The men gave away clothes and funds for schooling to Vietnamese orphans and met with former North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong soldiers. The ministry has taken about 100 U.S. veterans on tours of the country since 1997. Journey Back tours are for veterans only and are intended to help them come to grips with their experiences, Harrell said. Later, they can take Journey Forward tours, bringing family members to help them understand the influence of their war experience. The veterans donate funds and materials to help the country.
Chaplains accompany the men, and worship services are held every morning.
U.S. and Vietnamese veterans attended a luncheon together. Former enemies who served in the same geographic areas sat together and told stories about their families and friends, exchanging pictures, Harrell said. A Vietnamese veteran who became a Christian evangelist was beaten and jailed. He became an evangelist in an area where many retired military and government officials live, and the house church movement he belongs to grew from two groups to 102 in two years. An was arrested and tortured for helping remove a monument to another veteran.