D-1 Vietnam

hello dear, how are you? miss you loads.

Today is the last day before I go to Vietnam, that’s why I had a lot of things to do today. Firstly, I went out with my brother to have brunch and grocery shopping, then I packed my luggage, cleaned my room and the toilet, then made dinner. After dinner, I rehearsed the songs I will be leading during the camp and also helped with finalising the design of our trip booklet.

This 7- day trip is going to be quite different from the trips I went on in the past few years for work or family or vacation. The key activity is a 3-day kids day camp that we will be hosting from Tuesday to Thursday. For Monday and Friday, it will be mainly for travelling from Ho Chi Minh City to Buon Ma Thuot (the area we are visiting). We aren’t staying in luxurious hotels, and there also isn’t any time scheduled for entertainment etc.

I am feeling both nervous and excited about this trip. I am nervous because the introverted side of me doesn’t know if I’ll get along comfortably with the team. Our team has 8 adults and 3 kids, I don’t know any of them beforehand, and I think none of them speak Cantonese. What I am even more worried is that I don’t know if I’ll be able to maintain my mental state for so many days. I worry I might experience that same gut wrenching homesick feeling again.

But at the same time, I am quite excited because I look forward to knowing what it is that God has in mind for me to experience and learn from this journey as I take a leap of faith to step out of my comfort zone to join this trip.

Overall, I feel even though I have quite a few things to worry about, I am feeling quite at peace now, and I feel it is because I know this is a trip that God has called me to go, and he has been equipping me along the way, so I’m sure I will only experience more of his presence as the trip begins.

Yesterday I actually wrote a few things and shared with my Christian friends to pray for me. I thought I’d share with you too even though you’re not a Christian. You maybe can keep these in your heart too if you ever think about me :)

• I am the only PIC for worship, I’ll be leading worship 5 times throughout the camp. I am a bit nervous because I haven’t done that for a while, it’ll also be my first time leading worship in English (+ alongside a translator). Also, my keyboard skills are getting a bit rusty these days, so pray that I’ll do fine and be flexible to adapt to the environment

• Pray that I won’t get sick during the trip (car sick from the 8-hour ride, cold, diarrhoea, eczema, cramps etc) cause my body is not always good

• Pray for a heart ready to serve without distraction. Work has been a bit busy and stressful lately, especially because I’m taking a week’s leave for this trip. Hopefully things are smooth while I’m away and I won’t think too much about work during the time in Vietnam

I am going to miss you, dear Andy. I hope I will still have time and energy to write here every night during the trip (and that there will be signal for doing that).

Love you and good night 🤍

(We are asked to not wear sleeveless during the trip, so this is going to be the only sleeveless outfit selfie for this week)