Day 10

After a guesthouse breakfast of scrambled eggs and crispy baguettes with jam, I left with a tour group to see the tunnels in Cu Chi. As at the War Remnants Museum, it was interesting to see these things from a distinctly Vietnamese perspective. I didn't realize that the tunnels (which are 3 levels deep in many places!) were constructed over a period of 20 years. They were initially dug by individual families creating spaces to hide husbands/fathers from being captured or conscripted into the army. Of course, they later turned into bases for brutal warfare. The booby traps on display were absolutely horrifying. I couldn't have dreamed up so many ways to be maimed or killed by bamboo and metal spikes...Ick.
Nearby the tunnels we got to see how rice paper is made, and we visited a "handicaped handcrafts workshop". The dishes, vases, paintings, and other works of art were beautiful. My favorites were the ones embellished with eggshells. It was fun to see the artisans at work.

In the afternoon, back in the city, I sat with my book at one of the countless sidewalk cafes that Saigon is littered with. In the evening I met up with Pastor Lee and his wife, an elder from his church, and Yuri and her mom for dinner. We had planned to go to a popular Vietnamese place, but it was too crowded so we went to a Korean restaurant and had bulgogi instead.
Pastor Lee talked about me coming to work in Vietnam. He thinks I could tutor Korean kids at a private academy (hogwan) in Ho Chi Minh City on a work visa, and then help with the Stien Bible translation on the side (although that would be my main purpose in coming). I would want to get more linguistics training first, and also live with the Stieng people for a while and study their language (on a tourist visa???) before getting a teaching job. Anyway, of course I have no idea whether I'll ever end up in Vietnam...but it all just made me realize again how endless and varied the possibilities are for my life. It's amazing all the places I could be and all the things I could be doing. I just have to listen intently for God's leading and try to walk with grace whatever path He opens for my feet...