Beginnings and Endings
Wedding Plans, Settling into Vietnam and Some Sad News
On August 5th, Daniel asked me to marry him and I said yes! He secretly planned with my parents to surprise me the weekend before I went back to the States. The wedding date is set for January 20th, so we're busy wedding planning and preparing ourselves to enter into a new season of life. Feel free to email me if you want more of the juicy details!
After spending a month back in the States visiting people, dress shopping and spending time with my family, I came back to Vietnam, but this time knowing I would stay. I started Vietnamese classes a couple weeks ago and am trying to focus on my language studies in this season. It is hard to get around here without being able to communicate, so I'm hoping to learn fast if I focus and work hard at learning to speak. Besides that, I joined the counseling ministry that my FCM leader is pioneering here. We are hoping to offer one-on-one counseling sessions to anyone who's interested, organize some teaching seminars with YWAM and local churches, as well as spend time praying for the city and the nation here. Daniel is now leading a 3-month mini-DTS 3 nights a week, working on publishing a book he and some friends translated into Vietnamese and running the YWAM staff house that the base just started renting in August, so he's been busy too!
Amongst everything going on recently, we received news on Saturday night (Sept. 30th) that one of our dear friends and fellow FCM classmates, Annie, had a severe stroke and was in the hospital. We spent most of the day in the hospital on Sunday and she passed away at 9:35pm that night. Her parents and brother live in the States and weren't able to see her before she died. Her mom flew in today and the funeral is scheduled for this coming Saturday morning. Annie was my closest friend, aside from Daniel, here and I miss her a lot! This has been hard on the whole YWAM family and on Daniel and I personally, but we see the grace of the Lord upon us all and feel his peace and comfort amongst the sorrow. But I feel that we will be grieving her loss for quite some time still.
Sorry this update got a bit long, but I just want to say thank you to everyone for your prayers and support and encouragement.
Blessings,
Cassandra
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