. Phew!

There is just such a different rhythm to life here. I feel really strange posting a blog that talks both of a storm that was devastating for some...and....a parent meeting. But, thats honestly what my week was...held up at home for days and then on the flip of a dime, in performance mode....such extremes! It is such a foreign contrast to me. But the people of this county have seemed to learn, that that is just the way life works here. Life must go on-you pick up the pieces and you keep going. I am inspired by their resilience.

Grace and peace and the third way,

Kait

Kids say the darndest things...

I love all my classes and I love all my kids-truly. However, one class above the others sticks out in my mind. It stands alone because of how insane the class can be and how utterly clueless I sometimes feel teaching them!

Which class? My Potato Pals 1 class (aka the one that I started 8 weeks ago/the ones that I got to name/the ones that are 4-6 years old and are in their first english class ever). So it makes sense, right? They are babies!!! Of course it would be a crazy class!

Anyways, the point of that matter is that that class is SO up and down. I will have a great class and come home so encouraged-feeling like we are getting somewhere. Other days, it will be as if we went back in time. Like we digressed by a few weeks...which leaves me wondering if they are absorbing anything at all that I am attempting to teach.

Last week especially was pretty rough. There was one day in particular that I was feeling rather discouraged. After my first class, I ran downstairs to grab something for the upcoming class. In the process, I ran into a mother of one my Potato Pals students. She speaks some English and thus I was able to converse with her for a little bit.

I told her how I said seen a lot of improvement in her daughter "Karen" (yes mom-the little girl named after you!) as of late and how much I enjoyed having her in class. Karen's mother was so sweet as she thanked me for teaching her daughter and said how much of a difference she has seen in her confidence level!

She went on to tell me how Karen won't let anyone go drink water or go use the restroom at home until they have said "excuse me". You see that is one of our class rules...if they need to get a drink of water or use the bathroom during class they have to say "excuse me" before they are allowed to go.

I walked away from that conversation absolutely floored! Karen understood what was going on in class enough to implement class rules in her home! Ha! What wonderful news (I mean, I feel bad for the family that they now have a water and bathroom passwords...but what great news on the teaching level :)

I entered into my next class at a much better place emotionally. Then after all the kids had gone home for the evening, my TA for the Potato Pals class came into my classroom to tell me that one of my student's mother's had called her. My initial reaction was "Uh oh." But she quickly reassured me that it was a good phone call.

The mother wanted me to know that her son Tom will no longer brush his teeth before he eats breakfast...he vehemently insists that he eats breakfast first and then brushes his teeth...a rather strange message to pass along, right? To me, it meant the world though! You see, the curriculum-the Potato Pals 1A book is called "In the morning". It consists of sentences and vocabulary associated with morning routines. In the book "In the morning I eat breakfast" comes before "In the morning I brush my teeth" and apparently my student Tom really took that to heart :) Adorable. Simply adorable.

Such simple little things...but they were the exact encouragement that I needed. Thank you Lord!

Though a seemingly slow process...my students and I are both learning...and what a beautiful and messy journey it is proving to be.

Grace and peace,

Kait

It was something small but it spoke volumes...

last night Audrey and I capped off the weekend by watching a movie in her room on my computer. After the movie was over Audrey asked "what time is it?" and then looked on my computer's clock. "Wow its early!" She said as the clock read about 7:45..."Yeah almost enough time to get an 8 hour night of sleep before our 5am wake up call" I said. I have been conditioned to read the clock on computer, Audrey had not...you see, my clock was still set to west coast time. Audrey quickly realized that it was in fact 2 hours later than she had at first thought (West coast time is 14 hours behind). She then asked "Why haven't you changed that?" It was a simple question. I had a simple response...or so I thought; somewhat honestly I replied "Well, I don't know how to." Which is true-I am a brand new mac user so I have yet to pick up the little details of the computer...but the other part of the truth is that I more than easily could have figured out how to change the time...I just didn't really want to. Again, though small...the significance spoke volumes...

Perhaps I am being melodramatic (it wouldn't be the first time) but not having the correct time on my computer was an insight for me, into my own emotional state of acclimation. I really do love it here. Vietnam is a wonderful country. Being with and working with kids everyday is such a joy. Living simply is freeing. Being outside of my comfort zone has allowed a lot of room for growth...I could go on and on...I really do love it here, but, I don't feel settled.

I don't feel settled-to the point that I knew where I was in time from referencing some other time zone...ridiculous, right?!

Just look at my room and its easy to see that I am not settled. It is my house but not my home. I have yet to put up pictures...thats typically the first thing that I do when I move somewhere new.

I think settling looks different and takes a different amount of time here. When I immediately think of settling...I think of comfort. I feel settled when I feel comfortable about where I am...living in a different country (at least for me) is full of uncomfortable experiences, its just a part of life in such a new place. Therefore, if I am going to base my feelings of settlement off of emotions...I don't know that I"ll ever get there. I am learning more and more...that feeling settled needs to be a choice. I want to be here and I now need to choose to be here. I don't know if that makes any sense outside of my head. I just think that I am have been waiting to feel settled...and it isn't coming entirely on its own. And before you say anything, I know many of you are probably thinking "Kait, it hasn't even been two months yet!" which I realize and will admit that part of settlement is time contingent, I guess I am talking about a different aspect though.

I love it here. I want to be here. I am realizing more and more that I need to CHOOSE to be here-choose to be here with my everything...not just my physical being.

All that to say, Audrey helped me change my clock that night :) Baby steps.

If you pray, this would be an area that I would appreciate prayer in-that I may daily choose to be here and be now.

Grace and peace,

Kait

It was bound to happen...

I knew it was never a matter of if I make an embarrassing Vietnamese mistake but rather, when...and after last week I can say that I know the when (well, one of the many “when”s to come) :)

Last week was a great week as I began to meet some of our neighbors. One night Robin and I were walking back from school and about 4 of the neighbor ladies beckoned us over to come sit with them. (Something that is so great about Vietnam during the summer time, is that everyone is outside at night. Literally, everywhere you go, the streets are lined with little plastic tables and chairs filled with people chatting and eating.) I was a bit sheepish but Robin encouraged me to go, so we ended up joining them and talking for about 45 minutes. We used our broken Vietnamese, they used their broken English...and we made it work. Meanwhile, they kept buying more and more food from the street vendor to feed us during the conversation. I left that evening, so excited, thinking too myself “gosh, this is what it is all about”.

Fast forward 24 hours, the next evening...Ashleigh and I were walking home from school. I saw that some of the ladies that I had met the previous night were once again out. I couldn’t stay and chat that night but I was so excited to greet them using their names! I eagerly started waving and called out the first two women’s names...and then, I called out a third name. My third greeting was met with fits...no...tantrums of laughter from all the surrounding neighbor children. I think I immediately began to walk a little quicker as Ashleigh and I exchanged confused glances.

Later that evening, I asked one of our Vietnamese friends from school, Xuan, what I had said. She asked me what I thought the neighbor lady’s name was and I showed her how it was spelled (I had had the 4 women write their names in the notebook that I carry around with me). To the best of my ability, I then tried to tell her what I said. She immediately said “oh”...to which I said “crap” :) Xuan went on to explain to me that the tone that I had used to say my neighbors name in fact caused me to say the Vietnamese equivalent of the word “rape”. Yes, ladies and gentlemen...I walked down my street one night last week waving and saying “rape, rape, rape”. Wow. Talk about embarrassing! My face immediately turned bright red. I covered my mouth and tried to recover from the shock of my tonal mistake!

Vietnamese is a hard language to learn! It is comprised of 6 different tones...in other words, the same “word” said 6 different ways, could potentially mean 6 different things. It is amazing to me (in the short amount of time that I have been learning the language) to experience how my ear is just not trained to hear the differences in those tones and my tongue is not trained to make those different tones. It is quite the adventure to learn...lets just put it that way.

The past few days when I have passed by that particular neighbor...I have kept my greeting to a smile and hello...nothing more. But don’t worry...I am working on it :)

Grace and peace,

Kait