Branded With Love

It’s 7:32 a.m. on Wednesday morning. We’re a little behind in updates, but we’ve been working hard so please bare with us. Here is the video from Sunday/Monday when we arrived in Hanoi, then headed to Lao Cai, with our final destination of Sapa and Ta Phin. We’ll have more updates later today (or tonight/tomorrow for you all).

Thanks for being patient as you await news and for all of your prayers. This is an amazing experience for the whole team. And… big news is coming about future projects. Stay Tuned.

Peace and Love- The Vietnam Team

Hey Peeps! I’m gone on a missions trip to Vietnam, but I’ve posted my personal study thoughts from each day and I’ll be re-reading the passages along with you while I’m across the globe. Enjoy.

In Matthew 2, Joseph has an angel come to him in a dream to let him know, “Hey man, get the fam and bolt outta here. The king heard about your son (ya know, the God’s little one) and wants Him dead. So move it.”

I’m thinking if you have an angel come to you to warn ya about something- YOU’RE GOING TO MOVE. But, how come God tells us to move on things in our lives and we just… sit still. Seriously? It’s like God is whispering to us and saying, “Pssssst… get up and go.” And we just kick it on the couch with another episode of Big Brother or LOST and ignore His leading. Last time I checked, when you don’t obey God you end up thinking life is over in the belly of a large fish. Just sayin’.

So, how about we listen to Him today. What’s God trying to move us towards? How is He telling you to get up and go? Whatever it is- do it.

Jason *over and out*

We had planned on loading and posting this the day after it happened, but Malaysia had slooooooooowwwww web connections. So, here is our fun-loving day spent together as a team in Luala Lumpur right before we headed into Vietnam. Enjoy.

Hey Peeps! I’m gone on a missions trip to Vietnam, but I’ve posted my personal study thoughts from each day and I’ll be re-reading the passages along with you while I’m across the globe. Enjoy.

Ever had a family member you wanted to deny being related to? I mean, someone who just embarrassed you to no end? Well, you’re in good company… with Jesus. The perfect, sinless, savior of the world has a pretty interesting family tree in today’s reading of Matthew 1.

The interesting thing is even though Jesus is related to Adulterers, Murderers, Kings, High Up Officials, Drunkards, Whores, and more… His name is spotless. God used Him to save the world. He took a dirty, broken, and beaten path of history and used it to redeem the world from death. If God can do that, what do you think He can do with you?

How does God need to transform your heart so your relationship can be closer and He can use you in a greater capacity? Share and open up people. Let’s see the hearts on your sleeve…

Jason *over and out*

So we’re here doing work. One word- amazing. The team is so excited to be on this journey and the people make it all worth while. We visited the school where the last three years of work have been done (concrete, water, teacher’s conference, etc) and ventured up to the original water source. I literally began to weep. Watching the way things have moved with God’s hand on it has been unreal.

We begin the water project at the elementary school at the base of the Ta Phin village later today. Now it’s the process of buying supplies, getting the work team together, and getting things under way.

As I spoke with Lamah, a local who lives near the school. She invited us in for tea and showed us her home. Unbelievable. Her hospitality, pride in her home and her family were amazing. “HE” is doing some great work here through the hands of His people… and we count ourselves honored to be a part of it.

All of the GVI staff say hello and send hugs and kisses to all the teams that have come before. EVERYONE remembers Dan Pollard. I mean everyone. It’s craziness. I think they might erect a statue in his honor at some point. He’s that huge here, seriously. (I’m trying to get them to make an ice sculpture, but we’ll see what we can do)

Gotta go, we love you all. Leave comments on the blog and we’ll relay them to your loved ones.

Much love,

The Vietnam Team (via Jason typing)

Hey Peeps! I’m gone on a missions trip to Vietnam, but I’ve posted my personal study thoughts from each day and I’ll be re-reading the passages along with you while I’m across the globe. Enjoy.

Seriously? No, seriously?! How did they not hold strong to God? The Israelites are being discussed here in Psalm 78 and they kept turning away from God. Their fathers passed it down. Their leaders told the stories. Their grandfathers shared the experiences. I mean look what God did:

- Miracles in Egypt (vs. 11-12)
- Divided the Sea (vs. 13)
- Guided with Cloud by Day (vs. 14)
- Guided with Fire by Night (vs. 14)
- Split Rocks and made Water Come Out! (vs. 15-16)

What else do you need people! Well, I’m pretty sure I’m in their camp right along side them. God has given me an amazing wife & daughter, great church, unreal staff, a great extended family, and He continues to show me how He moves in my life. And still, I walk the other direction every single day by turning my back on Him and trampling on the blood of Jesus. Man, seeing this passage today is so needed for me. Maybe for you it’s asking God to forgive your times of sin and turning against Him. Possibly what you need to do is ask Him for forgiveness and confess your shortcomings to someone who can hold you accountable. And when you begin to draw closer to God, maybe you’ll remember the times He showed up in HUGE ways. Maybe you’ll start to recognize when God moves in your life daily. I pray you do. Because He’s moving, just look around.

Jason *over and out*

So, we’re waiting for the plane to take us to Vietnam. This morning we had our first team devotional where we discussed how real this is getting ready to become. Also, the idea that this is not simply a “trip.” If this starts now and stops when we get back to the states, that is disappointing. As we looked at the life of Ruth in the Old Testament and dove into some Psalms- we realized God has called us to be the rescue workers and defenders of the weak, weary, tired, and living in darkness.

As we travel, we might not have the opportunities we might like to simply share our faith verbally, but God is providing multiple opportunities to share our relationship with Him by our actions. How we speak, respond and treat those around us. Everyone is watching. The question is… what are they seeing in us?

As our friends and family watch on via Twitter, Facebook, & this Blog- we thank you for your continued prayers. It is so great knowing hundreds of people are praying for the work there and the people of Vietnam. There is no doubt that God is showing up in a big way with the work in Ta Phin, our prayer is that we will be receptive to hearing Him and respond simply with, “Yes Lord, we will do as You say.”

We’ll shoot day end blasts via all the “tech” outlets once we get to work there in Vietnam. Talk to you all soon.

Jason *over and out*

Hey Peeps! I’m gone on a missions trip to Vietnam, but I’ve posted my personal study thoughts from each day and I’ll be re-reading the passages along with you while I’m across the globe. Enjoy.

In today’s reading of Proverbs 19 there are tons of great nuggets of wisdom, but there is one that will speak volumes to all you married guys out there (listen up ladies & sons just in case you fit this mold). Check out Proverbs 19:13...

“A foolish son is his father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.”

I’m not sayin’ anything about my wife (whom I love with all my heart), but ladies & sons- read and heed people. Ha Ha.

Jason *over and out*

We've landed in Stockholm, headed to Amsterdam and then Malaysia.
We'll be able to update again then. Abby isn't in the photo because
she's in the little girls room. I'm sure she will appreciate that.
Thnx for all your prayers.

Hey Peeps! I’m gone on a missions trip to Vietnam, but I’ve posted my personal study thoughts from each day and I’ll be re-reading the passages along with you while I’m across the globe. Enjoy.

With today’s passages, Psalms 76 and 77, there is one verse that just sits heavy with me. Check out verse 12 of Chapter 76:

“He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.”

Seriously?! Where is this happening? As I look around the globe I see rulers, leaders, and kings who don’t give two seconds of thought to the idea of God. But… God has that power. And one day all men with drop before Him with broken hearts and fear, including leaders and powerful people. As I travel to Vietnam, I wonder what God is doing on the hearts of the leaders right now?

“Are you molding them, God?”
“Right now are you moving their hearts to accept our ideas?”
“What words will you give us to say?”
“How will you move and will we see it?”
“Will it take days? Months? Years?”

All I know is that He is in control and God is doing amazing things through us. We may just be putting in clean water, but He is going to do much more. I’m convinced of it. So, maybe for you it’s asking God to use you today. Ask Him to move your heart and be receptive to how He’s gonna prompt you. And when he does ask you to do something… jump on it and make it happen.

Jason *over and out*