“Sometimes we are still amazed at how God has opened the door for us to serve the church in northern Vietnam, even providing a visa for Daniel to teach at Hanoi Bible College. Ten years ago we would not have dared to pray for such a thing. God truly does more than we can ask or imagine. Having seen his faithfulness, we anticipate another season of ministry with excitement and with wonder at what will come next.”
So writes Heather Owens, wife of Daniel, as they contemplated their return to Hanoi. Daniel Owens is one of reSource’s consultants, an Old Testament professor who works tirelessly for the cause of transformational theological education at Hanoi Bible College in Vietnam.
Daniel and Heather recently returned from a sabbatical year, which included visiting supporting churches. Heather reflects further on what it means to return to the city that has become home for them.
“At the same time, we are preparing to return to an overcrowded and polluted city. There are no outdoor spaces for quiet walks or for hitting a baseball with our boys. We know we won’t see the stars again or green lawns or tulips for a while. I won’t be able to run to Target or to the grocery store on a quick errand. Vegetables will have to be washed in bottled water, and most foods prepared from scratch. I will resume my war against the white, fuzzy mould that grows everywhere in our house.
We are often asked if we look forward to going back to Hanoi, and the simplest answer is, “Yes!” We know without a doubt that God is leading us back to Hanoi, and there is nothing better than being where he directs us. We are excited about the unique ministry opportunities that are open to us, and we cherish the relationships that have formed over the past five years. We feel privileged to serve the church in northern Vietnam and to come alongside brothers and sisters in Christ who have persevered through tremendous difficulties.
The longer, and more complex answer is that Hanoi is a challenging place to live. We know we will be less comfortable when we get there. We will stand out and be stared at. We will have to function in a second language across a cultural divide. We will be wet with sweat most of the day and awake in the night as mosquitoes drone in the darkness. What is even more challenging is saying goodbye to people and places we love here in the United States. The leaving never gets easier.
Why then do we go? Is it only to “suffer for the gospel?” No, it is not only that. We believe that God truly has good in store for us. Where he has called us he will keep us. He will be our comfort. Every time we pack our suitcases and head to the airport with a one-way ticket, we cast ourselves upon the Lord’s goodness. We trust that his grace will be sufficient and that his strength will enable us to live and to thrive whatever our circumstances.”
We are so grateful for devoted Christ-followers like Daniel & Heather, who have immersed themselves deeply into this culture, city and college. How else could we effectively resource the training of future leaders in a country like Vietnam (or Cuba or Colombia or…)? And so we rely heavily on consultants like Daniel, who live in the area and are familiar with the context in which ministry takes place and hard decisions must be made.
If you would like to support the ministry of Daniel, please contact us.
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