Shelley and I recently spent several weeks in Minnesota for her scheduled return to Mayo Clinic. Long hours at the clinic left her exhausted, so we didn’t venture out much for extracurricular activities. The highlights of our trip were the divine appointments God set up each day for us to minister to others, and they were an energizing exercise of faith.
During one such exchange with a Mayo patient, we were told we absolutely must visit a small café. It was a local icon where a movie had been filmed. Owned by a Vietnamese couple, the archaic café still has its original counter, floor-mounted stools with cracked vinyl coverings, and booths. It also has a reputation for cleanliness and generous portions of good, home-styled meals. So, one day, we ventured there for a late lunch.
Diners were few at the late afternoon hour we arrived, and because both of us were operating in the “ask questions, listen, and minister” mode, we struck up a conversation with the owner, inquiring how he had arrived in Rochester, Minnesota. Taking a seat about six feet from us, the gentleman seemed eager to share, and launched into his life’s story.
From the time of his birth in South Vietnam, Tuân’s* life was a battle for survival. Some of his own countrymen, known as the Viet Cong, joined forces with the Communist government of North Vietnam to fight against the South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States.
Life was harsh, and Tuân struggled to trust anyone. In his mid-teens, he and a small community of others were forced to move to a communal island to preserve their lives. The danger of the conflict lessened, but the peril of undernourishment increased. The stark realities of struggling to survive were all Tuân experienced during his early life. He accepted them as the norm.
Two years later, news arrived that the war had ended, and Tuân learned that his only way to escape that island was to have an American step forward to sponsor his move to the United States. Could he dare hope to be so fortunate? One day, his name was called out from the list. He was going to the United States alone—without friends or family!
Seventeen-year-old Tuân boarded a plane with a small group and nothing more than the clothes on his back—gray shorts, a short-sleeved T-shirt, and a pair of flip flops. The 8,400-mile plane ride took five days, stopping first in San Francisco, then other destinations along the way, until they landed in Rochester, Minnesota—the final stop. As he climbed down the stairs deboarding the plane, a winter wonderland awaited him.
Tuân had never seen snow before, and thought it only existed at the North Pole. He had never known cold before, but now he shivered uncontrollably. He didn’t speak English, and his heart sunk when he was not greeted by anyone. He didn’t realize the blizzard that had dumped 12 inches of snow that day had delayed his sponsor by a couple of hours.
The airport closed and Tuân huddled in the cold dark with a gnawing hunger in his belly and goosebumps all over his body. He wondered if he might be left to freeze to death.
Eventually, the headlights of an approaching truck nearly blinded him as they reflected off the sparkling snow. “A hulk of a man stepped out and approach me, calling my name,” he said with a sly smile. “I was fearful at first. At 5-feet-seven-inches and 130 pounds, I was no match for this six-foot-nine-inch man who weighed in at 280 pounds! I’d never seen such a big man before, but he smiled and motioned me to the truck. I was anxious to get out of the cold, so I joined him. We drove without speaking, because neither of us understood each other. When he dropped me off at a motel, he handed me a box with four pieces of fried chicken. As soon as he left, I devoured one piece—but, although I felt nearly starved to death, I went into survival mode and kept the other three pieces for later. I didn’t know if this man would return, but the next day, he was there to take me to City Hall for paperwork, change my name to Danny*, and purchase me a pair of jeans, a shirt, a coat, and some winter boots. He noticed I hadn’t eaten all the chicken, and assumed I didn’t care for it. So he bought me a hamburger instead. We’ve laughed about that over the years! I was to be sponsored for three months and needed to find a job quickly to save some money for survival on my own. My sponsor helped me secure my first job, and since I spoke no English, I knew I had to work harder than everyone else to keep my job. Survival depended upon employment.”
And so, Danny did work harder by showing up for work an hour early and staying each night for an extra hour—without pay. As he strove to learn English, work defined his life. Danny was afraid to even take a break. His boss had to intervene daily by telling him to sit down for a few minutes to eat his lunch. Finally, working three jobs at once, David saved enough money to send for his girlfriend in Vietnam to come to the States and marry him.
“I have worked hard all my life,” he said, “and my motto has always been ‘Don’t just survive, work hard and thrive.’ I averaged 15 hours a day every day for over 40 years. I’ve always loved to cook, so we bought a restaurant, and another, and another. My wife and I ran all three at once. I’ve put three children through college, and my youngest graduates this summer and already has a job lined up. I taught my children a good work ethic, and they all have respectable professional careers. My life has been blessed, and I frequently remind my children how extremely blessed their lives are.”
His sponsor became a cherished friend over the years, and they eat at each other’s homes to this day. Danny and his wife have graciously paid forward their blessings, sponsoring 62 individuals to come to the U.S.! The group has formed a close-knit community that stays in touch and helps each other.
Can you imagine for a moment being dumped in a country where you didn’t understand the language or the culture? I think most Christians understand we are citizens of God’s kingdom, and that the crazy culture of life on Earth is not our own. But can you imagine thinking you had no one but yourself to provide for your survival? That’s something we don’t have to relate to, since our God provides everything we need for an abundant life and godliness, and all His precious promises are ours in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 1:3–4; 2 Corinthians 1:20).
Christ is our Sponsor into His kingdom. So, if today you find yourself huddled in the dark, shivering and hungry, remember that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20.
We have nothing to fear—our Sponsor will soon come to get us. Just remember to work hard and thrive. Also, we should follow Danny’s example and pay it forward. We need to help others join us in the citizenship of Heaven. The hour is coming when work on Earth is done. Our Sponsor will soon return to transport us to our new life!
*A pseudonym.
