My discovery of Jesus Christ started when I was 17 years old. It wasn’t until then that I learned of His unconditional love He has for the people of this world, including myself. Living life on empty fuel, He taught me that nothing I do or cannot do, nothing I say or do not say, will ever amount of the unconditional love that He has for me and for this world. Because of this love, I want to share that love to others. And with that said, He continues to tell me of my purpose in His kingdom on earth; and right now, I am delving into a new season where I am being taught how I can practically live my life for His kingdom.
I recently decided to go to Vietnam a few weeks ago. This decision was a really tough one, and even now, I am still having a hard time coming to peace about it because of many different circumstances. For example, a couple of months ago, I was working at this company in Los Angeles, servicing children through supplemental education. My experience there was amazing and God blessed me in many ways. However, my recent decision to go from full-time to part-time has left me back to where I started: searching for a new job. This time around is a tough one because I do not where to begin this search. Searching for a new job hard, and finding one that perhaps “fits” your personality is even harder.
As I have been on this search, God has renewed me in new ways that I cannot fathom. For one (1), I have never been so financially dependent on Jesus Christ until now. Even as I am living here in Westwood, my part-time job is not enough to cover rent as I am using my savings to pay for rent until my lease ends. And in this area of finance, I find myself wanting to assist my family at home but am unable to because I, too am trying to support myself. Recently, God told me, “You need to trust me, Thao. I will take care of you and your family. Just have faith, hope, and love… especially love.“ (2) Secondly, h has humbled me in the area of status and prestige. By the world’s standard, we are told that a formula that we must follow in order for us to receive a promotion, to be more well-respected, and to be successful; However, by His standard, He’s told me that we are not here on this earth to serve the world or to obtain prestige as defined by society, but that we are here because God has a great plan for us. Our work here is to glorify Him and to let the world know of His love and mercy. (3) Lastly, he has reminded me of pressing issues in this world that needs to be addressed. Poverty and hunger is happening in our community right now, yet there are many that do not know about these ever-so-urgent social issues. As I am educating myself about the injustices that are happening everyday in my community and in the world, I realize that true survival is in the belief of God’s love and mercy given freely to us in this world.
I made a recent decision to go to Vietnam this summer for approximately two and a half weeks. This trip will facilitate my personal development in my relationship with Christ, as well as give me the opportunity to live for the purposes of God’s kingdom through hands-on experience and service. My ministry will be mainly to serve a church in the country’s largest city, Saigon, called Assembly of God. There, we will be teaching members of the congregation and the youth about the Holy Spirit — Hearing God’s voice through the prophetic as well as teach them about God’s healing power. The latter part of my trip will include me and perhaps a few others to visit several orphanages. There, I will meet the caretakers and talk to them about their experience and needs. Through my interactions with individuals operating and running the orphanage, I hope to assist them in improving and upgrading the facility, whether it is through monetary donations; other donations such as food, clothes, and toiletries; or even recruiting more volunteers. This experience will also enable me to come up with ideas and help others to build more orphanages in Vietnam.
In order for me to go on this trip, I would need to raise about $2,500. As this is my first short-term missions trip, and as God is challenging me to truly trust Him in my finances, I have to admit that I am quite nervous. In many ways, I am putting my career on “hold” because I am going on this trip. Of course, this is the one area that God is asking me to trust Him in — to give up my identity in career (status and success) and finance, and completely trust that He will provide abundantly as he teaches me to be keen in hearing His voice and to be an obedient daughter.
Please consider can partner with me on this trip by assisting me in finances prayer. Any amount will help, whether it be $1, $10, $1000, or $10000. As a team, we all need to raise a total of $17,500. Again, I am using this trip to let God speak to me about my future career and goals. Because of my uncertainty in this area, the greatest area of support that anyone can give me right now in through prayer: for His divine guidance and wisdom. Please pray about supporting me financially.
