Just like that we flew to Vietnam to proclaim God’s Kingdom yet again in another country. Unaware of the challenge ahead, the team eagerly wondered what our ministry here would look like. God had some ministering to do to us first before we could continue, so we jumped straight into our very first travel challenge- 200km, 4 days, money for only food, in a country where very little understand English, and one faithful God. Practicing to trust God for your “daily bread” suddenly becomes a main priority and then you realise how important it is for day to day living.
“Our adventure in Vietnam started with a travel challenge! Being our first travel challenge I was a bit nervous, but after praying and just getting to the side of the road we got our first hitch hike within ten minutes. The second day of our travel challenge was my highlight, while we were walking to our next hitch-hike spot and even though I had no clue where our next stop was or what the Lord had planned, I felt so much peace and joy just being there and having the privilege to walk the streets and encounter the Lord in every person we met along the way.”
-Wilné
“Vietnam has been, in my opinion, one of the most incredible countries we have been to so far. This is probably not because of the country itself, though it is beautiful, but rather because of the incredible ways I saw God there.
From the first morning, we set out on a travel challenge. The Lord had arranged that a group of four from our team would postpone their challenge to go to a coastal town to do ministry there. I was part of that team. After four days in that town, we set out on our own travel challenge to join the rest of the team.
While at the ministry point, and during our travel challenge, Father came and showed me what a good dad he is. I have a heart for adventure and fun, and he just blessed me with that over and over. I have struggled in the past to see God as a personal, friendly, good God who cares about his children the way a good earthly father does. I saw him as the great, awe-inspiring, must-be-kept-holy God. He is absolutely holy, but I took it to the point of scoffing when people spoke about their “Abba Father” who does sweet little things for them because he loves them.
News flash: I was wrong. My Abba Father gave me beach days and scooter galavanting and so much fellowship with incredible people. Some of these people spoke English, others didn’t. Some were believers, some weren’t. But He showed me so much of Himself through all of them. I grew so close to my brother and sister in Christ who I travelled with. Abba Father even arranged that a random Vietnamese woman come to our tents at 6 in the morning to bring us big iced coffees as we watched the sunrise. We never saw her again, we didn’t even get her name. Stuff like that happened over and over again.
I’ll always remember the gift my God gave me in Vietnam; more of himself. I got to see a new aspect of his character, and I’ll never stop getting to know more about this incredible God of ours.”
-Sophia
Everyone walked out of the travel challenge with a unique testimony of how God provided and used the challenge as a period of spiritual growth. Closer bonds between the team members could be formed and it is so special to see how we truly became family to one another.
Here in Vietnam we could serve a couple and their daughter who truly loves the Lord. Our fellowship with them has been a blessing to both them and us. Whether it was to eat traditional food at their house, game nights, babysitting, night markets or a braai, we uplifted each other in the spirit. We also attended church and English classes- facilitated by our team, with them. The thankfulness of our help was evident on their faces each time we met. This is what it is about. Carrying the light and making others feel loved, because of Him who loved us first.
“He changed my life. Completely. 180° turn. Since I was 13 I’ve been struggling to know who I truly am in Jesus and for the past 2.5 years I struggled immensely to orientate myself in the spiritual realm with the gift that Jesus gave me. In Vietnam, because we had so much time to spend with the Lord, He gave me the chance to sit with Him in His presence and work through everything that I have been fighting for in the past 5 years. 5pm on the 26th He gave me total victory. It wasn’t a significant ‘encounter’ or experience I had, but just like David took the fortress of Jerusalem captive simply by infiltrating it through the cistern entrance outside of the city , the Lord showed me a loophole (or key) that was so simple, and yet it unlocked my freedom and understanding of what I have been going through. I will forever and always remember Vietnam for how the Lord changed my life completely in such an ordinary and simple way.”
-Charl
“Vietnam offered opportunity to quiet down and tune back into the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Holy spirit particularly impressed Sarah (the wife of our host) on my heart during our time in Da Lat. I had coffee with her twice with the intention to be an ear to listen but in return it was like having a conversation with the Holy Spirit. She inspired and encouraged me in the season I am in. She is an example of being faithful and still passionate about the Lord amidst the daily tasks required of a mother and wife. Da Lat and Sarah has definitely been one of my highlights this year.”
-Elize
Our stay here has been so peaceful. A place where you can breathe, nothing to run from, but only having to run to God to spend more time with him. He really blessed us with the space to draw near to him, to seek Him because we want to know more. His grace upon us surpasses all understanding. What more can we do but to thank Him for all He has done for us?
Until we write again, blessings
The One Year Team of 2025