-
Period: to
Life in Vietnam
I grew up in a little place in Hanoi called the Water Village. It wasn't some rural village though, it was like a rustic little suburban area. It was full of other missionary families, and we were all close. We'd climb trees together, make mud pies, and play superheroes all day long. I grew up with that whole carefree and wild mindset. -
Accepted Christ
After learning that only Christians (people who accepted God) were allowed to take communion and got to Heaven, I told my father that I wanted that too. He prayed with me and that day, I became a Christian. I didn't fully understand it at the time, but my life did change. I recognised that I was a different person, had more responsibilities and privileges and that I had someone powerful by my side. -
Moved from Vietnam to Hong Kong
My dad was called to be a pastor at Island ECC, so my family moved away from little community we knew and out into the big city. It was a drastic change of pace and environment, and it took me years to adjust. We built a life here and I have no idea where or who I would be if we hadn't moved. -
Auditioned for Sound of Music
The touring West End production came to Hong Kong and was looking for child actors (not for the tour though, just the HK performances). My mom signed me up and I made it to the last round of auditions. I enjoyed the experience a lot and fell in love with theatre. After that I started doing school productions, where I met most of the friends I have today. -
Academic Probation
In sixth grade I was slacking off with school work. Because I was in middle school my mom managed me less and I did really bad in school. I had to be put in AP, where you stay after school everyday to do your homework and quit all extracurricular. It was a wake up call and I took it really hard. I had to learn to start being more responsible and productive, to prioritise school more. -
Agape
I never liked service more but on this mission trip I saw God through the work we did. Despite growing up as a missionary kid in Vietnam, I had never noticed the poverty but here I was witnessing it first hand. I also met my best friend Webley Woods on that trip. -
Baptism
In seventh grade I got baptised with my best friend. Some people say that that was too young to be baptised, and while I agree, I don't regret it. I started taking my faith more seriously than ever. Focusing on prayer and devotionals and who God wanted me to be. -
Vida Nueva
Like many others who went, I experienced God in a new and fuller way during vida. I was on a spiritual high afterwards and starting developing really good habits in my relationship with God. I just really felt like my faith had been renewed. -
16th birthday
I had been dreading my sixteenth birthday for a while, I was very anxious and afraid. But just before my birthday I was listening to a worship song and felt God speak to me. It was a song about how wonderful he is and I realised that no matter how hard anything had been, he was there holding my hand. He helped me MAKE it to 16, it was a gift to still be alive. And it changed my perspective, that each new day I was grateful to be alive. -
started writing
In the summer of 2019 I saw that a bunch of broadway celebrities had been doing monthly poetry contests and it looked pretty cool. They were spilling their innermost thoughts and fears and passions. I began writing too and it changed my life. It was such a good outlet for me and I've also used it in my devotionals to get closer to God. When I started sharing my work it was even better. People reached out to me saying they felt heard and felt my poetry speak to them.