1 Mile = A World Away
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2015 by
“Is there a Vietnamese Church in Tacoma?”
Recently I received a text from a foster parent asking if we knew any Vietnamese churches in the area. The foster youth in her home, Jackie, was feeling the need to speak her own language, Vietnamese, and had also become curious about the faith of her foster family. Wanting so badly for Jackie to hear who Jesus was in her heart language, I set off seeking for a solution, but after several inquiries with co-workers I came up empty.
“If your God is so great, why doesn’t he speak my language?”
Cameron Townsend travelled to Guatemala to sell Spanish Bibles. A spanish speaking Cakchiquel Indian native approached him with the question above. So impacted and challenged by this local man, Cameron eventually founded Wycliffe Bible Translators because he realized the value God has for every tribe, tongue and nation.
I spent 3 years in Laos before joining Tacoma YFC. When I was there I saw what happened when people heard the gospel for the first time in their own, heart, language.
“Finding A Solution”
As a believer, I trust that God is at work reconciling people to Himself — through Jesus. Wanting this for Jackie, my co-worker Janelle and I decided we would head up to the Asian part of Tacoma on 38th street and look for leads. Miraculously, when we got to 38th, we ended up right in front of a Vietnamese church!
Amazingly, Jackie didn’t need to wait to encounter Jesus at this particular church, but instead learned about Him through her foster parents--and recently received Him into her heart. The family still plans on visiting the church soon so Jackie can still be impacted by Truth in her own language, but for now, they are taking it one step at a time.
“Spiritual Family as well as Physical Family”
Tacoma is a diverse city. Our kids and teens aren’t all Americans, in fact, they are all kinds of different nationalities and cultures. We are looking for families who will take these young people into their homes and become their family.
But we are also looking for spiritual families. Families who can speak their language, share God’s story with them, and walk with them through the days of their youth… maybe that’s you or maybe you know someone. Please let me know, we are passionate about kids hearing the gospel through whatever means is most closest to who they are.
Kelly Kalalau is a case manager who's desire is to support foster children and foster families through the ups and downs of foster care. She has spent years overseas with a unique perspective on reaching the least & lost of those in thier own culture and language. Contact her at KellyK@tacomayfc.org