2 Christmas Events

On Friday night the people here in Vietnam were able to come together for a Christmas celebration. We arrived early which turned out to be late, there were already thousands of people seated. They had invited the various embassy staffs and it seems like most excepted. There were many foreigners there. They say around 30,000 people attended. The location was changed several times and the last being two days before the event. They were finally allowed to have this event in an open field, at the end of a runway by the airport. On our way in we had to walk down this little slope. Well it was dark even with all the lighting and Mark did not see this huge hole that was covered with bushes. He fell in and this thing was up to his knees. All these tiny Vietnamese men were looking on at this big American guy trying to get himself out of this hole. We always draw a crowd. Well back to the event. As we entered we were shown up to the front, a privilege of being a foreigner. They had 4 huge screens set up and a stage that at the end held around several thousand people who came forward to accept Christ. An American family from Ohio, the Jackson's, all six of them, had been invited to sing. They sang many songs about family and are going to be allowed into China to sing and share there also. They even sang Silent Night in Vietnamese which thrilled the crowd. We had the honor of meeting them and having lunch before the concert. They were great fellowship for me as I am really missing my family this Christmas season. The event also had many Vietnamese singers and even one Vietnamese gentleman who sang Feliz Navidad in both English and Vietnamese. Then about a 1,000 youth got on stage to sing and dance. They were awesome and their love for Jesus really shined through. It was an amazing night, even with all of the airplanes flying so low above our heads. I could actually read their names. A little scary but hey this is Vietnam !! It was even streamed live on the Internet. If you care to view it you can go to hoithanh.com.

The second Christmas party was on Sunday afternoon at a restaurant that was rented by our friends and the Jackson's again performed. There were about 130 people at this and again the spirit of the season was there. We have been blessed to be able to celebrate the reason for this season even though most in this country do not have a clue as to the real reason behind the decorations and giving. But that my friends is one reason we are here and the results are more than we could ever have hoped for.

Mark and I want to wish all of our family and friends a very Blessed Christmas and may the New Year bring you into a closer love relationship with the one who created you and sustains your life. There is a plan for your lives and a purpose to be accomplished through you that no one else can do. Don't believe the lie that you are not important, because you are more important to the one who created you than you can ever imagine. Blessings to you all.