Vietnam

After watching last week's Amazing Race episode about Vietnam (being slightly offended that I had to watch that song praising Socialism over and over, yet really wishing I could call up my friend Tiffany and go out for Pho), I noticed in my YWAM Day planner that this week the country to pray for is Vietnam. Coincidence? I don't think so. Why should we pray for Vietnam? The statistics show that only 9.43% of the country is Christian. 52.48% are Buddhist and the rest are either non-religious or other. According to Voice of the Martyrs, Vietnam is an area of concern since 2001. To read more, http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?country_ID=NTQ%3d. Reporters without borders list Vietnam as a "third world country" in terms of freedom of press, meaning, there is none (http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world.htm). I had to post about this. I feel like as Americans we try to honor other countries and their culture and beliefs. The Amazing Race is such a neat show that highlights so many cool places. But at the end of the day, I don't think that Americans necessarily want to understand what is really going on around the world. We want to take the good and acceptable stuff and turn our heads when something isn't right. That makes me feel like a hypocrite. Wanting to honor a country, without really understanding what that country stands for or how that country works creates disconnect for me. We do the same thing with our own government.  At some point I have to step back and say, wait a minute! So, here's my post. I am praying that God can reach Vietnam and revolutionize this country through the power of his spirit.  I pray that Americans would take a stand for justice, and freedom and not just in the "second world"  but here in our own country as well (http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/second_world.htm).

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