Missionaries grateful for time in Vietnam
Missionaries grateful for time in Vietnam

By Dennie Hall Comments 0
Published: October 21, 2007

Ralph Burcham says he will never forget his time in Vietnam. He has kept in close contact with Vietnamese refugees who have settled in the Oklahoma City area.

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Signing

Ralph and Gladys Burcham will sign "Vietnam Triumphs and Tragedies: Our Mission Story” at the World Mission Workshop at Oklahoma Christian University, 2501 E Memorial Road, Thursday through Saturday. They also will sign the book during the university's homecoming Nov. 9-10.

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"Twenty-third Street is fast becoming the ‘little Asia of Oklahoma City,'” he notes. "There are over 10,000 Vietnamese in the Oklahoma City area. They have a very large supermarket where many of them can buy the kinds of foods and fish they enjoy.”

He said most of the 32 people on the mission team had not met each other before arriving on the mission field. If he were going again, he would take the time to learn the language of Vietnam.

"However, I did work on the language and memorized the religious vocabulary to the point where I could put an outline on the chalkboard. People need to hear the Gospel in their mother tongue.”

Comparing the United States with other countries, Burcham said, "Words cannot express how wonderful it is to be an American. ... As I came to love and appreciate servicemen who were severely injured or who made the ultimate sacrifice, I came to realize more than ever the real cost of freedom.

"As I attended movies on the military base, I could feel the tears slide down my face as the men stood at attention when the flag came on the screen and saw the scenes that represent every aspect of American life.

"Yes, more than ever, God has blessed the United States more than any other nation on Earth.”