Nguyen On Earth

Freedom Is Precious I am currently in my first semester at bible school  Christ For The Nations .  One reason why I love my time here is because I get to hear from guest speakers weekly.  Today I had the pleasant surprise of hearing a lecture from Virginia Prodan, a political refugee exiled 28 years ago from communist Romania. I first heard about Virginia around a month ago from CFNI president, Dr. Dennis Lindsey.  He had her autobiography in his hand, saying it was an excellent book about a Christian woman's God-given courage. I purchased Virginia's book, Saving My Assassin , and am halfway finished.  It is so hard to put down.  I wish I had more time to read it.  Being in school, I have a book report due next week and then another book I have to have read in 2 weeks.  So my day consists of alot of reading.  Virginia's autobiography is the last book I read before I go to bed.  I try to read it as much as I can before sleep wins and my tired eyes shut. So y

Monday, August 15th I had just spent my first weekend in my new place.  First night I kept waking up.  You have to get used to new normal sounds when you're somewhere new.  Second night I slept all through the night.  It was great.  I was excited about Monday morning because my friend Laura was coming to see my apartment and then go to the opening pep rally on campus with me.  She was so sweet to get up so early on her day off.   Laura and I among the student body. (pic credit: CFNI) I love confetti!  (pic credit: CFNI) The pep rally actually lasted a while and Laura had to leave during the break.  I was hoping she was able to stay.  Now I had to go back by myself with people I didn't know!  Eeek.  When I went back to my seat, I saw a girl in the aisle and we struck up a conversation.  Her name was Madison and she was from San Antonio.  She dreams of having her own coffee shop one day so it can serve as a place of worship and support new musicians.  I told

Week 1: CFNI "It's happening.  It's getting real."  I wrote this in my journal on Tuesday, August 9, 2016.  Before I started at Christ For the Nations Institute, I made a commitment to document my experience here because I knew it would be quite the journey.  Perhaps this will be incorporated into a book one day.  Or perhaps someone will be inspired to go where the Lord leads them after reading my entries.  A week has passed since school started and I have no more journal entries.  The enemy tends to do that.  He tries to keep you from doing good works for God.  So today, I was determined to get active and write. My friend Crystal gave me this journal.  I decided to use it for my CFNI journey. My first and only entry. I checked into school Wednesday, August 10th.  My good friend Crystal went with me.  After getting the key to my apartment, I was excited to check it out.  Yes, I decided to move on campus.  Some were worried about me living in Oak C

I've been so behind on writing since I've started school at Christ For The Nations.  I told myself to document because I know this experience will be memorable and filled with many Godwinks.  Tonight, a few of us students went to have dinner at a missionary's house in Carrollton, TX.  The husband, Steve, has been to so many countries.  It was amazing to hear how God opened doors for him.  He loved being a missionary in Chiang Mai, Thailand but God called him and his family back home to Dallas.  Faith, from Hai Phong, Vietnam, is the one who connected us to the family.  While Steve was in Vietnam, he baptized her parents when they were teenagers and not yet married.  Faith's roommates joined us this evening as well.  Kasitie is from Ardmore, Oklahoma and Sarah from China.  Duong from Hue, Vietnam also came along.  I am loving connecting with the students here at CFNI.  I get to meet people from all over the world!  This is one of the reasons why God told me to live on

photo credit: Amauri Mejía One day a member posted a jeep painting on our local jeep club page and it caught my attention.  I commented asking if she would take a custom order.  I love supporting the creative.!  She happily told me she had a website, Artsy Lisa , and to contact her through there.  When I visited her website, I learned a bit about her testimony.  Lisa has always enjoyed painting and drawing but after her divorce in 2010, she didn't feel inspired anymore.  One day, a friend asked her to paint the Bella Donna Chapel and fountain at the Adriatica in McKinney, Texas.  It was this project that helped Lisa regain her passion again.   Lisa loves to paint on glass as it challenges her to paint in reverse.  Featured on Good Morning Texas, you can view here a clip of her demonstrating her talent.   After learning about Lisa, I wanted to support her even more.  I love that she was able to feel alive again after going through a difficult season in her life.

Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:  Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength,  not one of them is missing.  Isaiah 40:26 (NIV) I have been fascinated with the night sky for years and after becoming a believer in Jesus Christ, I have come to realize one way God speaks to me is through falling stars.  When I read the book,  Captivating , by John and Stasi Eldredge, the author wrote, "God's version of flowers and chocolates and candlelight dinners comes in the form of sunsets and falling stars, moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies; warm wind, swaying trees, lush gardens, and fierce devotion." God longs for a relationship with us and as it is written in the bible,  You will seek me  and find me  when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) God created each one of us and knows us so well t

A few years ago, I saw a show on the travel channel about Maui's downhill bike tour.  It looked so exhilarating that I thought, "I want to do that one day".  On Tuesday, January 5, 2016, I had my chance. Haleakala Crater Sunrise We woke up around 1 in the morning and left the house by 2:15am so we could meet our group at the bike shop at 3am.  We were so tired!  We chose Haleakala Bike Company based on their reviews on TripAdvisor .  The guys at the bike store were direct and efficient with getting everyone fitted with helmet, rain gear, bike.   Haleakala Bike Co. is located in Haiku.    Safety first! Haleakala Crater Sunrise Haleakala is a dormant volcano rising 10,023 ft above sea level.  Mark Twain described the sunrise as "the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed".  It is actually not really a crater.  It is due to eons of erosion, joining two valleys.  It is an impressive sight, so massive that Manhattan could fit inside it.  We got