Traveling to Hanoi in March 2026 with Dr. Monroe Brewer was one of those experiences that stays with you long after you return home. We spent the week with tribal pastors in North Vietnam, and from the moment we arrived, I felt the weight and sincerity of the gathering. Dr. Brewer has been making these trips for many years, and being there with him gave me a closer look at a part of the world and a community of believers that few people see firsthand.
The week’s seminary centered on the Book of Psalms. The pastors studied from a Vietnamese syllabus and spent reading, discussing, and learning together. There was something deeply moving about sitting in that room and watching the focus on their faces. Even without sharing the same language, you could feel the seriousness, the humility, and the hunger to learn. The Psalms seemed like the right place to be for that week: songs of worship, sorrow, trust, wisdom, and hope, all meeting people where they are.
What I remember most was not any single session, but the atmosphere. It was simple, warm, and full of purpose. Meals were shared. Conversations unfolded in between classes. There were quiet moments that said more than words could. When you travel, sometimes the strongest impressions come not from landmarks or schedules, but from the people you meet and the spirit they carry with them.
Many of these pastors come from tribal communities in the highlands, including Hmong and Yao groups, and their lives have not been easy. Some have faced persecution, imprisonment, and deep hardship. Being in their presence gave those realities a human face. I found myself thinking less about distance and geography and more about endurance, faith, and how much courage can be carried in an ordinary conversation or a calm expression.
Hanoi itself added another layer to the trip. It is a city full of motion, sound, and energy, yet inside that training setting there was a very different rhythm. It felt set apart. In one part of the city, life moved quickly as it always does. In another, a group of pastors had gathered to study scripture, encourage one another, and prepare to return home to continue serving their people.
I came away grateful to have gone. Grateful for Dr. Brewer’s long faithfulness in this work. Grateful for the pastors who welcomed us. Grateful for the reminder that some of the strongest people in the world are serving quietly.
This trip to Hanoi was not just memorable because of where I traveled. It was memorable because of who I met, what I witnessed, and the sense that even in difficult places, faith continues to grow, endure, and bring people together.
