Perseverance

After traveling half way around the world, and prior to the mission work, our team gets the opportunity to explore the country of Vietnam and its many wonders. One such wonder is the natural sand dunes and lake of Mui Ne. This area along the coastline was inhabited as early as the 5^th century, due to its proximity to the fishing location and availability of fresh water from the lake. With its high winds and vast surface area, the sand dunes change on a daily basis. Where one peak is today, there will be a new peak tomorrow. Today, the winds along the dunes were particularly strong, making the exploration a challenge. A portion of our team decided to make the trek to one of the highest peaks. As we started our accent, the wind blew sand at our legs, which felt like constant stinging. With careful protection of our eyes from the blowing sand, we challenged ourselves to make it to the top. Between the heat, wind, and degree of elevation, this vertical climb made for a great work out. First, only Larry and myself committed to the task, quickly followed by Brent, Jihae and our guide Em Quang. Although our hearts raced and our legs burned, reaching the pinnacle was worth every drop of sweat. From this peak we were rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding dunes and large lake. This will be one of our countless opportunities to persevere through a seemingly exhausting situation and be rewarded with personal triumph and satisfaction.