A Long Trip Today

After a hard night watching the flooding in Fayetteville and concern about our own house, we were up extra early.  My phone connected with service when we were in Seoul, but have not been able to connect while in Vietnam.  I keep it on airplane service most of the time and use wifi only, but would like to connect to service to update the time on it.  Unfortunately it still says 2 hours ahead which is what the time is in Seoul.  Last night, I set my alarm on my phone forgetting about the time on it and we both woke at 6am instead of 8am.  That was not enough sleep for me!  Ella could not go back to sleep, but i tried. Finally we were both up getting ready around 8:15am.  We kept our room in Ho Chi Minh City, so we didn't have to bring everything with us.  We met Thomas at 10am and headed on the road.  The first part of the drive was a new highway which was great.  After about 3 hours we stopped for lunch.  It was Ella's first time to use a squatty pot :)

and to eat lunch with the chickens.

And I learned what dragonfruit plants looked like!

This is the area where most of the dragonfruit is grown.  Dragonfruit is yummy!

Ella was fascinated with the gravesite

And we saw a little flooding here as well.  There has been a big storm near the Philippines that has brought lots of rain.

And then we arrived in Ninh Thuan

and were welcomed!

Never too many on a motorbike!  We only see motorcycles and mopeds here in Ninh Thuan.

We arrived safe and sound to our little resort here in Ninh Thuan.  We have never stayed here, but I found it on Trivago for $36 a night.   A little slice of heaven:

We rested a little and then headed out to explore.  We are right on the water...not many here.  After exploring, we went to the outdoor restaurant for a little dinner.  Lemongrass Beef and rice.  The beef was wrapped around the lemongrass stalk and was yummy.  Ella enjoyed an orange creme soda (orange juice with club soda).  She thought it was pretty cool.

Photo credits to Ella!

Ella thinks it is pretty cool that she was born near the water (South China Sea).  

Tomorrow we are to be ready by 7:45am.  We will meet Thomas (not sure why I didn't get a picture of Thomas today!)  and head out to give out the scholarships from Dillon International to the school children.  On the way here, Thomas asked if I would say a few words to the children...what a privilege.  Afterwards, we will head to the orphanage where Ella spent the first 21 months of her life. We are so hoping her caregiver is still there so we can see her.  Thomas thinks she still works there, so we shall see.  Ella feels very positive about being here and is proud of her birth home.  Pray for tomorrow for us please.  And please pray for my hometown of Fayetteville, that was deeply affected by Hurricane Matthew.  I am sorry I am not there to help coordinate some clean up work.  We had several church families that were flooded out and had to be removed from their homes  by boat.  I am sad for them, but I know God is good and in control and I will trust in Him, just as I will tomorrow with Ella.  Thanks everyone!