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Two of the Eleven Days

November 9, 2011 in My Spiritual Journey, Vietnam with 0 Comments

Putting into words the experience I had in Vietnam is difficult.  I keep sitting down to write and my mind seems to go blank.   It is such a beautiful country full of amazing scenery and even more amazing people.   People that will forever be engrained in my heart and mind.


The women on the trip

Some of these sweet people were the teachers I was fortunate enough to teach in a conference we led while in Bac Ha.  If I remember correctly, there are 52 schools in this province and each school sent 2 teachers to the conference to learn “the new methodology”.

I had to put that in quotes because it was said soooo often!   The schools there teach scripted lessons in a lecture style.  The purpose of our conference was to teach “the new methodology” of interactive teaching.  In other words, we got to just have a lot of fun with these incredible Vietnamese teachers!

I taught four sessions over a two day time period.  Each session was three hours long.  I videoed some of my sessions so you could glimpse a bit of what the conference was like.  Of course I edited out most of the actual teaching part and just let you see the fun interactive part.

 

As I said earlier, the teachers were fun, did everything I asked of them, laughed, and simply made the two days fly by.     It also made me realize two things:

  1. I really do love to teach
  2. It is much easier for me to be half way around the world or to work full time than it is for me to be a stay at home mom.


My incredible talented and amazing translator!  I choose her if I go back again =)

As I’ve adjusted to being home again, I have really had to fight against the urge to just keep working outside the home, getting involved in projects with the church, and getting busy with things other than my kids.

I wouldn’t trade staying home with my kids for anything. I believe I’m obeying the Lord and doing what I’m supposed to be doing by staying home with them. However, there is something tempting about being out in the work force where people validate you, you work in a controlled environment, the kids can’t yell at you, and you feel like you accomplished something every day.

And those of you who work full time don’t get mad at me. I’m not for a minute saying your life is easy. I’m just saying my time in Vietnam was nice because every day I accomplished something that mattered. (and yes, having clean undies in everyone’s drawers does matter…just not in the same way)

Accomplishing things was satisfying.

Satisfying is probably the perfect adjective to describe my time overseas.

Going Home

October 30, 2011 in Vietnam with 0 Comments

We are just an hour away from heading to the airport. We took the train all night last night and got into Hanoi at 5:30am this morning. We have spent all day in Hanoi and then our flight to Tokyo takes off at midnight our time, noon your time.

Our first flight is 6 hours and then we have a 5 hour layover before we begin the 14 hour flight into DFW.

Aren’t you jealous of my next 24 hours?! =)

I have so much I want to share and so much I want to write about, but it will have to wait until I’m on American soil and have constant internet access. For now, will you pray for us as we travel home? We are all anxious to get home, hug our spouses, and sleep in our beds!

The countdown has begun….24 hours left.

A Little Glimpse

October 27, 2011 in Vietnam with 2 Comments

Here is a little video of some of the work we did with the water buffalo corral. I thought my family and friends might like to see some of the work rather than just hear about it =)

And yes, I worked hard too. I just never thought to hand my video camera to someone else so I could prove to all the skeptics that I worked hard! Maybe next time =)

Today we started the teachers conference and my sessions went well. It probably went so well because I have an amazing translator!

The teachers are engaging and participating more than I thought they would as well. My afternoon session had me almost in tears they were so funny. One of the teachers in my second session works at one of the schools we have worked with this past week so it was fun to see her again and have a chance to just sit and chat with her. She asked me all about my hobbies and what my husband did as his job which led to a great conversation. I’m hoping to see her again tomorrow so we can chat some more!

Keep lifting us up and asking for more opportunities. The water buffalo work was fun, but this conference is where I’m gifted so I’m looking forward to tomorrow and teaching some more.

And I’m really looking forward to a big juicy hamburger when I get home! And a hug from my hubby =) Its crazy what you start to miss after 7 days =)

Did You Know?

October 24, 2011 in Vietnam with 0 Comments

Did you realize that if a farmer in Bac Ha is able to get a water buffalo, his yearly income will double?

With a water buffalo, they can grow more corn and rice.  The corn can be used to feed the livestock which enables them to have more livestock.  The buffalo can also transport more rice up and down the mountain to the market so the family can sell more and make more income.   Without a water buffalo, their yearly income is around $1000.  With a water buffalo, their income is around $2000. Makes you want to go purchase some water buffalo and give them away doesn’t it?!

Through our organization, a member of our church was able to help this family purchase a water buffalo, and we got to deliver the buffalo to the family this morning.

Its amazing how one person listening to the Lord and obeying his lead can change the entire future of a family living halfway around the world.

The past 48

October 23, 2011 in Uncategorized, Vietnam with 1 Comment

Our first full day was spent acclimating and preparing for the teacher conference we will be doing at the end of the week.  Acclimating included riding around the city in these fun things.  I have great video of a bus almost hitting my feet as we crossed an intersection.  Good times =)

We finished our tour at this incredible hotel with an even more incredible menu for lunch.  It was about the time that we finished this yummy lunch that my body realized it was 2 am our time and it began to protest being awake.

I did manage to stay awake until we arrived at the night train that night.  I have heard horror stories about this train, but I’m now convinced all those people who told me those stories were lying.  It may have been the best nights sleep I’ve had since arriving here!  Really loved this experience!

We got off the train at 5:40 am and drove up the steep, curvy mountain for 2 hours until we arrived at this town.  This is where we will be for the rest of the week.

Yes, that is the Ranger game on the Ipad.  We arrived here just in time for the game.  I would love to say I stayed around to watch the Rangers lose, but I didn’t.  I went to the market instead and had a blast. The people here are so friendly and the whole area is just beautiful.   I am loving Bac Ha!  So thankful we are spending the week up here!

I’ll try to upload some pics soon that will show you how amazingly beautiful it is.  And maybe eventually I’ll be able to upload the video of the bus almost hitting me in Hanoi as well =)

But for now I’m off to dinner.  I hear its supposed to be the best food ever.  Hopefully they are not lying to me like they did about the train =) And then tomorrow we start working with the farmers and their wives, and I hear it is pretty hard work.  I’m looking forward to it though.

As you all wake up on your side of the world, lift us up and ask that we would sleep well tonight.  Sleep is something not everyone on the team is getting yet but it is so desperately needed before we begin a busy week here.

Thanks and enjoy your day!

We Made It!

October 21, 2011 in Vietnam with 0 Comments

Saying goodbye this morning:

After 24 hours on planes, we’ve made it!   The flights were good and pretty smooth and the time seemed to fly by quickly.  Although I’m not sure how my friends who live overseas do those long plane rides with their 3 or 4 kids!  I have been thankful all day my kiddos weren’t with me =)

We are 12 hours ahead and so I am now sitting in my bed and hoping I can sleep for the night.   Tomorrow we get to spend the day in this city and then get on the night train and travel North up into the mountains.  I hear you can sleep pretty well on the train?  I’ll let you know =)  Good night from this side of the world!

A Little Fun

October 20, 2011 in life, Vietnam with 2 Comments

Homemade pumpkin pie, decorating pumpkins, roasting and planting some seeds, dance parties, and spending the rest of the night with my hubby.  A great night together before I fly out in the morning.

The next time you hear from me I’ll be in another time zone!   Will you please pray for the next 24 hours for our travel?   I can’t wait to tell you all about  everything God teaches me and what He does while we are there.   I’m expecting great things.

 

The Next Step

August 16, 2011 in Vietnam with 4 Comments

Yesterday, I broke the news about my upcoming trip.  Today I thought I would let you in on a few of the details of our trip.

 

Basically we will play in the mud and then teach some classes.  Not really.  Well kind of.  But not really.  =)

One of the projects is going to be to help some local farmers.  This is the “play in the mud” part of the trip.  We will be trekking up into the mountains to Bac Ha. Some  farmers in this village have received micro-loans from our organization and have used those loans to buy Water Buffalo, one of their most important resources. We are going to help them build some structures that will help protect these animals, and consequently the farmers’ livelihood, through the harsh winter months. While doing this, we will also be teaching the farmers’ wives English so they can speak and sell their wares at the international market.

I’m pretty excited about this aspect of the trip!  Have I mentioned before how much I love physical labor?  I may be weird, but I really do love it.  There’s just something satisfying about working hard in the outdoors.

In addition to some physical labor and personal interactions with the farmers and their wives, we have also been invited by the director of this province to lead a teachers training conference for the teachers of the province. (hence why they needed another certified teacher!) There will be close to 100 teachers from surrounding schools at this conference. We will be splitting the teachers into groups of 25, and I will be one of the lead presenters teaching and training the teachers in life skills instruction for the students. There will be other members of this team teaching other concepts, but my focus will be to train the teachers in ways to teach the students to be self-motivated and responsible and also on communicating in an appropriate way, i.e. greeting visitors, acknowledging others.

Playing in the mud = fun.  Teaching at a conference in a culture I don’t yet fully know = a little intimidating.

So the research has begun.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking over the material and have even found some really neat sites that can help me learn a few basic Vietnamese sayings.  I can’t stand traveling to a country and not be able to speak a bit of the language!   My paperwork is done, I’ve applied for my visa, and scheduled all my vaccinations.

I’m preparing as much as I can, but I still need your help.

The trip costs around $2200.  To be honest, that number has been what has kept me from agreeing to go before now.  That number can be intimidating.  But that number is nothing to God.  Someone commented on the last blog post that they were excited to see how God worked out all the little details.  Me too.   I know God already has picked out how and who He wants to use to send me on this trip. I know He has already determined the time and place the money will come from.  I know He is in control of that detail. So today I ask you to do nothing but pray and listen to the Lord. Is it you He has picked out?  If not, please obey God and just continue to pray for me and for the whole team going.

If, however, God tells you to financially support this trip, you can obey by.

  • Emailing me at  kariminter (at) gmail (dot) com  OR leaving a comment on the blog or on Facebook and let me know you would like to help and we can chat from there. I would love to answer any questions
  • Once I hear from you, I will send you my address and you can send me any contribution you desire. The check should be made payable to NorthWood Church with my name, Kari Minter,  and Bac Ha Oct 21st written on the memo line.
  • All contributions are tax deductible; however NorthWood will only send you a receipt if the contribution is over $200.

Thank you for all of your encouragement and love over the past few days!  Your comments and support have been treasured.  And thank you in advance for all your prayers and financial contributions.  Like the comment from yesterday stated, I truly do look forward to watching the Lord work out and finish what He started.

 

 

 

 

My New Adventure: This is BIG

August 15, 2011 in life, Vietnam with 8 Comments

It all began over coffee. Seems fitting for an adventure to begin with such a glorious thing.

Last Thursday, as I was drinking coffee with a friend, the topic of Vietnam came up. She was going on a trip in October and was praying for one more certified teacher to join this particular trip.

As she shared why she needed another certified teacher and the difficulty of finding teachers who are able to go in October, my heart began to stir. I’m a certified teacher. I am available in October. I’ve always wanted to go to Vietnam.

So the praying began. I came home that morning and casually mentioned the trip to Brent. In the flurry of getting the kids’ breakfast, Brent checking on our elderly neighbor, and then him heading to work, we didn’t get farther along in our conversation than simply, “What would we do with the kids?”

The next few hours consisted of a few texts back and forth and a lot of excitement building in my stomach. By 2pm, we had made a decision. If I could still be added to the trip I would go.

12 hours later, I had my plane tickets.

I have no money, I have no one to cover the research writing class I teach here, I have no experience in Vietnam, and I have no one to care for my children, BUT I know the Lord urged me to go, so I’m going. Obedience first; working out the details comes second.

All that backstory to share with you all I”M GOING TO VIETNAM! For 10 days at the end of October, I will be treking through the mountains of North Vietnam to do a couple different projects.

I’ll share more details in the days to come, but in the meantime, please pray! Pray for wisdom as we decide what to do with the kids while I’m gone. Pray for peace as we continue to prepare and plan for the trip in two months. Pray for guidance as the team meets Wednesday night to go over some details. Pray for freedom from stress for me as I wait to see how God is going to financially provide for this trip.

In conclusion, please pray =)

To the best of my ability, I will be blogging my way through this trip.  This adventure is for all of you as well as for me, so every day I will attempt to capture the emotions and events through words and pictures so that we can all experience and see what God has done and glorify Him together.

In nine weeks, we will be embarking on an adventure of a life time!  Are you as excited as I am?

 

check back tomorrow for details on how you can support me and specifics on what I will be doing!