Nguyen On Earth

photo credit: Avery Lewis   I told myself I needed to write this before I went on my mission trip as a testimony to how me going has been planned long before I ever knew I would go.    I've mentioned this before...  I've always felt like I get "snapshots" of my future life events.  Sometimes I don't even remember having them until they come true.  This post is about one of those snapshots.   In 2011, I chose to get serious about photography and pursue my passion.  I don't remember exactly when it happened but I remember envisioning an Easter photo mini session at my parents neighborhood park.  Why Easter?  I had no idea.   2014- My mother and I toured Southeast Asia so I could clear my head after I ended a relationship.  While we were there, I could see myself coming back to help in some way.   2016- During my first semester at Christ Fo...

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 ...

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 se...

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 campu...

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 i...

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 af...