These days as some of us pray for Afghanistan and wanting to find out more news of what’s going on there on the ground it can be frustrating with how little we know, and what we do know is distressing.
Its also been a time that I’ve seen some reflect back the last 20 years since 9/11.
For me it led me to think also about my own family’s history as the events in Afghanistan have been compared to the fall of Saigon. I thought I share this, in gratitude to God, and the kindness of American Christians in America’s Mid-West. By the way this post isn’t political partisan politics, nor a support for interventionist political policy, but simply stories of the human experience, and thoughts about with God and also his work through Christians in America.
My mom’s side of the family had family members that were involved militarily with America’s secret War in South East Asia against the Communists while the Vietnam War was raging on. Some of you readers know a lot of history and would know that the American fight against Communism wasn’t just in Vietnam but also it involved secretly fighting in neighboring countries.
My mom’s own home were even destroyed, the result of American aerial bombing. My mom tells me they never counted it against America, as they understood it was war; and also the Communists were really evil.
After the war, the Communists had people “disappear.” When one of my mom’s sister’s husband “disappeared” because he was an effective anti-Communist military leader, that was the last straw and my mom’s side of the family decided to escape from her home country as refugees.
If you know anything Asian families my parents generation didn’t really talk a lot in details of their struggles, sufferings and sadness. I know intellectually the journey was difficult as they fled and also as refugees from what my mom shared. And I can’t imagine what it was like for my mom and her family to have lived through the Vietnam War.
One of the most brutal story that my mom did share in bits and pieces is when they were still on the road escaping the communists. Communist forces saw them escaping and open fired. My mom at this portion of the journey was in a bus and everyone ran out. She was holding one of my cousin, who was very young at that time. Everyone was running fast for the sake of their lives when communist soldiers approached. Here was a chaotic scene with gun fire and fire and people panicking and running away. People around her told her to give up the child so my mom run faster and not have the liability of the child and then both would be killed by the Communists. My mom said that some man even offer to carry the child so she can run faster; but my mom wasn’t going to let that child go. At one point she was running to a ditch of some kind as the communists were shooting and she barely made it in and people were grabbing her to save her just in the nick of time.
When I was young as a kid I heard this story in bits and pieces. I don’t know why I never thought much about it; I guess when you are a poor kid growing up in a Southern California run-down apartment next to the projects of government housing, a kid like that living with other refugees of the Vietnam War (Vietnamese, Cambodians, Hmongs, Laotians, etc), you think that was normal.
Strangely though I said earlier that my mom didn’t talk much about the details of the war and the running away from the Communists and the difficulties of living in a refugee camp in another neighboring country she did have a lot to say about her early years in America.
The people who sponsored her and her family to the US were Christians from this one particular Christian church. Matter of fact it was the church that helped them to adjust to America. They showed charity, kindness and open their lives to my mom’s family and other refugees.
I suppose at this moment I should back up and say my mom is still not a Christian; even writing this I am praying to God that one day she be saved by her trusting in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. My siblings and my dad could attest that my mom is adamantly against Christianity. Matter of fact on Tuesday afternoon I was talking to her and I thought I take the opportunity to share the Gospel over the phone and her resistance against Christianity is quite strong.
After many life’s difficulties my mom is quite embittered.
I think her happiest point in her life were the early years in America before she was married living and getting to know those Church folks in some Mid-West, middle America church. Folks who were farmers and hard working. Folks who were yes patriotic but compassionate and gracious and understanding (and willing to be understanding). My mom tells us how hard working they were, and how even the women were so strong! She tells me often how she would be working in a place picking up chicken eggs and the heavy cart she had to push around but the American women could go so fast since they were bigger than her. She tells me of a young couple in the church that were so warm and friendly they played pranks on one another; and even throw a snow ball at her to her shock! She would tell me about farmers would have extra harvests and delivered goods to them. How they wanted to help and dress simply, and the pastor was poor, working two jobs, one as a school bus driver and the second was the ministry. She would tell me how the pastors kids dress simply and always wore hand me downs and they did all this because of their commitment to God.
Even writing those lines makes me tear up.
We are living in a time where people can demonize rural conservative Christians who live in the mid-West or the South and are white supremacists and ignorant and backwards and xenophobic. I think these kinds of caricatures can exists among some; but I don’t think it can be described of every Christians in that way, nor the majority, to be frank. I think there are Christians in the mid-west and the South that goes against the “Narrative” that some elites want to paint.
My mom remain hardened against Christianity; Honestly she’s not all thrilled about my choice of being in pastoral ministry. But if I bring up those Mid-West American Christians who sponsored her family to the US: Wow she speaks glowingly and highly of them.
A few years ago because of the wonder of the internet my younger sisters decided to find out where this town was and also contact the church. Through Google map we found the town, the high school she went to…and the church!
My youngest decided to shoot them an email to tell them the backstory and also wondering if anyone still remember. The response came back and they said it was a long time ago. My mom always felt guilty for not being able to keep in touch with them and wonder if they would accept her. I don’t think she understands the Gospel and Christian grace! A big part of her I think don’t know how to express gratitude for so much kindness and grace from these Christians that she can never pay back. Plus I think she thinks it might be awkward since no one in her family became Christians; but that’s no longer true when I got saved as a believer in 1999 and all sisters also came to Christ. I would like to think that the Church’s prayers for my mom’s family to know Christ came to fruition in the second generation, though they saw no fruit at the time, and some might not know the results of their prayers and ministry until they go or went to heaven.
These few days have been very hard for many veterans of the wars in the Middle East. I have thought about why I joined the military when I was younger…and a big part of that was the reality that I have this immense gratitude towards a country that took in strange and foreign people like my mom’s family; a family that by skin and color and facial feature can be deem as an enemy but were instead seen as people who are precious, made in the image of God. A country that has given me and one of my other sister an opportunity to serve the US and with honor, and between the two of us in dozens and dozens of countries and in many oceans and seas. A country that gave me education and economic opportunities beyond anything I would have been able to imagine if I live somewhere else; and more importantly in His sovereignty an opportunity to come to Christ.
In the days to come I have no doubt that people will debate about bringing in people from Afghanistan. In days to come I worry about Americans and Afghan allies being able to escape to the US. In the days to come I worry for the men and women in uniform at the airport and flying in the skies of Afghanistan. Still more I worry so much for the people left behind and the Christians in Afghanistan. I’m praying so much that God would do His incredible work of saving sinners and even those not yet born, because of the circumstances that is now happening. And just like those Mid-West Christians who took my mom and perhaps thought they saw no fruit nor conversion of these refugees they loved and supported, I pray we be salt and light and love and preach the Gospel and confront sin and point to Jesus as Savior, even when we don’t know what He’s presently doing or even if it seems humanly speaking everything we do is in vain. Because it isn’t. If there’s something we should learn in the last few days and since 2020, preaching Christ crucified so that people might be saved is the only thing worth fighting for; countries and politicians and military and experts and talking heads will disappoint; but the Gospel and its work will not, even though we might see the fruit of it later in heaven. Don’t underestimate what God is able to do through ordinary Christians’ love, prayer, and Gospel sharing.
Thanks for sharing your story. Very moving and I will pray for your mother.
We must welcome the refuges from Afghanistan, particularly the interpreters. We must not abandon them. I pray they all can get out quickly.
Blessings dear brother.
Thanks for your service to this wonderful country of ours.
I pray that all May get out quickly too. Thank you for your kind words. And thank you for the prayers of my mom.
This may be the most powerful blog post you have written. Thank. It was a great inspiration to me.
Wow that means a lot as you have been reading my post for years. Wow. Thank you for reading it. May we not labor in vain
This morning I was expressing gratitude for the fellowship I have with beloved WP writers and readers.
For me, this is your best post.
Thank you brother for sharing this personal life testimony. In so many ways it resonates in my heart, touching present day and personal issues.
You may never meet your readers here, but with the sharing of ourselves we can know and uphold each other as brethren.
I appreciate you Pastor Slimjim, and am grateful. Thank you for sharing life challenges and God’s faithfulness.
Wow this is quite an encouraging comment. I am glad to hear this is relevant. I too felt the parallel is quite relevant and hopefully an encouragement to continue to be a salt and light. I admit I wrote this with much tears and I’m touched you said this was the best post; I didn’t think of it that way until you and others said it; and I agree sister! Blessings to you sister
Jimmy,
How rich and meaningful your words are to me! I am praying for your mother, that God will soften her heart and she will hear His call to saving faith. May it be so by His grace!
pax,
dora
Thank you for your prayers!! That means a lot Dora, hope she comes to Christ. Hope you are having a blessed day!
Thank you for sharing, Pastor Jim.
It is easy for someone who has lived here his/her entire life to take the freedoms we have in America for granted. It is things like your Mom’s story and the situation in Afghanistan that should keep every American humble and aware of the things we should be so thankful for.
The Afghanistan problem is weighing heavily on me as well. I can now add your Mom to the prayers I am offering up for the people of Afghanistan.
“We are living in a time where people can demonize rural conservative Christians who live in the mid-West or the South and are white supremacists and ignorant and backwards and xenophobic.”
I spent much of the first 40 years of my life in California. It was a great place to grow up and I was a teenager during the end of the “Jesus movement” which had much of its beginnings in California. My parents were members of a Lutheran Church (LCMS) where I attended and assisted with the high school youth. Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa was the place to be though. I would get there for Friday or Saturday events as much as I could.
Having been in the South now for over 25 years, there is some truth behind the stereotyping that Southerners get. I can’t really speak for Mid-westerners except that the farmers I know there are exactly as you have described. When I moved here I found the people to be very friendly and spiritually minded. There seems to be a church on every corner. I can’t ever remember seeing a white supremacist here but, when I was able to get out more, I’d usually hang out with the Christian crowd.
As in many places in America, people aren’t quite as neighborly as they used to be 25 years ago. At the same time, I have met some of the smartest and kindest people here in Arkansas.
Your comments about the Gospel resonate so well with me. It is the most important thing.
May God continue to bless your ministry…
Thanks for sharing; I can’t believe we lived in the same valley in LA area at different times and found each other on WordPress! Thank you for your prayers for my mom, I’m eternally grateful; how is your brother in law Chris doing???
You’re welcome and it is is pretty cool that we lived in the same valley and met here.
Thank you for asking about Chris. His heart stopped for a short bit today but they were able to restart it and his vitals are all back to where they were. His oxygen numbers are good but it’s not good that he is completely reliant on the ventilator. Thank you for your prayers.
In prayer for family And Mom. Love in Christ.
Thank you Bonnie for your prayers, especially for my mom’s salvation
😉
Pastor’s are humans too. Too often people forget that. Praying for your mom’s salvation and for your family overall. Beautiful post, I am the better for reading it. Not easy to write, glad you did and may the Triune God bring people to Himself through your story. Love and blessings to you and your family.
Thank you sister for reading this. I see you can tell I wrote this with much emotions. I hope God would work through believers so others come to know Him…or even their kids and grandkids. How is your day and how is Nathan? Praying
Ok day. All I’ll say is that Nathan is contemplating mobilizing. Praying for your drive today!!
Thanks for this heartwarming post! Those believers who took in your Mom and other refugees were/are examples to us all. I prayed for your parents’ salvation. The news out of Afghanistan is upsetting, especially knowing believers will face heavy persecution.
Thanks Tom for praying for my parents salvation. I hope Christians and Churches will be like those churches in the 70s and 80s. How is your day? Going to do long range pastoral visitation today
Your being a minister of the genuine Gospel is a tremendous witness to your parents. I pray the Lord softens their hearts.
RE: day
Hope the visitations go well! Lots of rain the previous 3 days, but today turned out sunny and rain-free so I hit the painting hard. All trim work. So tedious. I have about 2 hours of trim work left and then I’ll be able to paint the large areas with a roller. So much easier.
Jim, I appreciate every word of your family’s journey. At the same time we can lift up many in Afghanistan in our prayers. On a personal note, I taught children from Hmong refugee families who were living in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. These children were some of our hardest working students. Many harbored in their memories similar stories as you have discussed.
This is one of the most moving read I found this week. Very moving
Bless you for sharing this awesome testimony…what a journey and greater yet, what an Awesome God! Praying for your mom’s salvation and as indicated in your post. So love this quote, “Don’t underestimate what God is able to do through ordinary Christians’ love, prayer, and Gospel sharing.”
What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing it, Jim. We will never know this side of heaven how much of God’s work was accomplished by people living out their faith through simple kindness, like those brothers and sisters in Middle America. Praying your mother takes that final step and places her trust in their Jesus.
Thanks for your prayers for my mom. Do you ever look forward to heaven to see what God was going through our faithfulness to God?
All the time! It’s going to be such fun looking “behind the scenes”?
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Beautiful, Slim.
Thank you so much for reading this sister!
Thank You for such personal testimony Jim. Will pray for your mother. I have taken quite a bit of time to ask god to help me see through his eyes on all these world situations so I pray daily for his living, sharper than a two edged sword, Word to reach and penetrate the migrants, those left behind and the militants. The answer is the same as we are all lost without Jesus. I keep asking for the churches (like the Midwest church) would become filled with Little Christs, maybe poor in clothing but rich in God’s garments.
Amen Gary. This means a lot that you read it. I pray we be a light for Christ
That is my prayer. one can move the world through prayer (obviously God’s hands are on the wheel and we get to touch the wheel like little kids while he wields the guidance).
I’m glad you wrote this and shared this, Jimmy. Powerful.
Will pray for God to soften your mom’s heart and that somehow in God’s providence people who she highly regards would connect with her again and that she can receive Christ and declare his Glory.
Blessings, peace, and perseverance to you brother.
I’m not American but these are some of the reasons why I love America
Praise God for your testimony! Thank you for sharing this. I will pray for your mother to come to know the love, grace, and forgiveness found only in Christ.
Thank you for your prayers for my mom! Thank you so much sister! Glad you read this and commented! Did you find this post on WordPress reader or social media??
I found it on the WP Reader.
[…] that felt a strong sense of being grateful to be an American; I talked about that in my post “A Son of A Refugee’s Gratitude for Christians in America’s Mid-West” that some of you long time readers have said is one of my best post (I think on reflection I […]
This post spoke to me powerfully. I, too, am the child of refugees.
Wow do you have a post on your experience??? I would love to know your story!
My elementary school had some Hmong refugees
[…] in August I wrote “A Son of A Refugee’s Gratitude for Christians in America’s Mid-West.” Some of you regular readers of the blog who followed the site for years have said it was […]
Touching 👍🏻👌💯❤
so moving, i love this
Sir only the Good Lord knows what good will be done even for the next generation after you
All your articles are interesting, but this is the best one that I’ve ever read.
I saved this whenever you posted it in my “read later” pile. And I’m sure glad I did. What a wonderful testimony. I certainly was almost in tears when I read about that church’s prayers being answered after so many years. And I am with you having a mother I want to see come to Christ. Praying for you both.
Wow thank you for reading this. I am praying for your mother’s salvation
This post was Perfect. ✝️
To echo the comments above, this is a classic example of God’s perfect timing!!
Glad for refugees here but sad what country we offer them. A society this delusional cannot and will not last.
I loved reading this story. I had the same emotions with the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Thank you for your service and your continued service to God’s people.
I agree in prayer for your mom’s salvation and that of your extended family. They have been through trauma. I’m thankful for those that loved them and served them. I’m challenged by their example to love.
God bless you with being a military spouse; as someone who have been deployed with the Marines I still think the hardest job is that of the spouse; as we approach the one year anniversary of the end of Americans in Afghanistan the emotions must still be raw for you, prayed for you too
[…] I thought I share that again: A Son of A Refugee’s Gratitude for Christians in America’s Mid-West. […]
Yes Jim, thank you for this, I live in the mid-west. The honesty and integrity here is far above most places we have traveled in the US. Sad to be called names as it’s a reflection on ones’ character to be a name caller. Here we help one another a lot.
It’s so sad that political partisanship has driven some people to slander people of a whole region. It’s wrong. Thanks for sharing your insight of your own experience
Reblogged this on RG's 2 Cents Studios and commented:
Thanks for this, Jim. The message is timeless
Never forget https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rTZN9c1sVlE&bpctr=1662012082
Amen! Prayers are our life source and connection to the unsaved!
I am pondering this paragraph you so eloquently wrote:
…”I pray we be salt and light and love and preach the Gospel and confront sin and point to Jesus as Savior, even when we don’t know what He’s presently doing or even if it seems humanly speaking everything we do is in vain. Because it isn’t. If there’s something we should learn in the last few days and since 2020, preaching Christ crucified so that people might be saved is the only thing worth fighting for; countries and politicians and military and experts and talking heads will disappoint; but the Gospel and its work will not, even though we might see the fruit of it later in heaven. Don’t underestimate what God is able to do through ordinary Christians’ love, prayer, and Gospel sharing….”
And often those who are dear to us more than blood relations are far off from us…..😔
God bless the USA
This is why I love America 🇺🇸
Hurray 🙏🎉🎊🎈
What a relief, praise God 🙌🏼
[…] the United States was going through its chaotic departure from Afghanistan I wrote a post “A Son of A Refugee’s Gratitude for Christians in America’s Mid-West.” Some of the regular readers here have even commented and said this was one of the best […]
I am grateful that your family was freed from that oppression. God ways are higher than our ways, and to think, how has used you and is going to be using you soon. We will pray for your family in this regard as well.
Wow thank you for your prayers James; thank you they mean a lot