France 2026

You were expecting a post about the World Cup, weren’t you? While I appreciate sports and their benefits to humankind, this blog is about travel and spiritual adventure. :):) My wife and I, along with three other couples and longtime friends, just returned from a Viking cruise on the Rhône river of France from Avignon to Lyon followed by a high-speed train ride to Paris, and three days of walking and touring The City of Light.

Despite the record-breaking heat wave in Europe, we enjoyed our look at that ancient waterway from the Swiss alps to the Mediterranean Sea. The food and wine of the region were amazing as heralded, with Lyon reportedly being the gastronomic capital of the world. The short history excursions tracing the Roman and medieval history of France were insightful and beautiful to view. Speaking of history and beauty, the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard was my personal favorite—amazing engineering with breath-taking beauty and two-thousand-year-old splendor.

Fun Facts

France is the third largest country in Europe after Russia and Ukraine. It’s almost the size of Texas. Metropolitan Paris has a population of about 13 million people. Yet it hosts about 48 million visitors each year. The Eiffel Tower is visited by about 7 million people each year making it the most visited world attraction where a ticket is required. Five million more visit the grounds and nearby area for photography and viewing bringing the total to 12 million visitors. Nearby Notre Dame hosted an estimated 11-15 million visitors in 2025 after the fire and restoration. The City of Light has many other grand monuments, museums, art galleries, and beautiful city architecture making it one of the great walking cities of the world. One should also mention French cuisine and sidewalk cafes aplenty to relax, refresh, and soak it all in.

The Jews

“The Jews, Your Majesty—the Jews!” That’s how Blaise Pascal, the brilliant physicist and mathematician, responded to French King Louis XIV, the Sun King, when asked for proof of the supernatural or of God. The idea being their survival through centuries of exile and persecution is a miracle. Any serious student of human history would have to acknowledge the same. Especially when you throw in the Biblical record and prophecy about the journey of these storied, ancient people. I’ve included chapters about this phenomenon in my books, A Friend of the King, Puzzling 2020, and God Stays Near.

It naturally interests me when I travel, to see the history of a place or country through the lens of how they treated or interacted with the Jewish people among them. (See Genesis 12:3). France’s history in this regard is varied and nuanced. Do some AI research if you’re interested.

One big surprise and takeaway for me was walking by the Jewish synagogue in Avignon and hearing that one of the popes there had shown kindness and protection to the Jews of the city and region. Pope Clement VI was number 4 of 8 French popes who ruled from France for almost 70 years after the papacy moved from Rome in 1309 due to unstable conditions in Rome and conflicts with the French king. During the Black Death, 1347-1351, Jews were accused of poisoning wells causing the plague and many pogroms broke out in Europe. Clement VI issued papal bulls condemning the violence. He declared that blaming the Jews was the work of the devil and urged clergy and rulers to protect Jewish communities. He provided refuge himself to the Jews in the territories around Avignon.

Spiritual France

A lot could be said because France has a long history since kings began to rule in Europe around 1000 A.D. They were anointed with oil by priests pointing back to the same practice as the kings of Israel in 1000 B.C., symbolizing that authority to rule on earth comes from God. We visited the historic and beautiful Notre Dame, and Saint Chappelle in Paris. All the Gothic cathedrals in Europe say a lot about what was happening at the time. Most people couldn’t read or write, but their spirits would be drawn up toward God by the lofty ceilings and beautiful light filtered through stained glass—stained glass depicting Bible stories and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I read these words about Jesus in my Bible reading this morning: “Jesus traveled all through Galilee teaching in the Jewish synagogues, everywhere preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of Heaven…” (Matthew 4:23 TLB). So it was a thousand years later in Paris, His disciples were carrying on that work in stained glass and weekly preaching and teaching about the kingdom of God.

A short list of prominent saints and martyrs in France would include Joan of Arc (1412-1431), a national heroine and Catholic saint who led French forces in the Hundred Years’ War, guided by visions. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, who had a profound conversion experience and wrote Pensées, defending the Christian faith. King Louis IX, (1214-1270), aka St. Louis, was king of France, crusader, and a model Christian monarch. He was canonized for his piety and justice. Charlemagne (742-814), was king of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, who promoted Christianity across Europe. France considers him their first king. There’s Louis Pasteur, St. Vincent de Paul, Saint Genevieve, John Calvin, René Descartes, and many other Christian people who have shaped the spiritual landscape of France.

May the Lord remember their lives and prayers, and show France mercy and grace in times of spiritual darkness.

Viva la France! 🇫🇷

Vietnam 2026—Enigma and Empire

Questions & Conclusions

It’s been a month since I visited Vietnam for the first time and spent two weeks there. I’ve written short blurbs about it and shared photos, yet it’s been difficult to process what I saw and experienced. It was beautiful and complex–but it’s time to try.

I looked at Vietnam’s history this morning. It’s helpful in understanding how they got where they are:
1000 years ruled by China (111BC – 939 AD)
1000 years ruled by Vietnamese emperors (939 AD – 1858 AD)
100 years ruled by France (1858 AD – 1954 AD)
20 years of civil war — North against the South (1954 AD – 1975 AD)
50 years of communist rule ( 1975 – Present)

I try to look at everything through a Biblical lens, because it makes the most sense and holds true in every epoch and age of history. “God is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb 13:8, Ps 15:4, Mal 3:6, Isa 46:9-10) “Of old I have known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever” (Psalm 119:152).

I made observations which raised questions. I asked questions of my hosts and others. Some remain unresolved, but my synopsis is that some big things are going on in Vietnam. God may be coming near (Luke 10:9), and the wind, or Spirit of God, is blowing there (John 3:8), or is about to do so. The country seems in a spiritual vacuum, and the church there has a spark.

I mentioned in my first post about Vietnam that it is open to tourism hosting 22 million visitors in 2025 — about one fifth as many people as their entire population. People interact with each other. And we change each other. Within people is a thirst for wisdom, truth, and understanding. Another characteristic of people is that we thirst for freedom. We are made in the image of a freedom-loving God. The words of the Bible come to mind “It was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Gal 5:1), and “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). The Christ follower can flourish under any type of government. Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom isn’t of this world.” And Pilate didn’t feel threatened by Jesus. But some are afraid of losing control due to this innate freedom-loving quality in humans.

Communism or socialism doesn’t work well historically—men trying to be their own gods. Corruption is a big problem in Vietnam, China, and Asia in general. It’s been said, “Good men can make a bad system work, but bad men can’t even make a good system work.” There are very few good men absent the Spirit and teaching of God. But the people of Vietnam are very pragmatic and saw what wasn’t working, and then embraced foreign trade and private ownership of property. These incentives made the normally industrious and bright people of Vietnam sacrifice and work hard to improve their lot in life and future for their children. That seems to be obvious and working quite well.

I had the impression that the Vietnamese were the Irish of Asia—kind, hospitable, engaging. The country’s most important asset is her people.

The gorilla or elephant in the room, or on the border, is China. Because of their histories, there’s not much trust or love between them, but China can’t be ignored. There’s not room to go into that, but suffice to say, “You don’t want to poke the gorilla.”

Ho Chi Minh

What influenced the man to hold the views he did on the government needed for Vietnam? Was it the neighboring countries, most notably China? The lust for power? The cultures he encountered in the United States, France, and Russia when he visited? I don’t know. I need to find an objective, historically-accurate biography of the man and trace more of his actions. Jesus said, “By their fruits you shall know them [men]. A bad tree can’t produce good fruit, and a good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit [actions].” (Matthew 7:15-17) Actions speak louder than words, and you know a man better by what he does than what he says.

Some of those I visited from former North Vietnam have warm feelings for him and genuinely referred to him as Uncle Ho. Those who fled Vietnam when the communist took over and those who suffered in reeducation camps, have a completely different idea. Personally, it’s a little hard for me to get past the fact that when the communists took over the south, many property owners were executed as their properties were confiscated.

The Future of Vietnam

Two former North Vietnamese friends told me that 75% of Vietnamese would favor doing business with the USA, even after the war, than any other country. The same friends are doing well for themselves and prospering with the prosperity that’s coming to Vietnam. They said they were happy and content living there.

Later in the week, because of something they said, I asked the question “If you had the chance to live in the USA, would you?” They surprised me by saying, “Of course.” It left me thinking, “OK, which way is it? “”

My concern is for the people of Vietnam. They have been oppressed by foreign powers, like China, France, and their own government. Their country was war torn because of it—3 million Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans dead in just the civil war. Yet they’re smart, industrious, social, ambitious, and want to make a go of it—to make better lives for themselves and their children. They seem to be forgiving and want to “Let bygones be bygones.” Diplomatic relations with the US were restored in 1995.

Free markets work. Individual ownership works. But unbridled consumerism doesn’t. It ends up being an idol and a curse on people who worship or serve only money and material possessions. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24). It’s an ancient proverb that Shakespeare says like this, “All that glisters is not gold.” Tolstoy said, “It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.”

Nations sometimes look at America and see only the prosperity and benefits of freedom. They mostly don’t see that it was the word of God, and the Spirit of God, in the people of God that brought the blessings of God—the prosperity and freedom. And those same factors allowed the people of God to have wealth to enjoy without wealth having them. So that they could continue living in the power and blessing of God, in relationship with God on a higher spiritual plane, enjoying the blessings while keeping those things in their proper priority.

I had a rare, beautiful opportunity to take a deep dive into peoples lives and the culture of Vietnam. I love the people and their country. I pray God’s blessing and best for them.

“Father God, may Your kingdom come, and Your will be done in Vietnam as it is in heaven. Bless the country and people with Your truth and Your life, as only You can. They’ve experienced plenty of wrath. Please, in wrath, remember mercy. Amen”

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“He says, ’It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’” (Isaiah 49:6)

“Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:3)

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” (Isaiah 9:2)

“Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”(Jeremiah 29:11)

Vietnam Books — Culture & Country

Books for Understanding—A Culture and a Country—Vietnam

When I knew I was going to Vietnam, I wanted to read a couple of books to get some understanding about the culture and the country, so I could make better sense of what I would see with my eyes, hear with my ears, and notice all around me. I remembered that while we lived in Fort Smith, a friend gave us a book entitled, Where the Wind Leads. She said it was moving, real, and very insightful, especially since a fairly large number of Vietnamese refugees settled in Fort Smith. The book’s author grew up in Fort Smith.

I intended to read it right away, but let it get away from me. Now, I searched for it on my bookshelf and started to read. Timing is everything! I couldn’t put it down, and found myself reading it at 2:30 AM at times. It’s a true, human-interest story about one family of the so called “boat people” who fled Vietnam as the communists took over after the war. It’s the best thing I could have read to understand that chapter of Vietnamese history, the nature and psyche of the Vietnamese people, and where they have come from to this point in history. Even without the Vietnamese connection, it’s a beautiful and moving story about one human family, resilience, God’s help, and providence in their journey through life.

I asked the leader of our group, Pastor Ngoc, what else should I read? He surprise me by suggesting I read, Jesus in Beijing. I thought I should be reading about Vietnam, not China, but ordered the book and started my way through it. Soon I saw the connection he probably wanted me to see. It is likely the most thorough, researched, accurate, credentialed, up-to-date accounting and history, of the underground church in China—probably the largest and healthiest church in the world. Aside from that important insight, it’s also a text book on how the church operates in a hostile, communist environment, being under authority, but following Christ as King. So I now see the connection, and it’s value to the church in Vietnam. I finished it on the plane going over and left my copy with the Bible school in Saigon.

As an aside, I left a copy of my four books with the same school. I told Pastor Ngoc they were about discipleship, the Bible, and knowing God better as we journey, but they are only available in English. He said to sign them and bring them. They would be of value to the young pastors and Bible students. So I did. Thanks, Stan, for carrying them in your checked bag!

More than a decade ago, I was introduced to and read, The Heavenly Man, a biography of one of the leaders of the underground church in China. It was inspirational and eye-opening. Jesus in Beijing is a substantiation and continuation of that story—a story that is still unfolding in our day. So with that information, I can wholeheartedly recommend both of those books for your insight, inspiration, and spiritual knowing about our times and the state of the world in context with the Kingdom of God—especially in Asia.

Shalom as you read, study, and learn more about the Kingdom of God as it ebbs, flows, and grows in the nations of the world. Please pray for the peace of Vietnam, Israel, Jerusalem, and your own city, as the Bible tells us to do.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May they be secure who love you!” (Psalm 122:6)

“Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2:10-12)

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’” (Revelation 7: 9-12)

Soup With the Savior-Day 4

Thursday, 2026 Journal Entry — Vietnam, Central Highlands

Today the pace was slower but steady. We didn’t experience the crush of people we did yesterday nor the numbers we expected in this village. But it was important — important to each person in pain with medical needs looking for a little healing, kindness, and hope.

Each person was greeted with gentleness, smiles, and honor…

At the first station nurses, Madison and Myra, took blood pressure, vitals, and recorded those on a dual copy record with the patient’s printed name. They were then seated in a small waiting area by an indigenous helper who spoke the dialect. This local helper, then escorted each to a chair in front of Dr. Ron or one of the two Vietnamese M.D.s and their translator assistants as spaces became available.

After the doctor’s exam, prescriptions were recorded, and the patient escorted to the pharmacy station. They were seated while the pharmacist, Ân, and her team of Linh, Thái, and Dwayne, filled and double checked each prescription. Then each patient was given their prescription with the medicines and escorted to another room where someone explained to them what the medicines are for and how to take them in the proper dosage and sequence.

The process for people needing dental help was similar. Patients were directed to doctors, Stan and Isaac, for numbing, and extraction of problematic teeth. Then they were escorted to the pharmacy for pain meds and antibiotics.

These patients are people who would likely never have the opportunity to see a dentist or a doctor, nor the finances to do so if they could. So, the community of faith is being led to bring those services to them. God’s Spirit is working through people to bring others needed mercy, help, and grace.

Apparently, the only two metal folding tables owned by the church or the pastor were being used for our pharmacy to spread out and organize medicines. So when it came time for lunch, we moved our medicines in an orderly fashion to red, plastic chairs, so our hosts could serve the lunch they had prepared for us.

In keeping with the Vietnamese tradition of hospitality, they served the best they had. It was rice and a little green vegetable soup. It was the most humble, but maybe one of the best lunches we had, depending on how you look at it.

My main memory of this village and these people is their joy and gratefulness for our coming and anything we shared.

There were bent-over grandparents and elderly people from years of hard work in the rice patties, and mothers with young children on their breasts. There were strong, muscular young men and teenagers. You could tell by the way they interacted with each other that they were a tight-knit community of friends and relatives.

In the end, we served about 170 people today. It’s not about the number. It’s about being here, and touching people with kindness, love, and hopefully some healing. I had a sense that Jesus was here with us and among us at every moment enjoying what was going on with His children—those being served and those serving.

“And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
(Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭42‬)

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭6‬)

Say a prayer for the Vietnamese government and people of Vietnam.

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭25‬-‭27‬)

More photos of the Day

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This was day 5 of the mission, since we attended chruch in Saigon, and began the long bus ride to the Central Highlands on Sunday. After we saw the last patient in the village mid afternoon, we headed south to Da Lat, a beautiful resort town at almost 5000′ elevation with an alpine feel. We arrived in time to check in our hotel, take a group photo, walk the town a bit, and have dinner. The next day was to be a recreational day for most of the team, while three of us who came early headed south to Saigon the next morning so we could fly home the following day. The rest of the team enjoyed a day of recreation and rest. We had become really close and it was sad saying good bye, but there was also a smile on our lips and in our hearts for all we’d been able to see and do with old and new kingdom friends–the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. His Name be praised. :):)

“He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariot;
He walks upon the wings of the wind” (Psalm 104:3).

Vietnam’s Central Highlands Day 3

Remote M’nong Village
Wednsday 2026, Jounral Entry

[Before leaving the hotel Dr. Le captpured the photo above on a sunrise walk. Then back at the hotel before our evening meal, we wittnessed a local wedding party preparing for the special day–the sort of beautiful serendipity one often encounters when traveling abroad.]

Today our team of two American Dentists, one American doctor, two Vietnamese doctors, an American Vietnamese pharmacist, nurses and support volunteers served about 200 people with medical needs in support of a local indigenous pastor and his small church.

Our team members are from Fort Smith, Arkansas, Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas, Newport News, Virginia, and Saigon, Vietnam.

At our last stop, we served primarily church members and a few non-churched villagers, at this remote village we served a small part of the church community and a large number of non-churched villagers.

The pastor was genuine, warm, and really has a heart for serving his community and leading as many people to Christ as possible.

A pastor from a neighboring village came to participate and help as needed. He was imprisoned a few years for his faith. He was also beaten so severely that he doesn’t have use of his right arm and a few other physical issues, but he started a church about a year ago with 50 members and now has grown it to 150 members. Church leaders here are very inspirational. They have suffered, and seen a lot of suffering.

The team continues to stay healthy, motivated, and strong with resolve to serve, whatever it takes. It’s good to be a part of a troop like this, and also feel the Lord‘s presence and pleasure as we serve.

The food continues to be a little different in every region, but very delicious with delicate flavors and quite a variety that we are totally not used to. I may send a few photos. The people are friendly, hospitable, and kind.

I sent this journal entry back to our prayer team, along with: “Thanks for your prayers and continued support that the kingdom of God would come to Vietnam and His will be done here as it is in heaven.”

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” ‭‭(2 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬)

More of the day’s photos…

Elephants! Day 2

Tuesday, 2026 Journal Entry
Central Highlands, Vietnam

We are leaving the hotel after two nights. They’re bussing our team to a different location today and we’re spending the night elsewhere. The dental team is splitting off from us today, for today only.

In fact, the authorities only let Dr. Stan, Dr. Le, and two Vietnamese dental and medical personnel with American passports work with the dental team today. The rest of us American passport holders were not allowed back.

I awakened this morning praying for the local pastors, and the church in Vietnam, especially the Highlands.

The people of the Central Highlands seem to be much more open to the gospel and come to faith much easier than the populated areas of Vietnam. They seem to have a simple, child-like, faith, and not so much indoctrination as those in the cities and more heavily populated areas.

I had an impression to leave some T-shirts that have Christian messages for local pastors as I go. I asked Pastor Ngoc, and he said that would be fine, but not here, due to the scrutiny. In the next villages it should be fine.

One interesting thing happened at a public restaurant last night. The local pastor prayed over our long table of about 30 people (mission team plus local church members), a long passionate prayer in Vietnamese. A table of men drinking beer at the next table clapped loudly when the prayer was finished. So we did too. One of them looked me in the eyes and said in broken English, “Good prayer!” :):)

That was a new mission experience!

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In the early afternoon our dental team of four rejoined us. We boarded our bus and drove a few hours to our next location.

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” I’m not sure where that pharse comes from, but out leader, Pastor Ngoc, must take it to heart, because at our next hotel in the Central Highlands, we were suprised by two Asian elephants giving rides next door! What a sight, and experience! All this was in the middle of a beautiful agricultural valley on the shores of a very large lake. It was an incredibly beautiful and peaceful setting we were to enjoy morning and evening for two days before and after serving in nearby villages.

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“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.”(Galatians 6:18)

More Photos of the Day

Central Highlands Day 1

Monday, 2026 Journal Entry
Central Highlands, Vietnam

Wow! Nice first day in the central Highlands.

We have excellent team chemistry with everyone working together with joy and goodwill. One miscue — the Vietnamese dentists, who were supposed to come, backed out, and they were to bring all the instruments and dental tools. Thankfully they weren’t needed today and will be shipped overnight on a nine hour bus ride from Saigon for tomorrow’s ministry. Our dentists did other things today with Dr. Le doing a good bit of translating for the doctors–our own Dr. Ron and two Vietnamese doctors.

We saw 167 patients today. I worked in the pharmacy with Thai Le and Linh Pham under direction of our pharmacist An Tran from Atlanta. She kept us organized and busy handing out meds that our doctors prescribed in bags with the patient’s name and instructions which were explained by a nurse in the next room.

All this ministry took place in the humble church atop a hill with the Pastor’s living quarters in the back.

Everyone, patients and providers, seemed thankful and pleased with the processes and ministry.

Many of our team simply posed with locals in the waiting shelter outside, who wanted their photos with Americans. There were lots of smiles, laughter, and hugs. “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Pro 17:22).

The movement and actions of churches and Christians are much more closely monitored in the rural, indigenous areas that in the cities. The authorities showed up to see what we were doing. Then they forbade us going to our planned location tomorrow. But they would permit those villagers to be bussed to where we were today.

“Father have mercy on these people we came to serve and help us find favor to do what You have for us to do. Amen. ‘Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands'” (Psalm 90:17).

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Psalm 90:12 was painted on the wall at the front of the church. “So teach us to number our days,
that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”

More Photos of the Day

Saigon Saturday & Sunday

The team from the US arrived from different places individually and in small groups via different routes. But eveyone arrived by Friday evening and the whole team met in the hotel lobby early Saturday monring for breakfast and our inbriefing by Pastor Ngoc. After hearing our plan for the week beginning tomorrow, we were free to rest or roam. Some took naps during the day to recover from jet lag and travel drag, but with so much anticipation and adrenaline thinking about the trip, it was difficult.

Some shopped for last minute items that might be hard to find in the Central Highlands or for soveniers. Some took strolls in the neighborhood getting to know the culture, food, and money. A few of us took a cruise on the Saigon River in the afternoon to see some of the city from the water. Rest and recovery, as well as culture familiarization, was the order of the day. We were told to report downstairs in the morning with our bags packed, ready to board the bus after breakfast.

We would be attending Sunday church services at a Bible school on our way out of town, followed by a nine hour bus ride to our first ministry station or village.

The students and church members were welcoming and friendly. It was different, and it was the same, as it mostly is in different Christian communities around the globe. The sermon and the worship was in Vietnamese, but it felt like home–peaceful and the same spirit. Speaking of Spirit, we were there on Penecost Sunday 2026. And that was the theme of the worship, as well as, the teaching and preaching. They sang some songs we knew by the melody, so we could sing along in English.

We discoved Google Translate could translate the sermon in real time to text on our phones. That was nice. And the Google Translate camera feature would translate print into English for us as we held our cameras to print or signs. Nice! But even had we sat in silence, it was a comfortable, familiar feeling. There was a lot of reverence and worship of God, and there was a lot of love for each other in the room.

We had a nice lunch with students and church members in the kitchen/dining room of the multistory dormitory complex. Before long we walked to our bus, and began the long, interesting ride north and upward to the Central Highlands–our mission and home for the coming week.

We settled in on the bus for quiet visits to get to know each other, and for quietly seeing the country side and the way people lived. There was time for reflection, dreaming, imagaing what might lay in front of us, rest, and prayer.

Soon we’ll know! We’re supposed to arrive at our hotel before midnight.

More Photos of the Day/s

Vietnam North Tour

After a couple of nights in Da Nang, our host and his high-school friend drove us north 5 hours to their hometown of Dong Hoi. Our first stop was Hué, a former capital of Vietnam and a residence of the last imperial emperors. We had a nice walking tour of the palace and grounds before heading north again to the 17th parallel which became the dividing line between north and south Vietnam after the French were expelled in 1954.

We stopped there to look at the site, the war memorial, and the walking bridge across the river that was the border—the DMZ, established by the Geneva Accords. It divided the country for two decades. It was somber to think about the devastation and loss of life caused by the war. Estimates are 2-3 million Vietnamese lives lost and 60 thousand American lives lost. It seemed very surreal to stand on the spot fifty years later with normalized relations between the two countries, and ponder what the feelings might be in different parts of both countries and different generations.

From there we continued and hour north to our friend’s parents home, a hundred yards from the beach of the South China Sea. Dong Hoi is very modern. It looked surprisingly like the building going on in Northwest Arkansas. Apparently the government and private investors are promoting it as a tourist destination, and also a nice location for the urban population of Hanoi to get away to the beach for rest and relaxing a reasonable distance away. It boasts white sand beaches and fresh seafood aplenty.

Dr. Le showed us the city and some of his favorite spots. The following day, his dad drove us an hour away to a beautiful, green river with high limestone mountains all round. It was the world-famous UNESCO caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. There were boat tours to a large cave that can be explored and experienced by boat, and also by walking. It was a peaceful, refreshing adventure, as well as, extraordinarily beautiful. In the afternoon we climbed 1000 steps to an amazing view of the river and mountains around Dong Hoi as they encompassed a large lake and bordered the sea shore—breath taking.

Day three we said good bye to Dr. Le’s parents who had extended the most gracious hospitality, and drove to the airport directly behind their home for our flight to Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City. There we were to meet our medical mission team from the USA the next day.

It was a beautiful, smooth two-hour flight south. We collected our baggage, called a Grab (Asian Uber), and arrived at our hotel in time to take a walk in the neighborhood before dinner. After a relaxing, delicious dinner, we summoned another Grab, and rode downtown to one of the first sky scrappers in Vietnam. The Saigon Skydeck is a 360º observation deck on the 48th floor, and we thought it would be something beautiful to do, to get to know the city better, before turning in for the night. It exceeded our expectations.

Tomorrow, we meet the team! :):):)

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Vietnam 🇻🇳 Tourist 2026

I was recently invited by a young Vietnamese dentist to visit Vietnam, where he was born and grew up, along with an American dentist who is a friend of mine. My friend mentored the young Vietnamese dentist, and ended up selling him his practice. Both are believers and were to be a part of a medical and dental mission team to the Central Highlands of Vietnam. So this particular opportunity for travel and adventure had two parts. First, the opportunity to visit a unique and fascinating country, and see it through the eyes of a local who speaks the language. Secondly, to be a part of a team of faith-motivated people who want to serve local churches, pastors, and their flocks by providing some much-needed medical and dental attention.

This two-week trip may merit several blogs. I’m still processing what I experienced there. But I’ll begin with the tourist part of the trip by describing some of the things we saw and did and came to know about Vietnam.

I love history, the study of kingdoms, leaders, and the political science of different types of governments as described in the Bible and history. But I’ll confess that since I’m not too much into current events these days, and I purposely stay away from mainstream media for the peace it affords, I was in the dark about what has happened in Vietnam during the last few decades. In my mind, it was still a war-torn nation recovering from the Vietnam war that ended in 1975, 50 years ago. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In preparation for the trip, I went to the local library and checked out a Lonely Planet tourist guide for Vietnam, and discovered the following facts:

[1] Vietnam is open to tourism and hosted 22 million visitors in 2025.
[2] Vietnam has a population of a 102 million people.
[3] It’s a long, skinny country, 1000 miles north to south, with a long, beautiful south-Pacific coast line.
[4] Vietnam is composed of 54 different ethnic groups.
[5] Vietnam is the world’s leading exporter of cashews and the second leading exporter of coffee, after Brazil.
[6] Vietnam’s population is young and vibrant with 70% of it below the age of 35.
[7] The street food is delicious, safe, and inexpensive. There are a large number of tech startups in Da Nang, an other urban centers.
[8] Hanoi (pop. 8 million) established 1010 AD is the cultural heart of the country, while Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (pop. 13 million) is the economic heart and engine of the country. The country is about 38% urban and 62% rural.
[9] Modern Vietnam is heavily influenced by 1000 years of Chinese occupation, 100 years of French occupation, and a 25 year civil war between the northern part of the country desiring communist rulership allied with the former Soviet Union, and the southern part of the country wanting a democratic-republic government, allied with the United States. Diplomatic normalization between the US and Vietnam occurred in 1995.
[10] Vietnam ranks 34th in the world by GDP, and 23rd by purchasing power parity—its economy in a steady climb since it embraced private ownership of property and encouraged free trade, inviting international investors. There are many billionaires along with large numbers of poor.

Spiritually speaking, Vietnam is reportedly 13% Buddhist, 6% Catholic, 1% Protestant, with 73% reporting as non religious—practicing folk traditions including ancestor worship. The spiritual landscape will be the subject of subsequent blogs as I process my experiences and reference my journal.

We spent time in Da Nang, visiting the beach, driving about the city over the amazing Dragon Bridge, and visited nearby Ba Na Hills for the views, the architecture, and to experience the iconic Golden Bridge held by giant hands. The French discovered the area in 1901 and built a French village in the mountains to enjoy the cool air, and to escape the heat of the coastal jungles. Today it has become an exhibition of where East meets West, and a Disney World-type venture that is remarkable to behold.

We also visited Hoi An about 30 miles south of Da Nang called The Lantern City because the ancient town glows with thousands of colorful silk lanterns every night. It’s a UNESCO site. No cars are allowed in the old town. There’s a river where folks release floating lanterns—super romantic at night. It’s been a trading port along Vietnam’s coast since the 1500s, and has special historical ties with Japan.

As an airline pilot I had many opportunities to travel as a tourist for short stints. But whenever afforded the opportunity to visit a country and culture and see it through the eyes of a local person, who speaks the language, and wants to show you their favorite places—that’s special! We had plenty of unhurried time to dine, sit for coffee, and talk about life, family, history, culture, and beliefs. That’s sort of what short-term mission trips are like too—guided by a friendly local into their world. I’ve been on more than twenty such adventures. Each one is special in its own right. This one certainly was special!

To be continued…

Ba Na Hills – The Golden Bridge

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