Travel Day to Del Rio
The Joy of the Lord!
We start the day, as we always do on these trips with POWER, attending “Alianza” a church established by the Christian and Missionary Alliance years ago. We wear the “POWER Tuxedo”, as I like to think of it, a polo shirt. We wear a different color t-shirt for each day when working on projects, so we “clean up” when going to church.
This is a special place to the 4,000 church members who attend three services on Sundays. All the men of POWER enjoy visiting here, as we get to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ in corporate worship, pray for and with many people at an alter call and receive recognition as a ministry, support, and prayer from Pastor Mario. During the two services we participated in, Doug Wible and Ben Sullivan share what we do, how Alianza participates in supporting our ministry, and our appreciation for their support.
This is overwhelming for some, as being on a stage is not something the look forward to, but it is a chance to let the congregation know the scale and scope of what POWER does on these annual trips of two to three weeks of groups. I’m used to being on stage from years as drummer in a variety of bands and worship teams. I know that I need to kind of ham it up, with big gestures and smiles to add to our “stage presence”, trying to help our group avoid appearing nervous and in the “freak out” mode.
To make things worse for the shy, we are on these gigantic screens behind us, one on each side, as the camera crew captures the moment from multiple vantage points. The production quality here is outstanding. I know Shay Defrense is near panic right now! Gifted in construction and a behind the scenes worker, this is the last place he wants be. Thank you, Shay, and the other shy guys, on our team, who get it done, whatever is required. Shay you’re front and center now my friend! LOL
Thank you, pastor Mario and your wonderful team of talented individuals, who make Sundays such a special time of worship, prayer and Bible truth telling. Each service is a holy place of joy, personal reflection, and spiritual reset for the challenges of the week ahead.
Lost and Found
“We were robbed by pirates twice”, Tom Nguyen says with a nervous laugh. Tom is a shy man with a gentle spirit about him. He has experienced things that most of us have witnessed from afar, in a movie, news real or documentary. So far removed, it fails to strike much from us emotionally who were children during the years of the Vietnam war. These things happened “over there” with only reports from the TV news and newspapers listing statistics and photos of the tragedies of the War. Tom and his family lived under communism from 1975-1981.
At age 12 years old, Tom, his siblings and mother joined the “Boat People” as they were dubbed in the news, as refuges from a violent and prolonged conflict with no clear victor and a ravaged country. For Tom, this was his life. His father was a member of the South Vietnamese military and he had left to country to avoid being killed under the communist regime.
Tom talked openly about his experience, denying any nightmare or “Flash Backs” from all he and his family had endured. The psychotherapist in me asked about “symptoms” of PTSD that Tom may continue to experience. With a smile, he assured me he was “OK”.
He described wooden boats that were for hire if one could pay for passage in gold. He explained that jewelry was carried to make these payments and secure provisions they may need. The Thai pirates carried machetes and threatened to kill people at will for holding out on giving away their family treasures. “She shoved her diamond ring into my brother’s mouth when they boarded the boat”, he shared. This was the first boarding of two they experienced. Tom explained that often the pirates would kill their captives after they had robbed them. His mother and family were spared by divine providence because of their faith in Christ I am certain. Our God honoring His promises.
“Watching my grandmother’s faith strengthened me. She wasn’t afraid of anything”, Tom describing how assured she was of God’s provision and protection. Many decades earlier in Tom’s village the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) had established a church that he and his family attended as far back as he could remember.
Adrift in the ocean, without food or water for four days, the boat Tom and his family rode on was discovered by the Malaysian Navy. Unidentified, the Navy fired a warning shot within feet of the boat. We were now traveling during this interview, and he pointed to a guard rail along the road around 100 feet, from where we were in the van, passing through a border crossing. “I was not really scared by the explosion”, when asked about what he was thinking and feeling at the time. The young boy in him was fascinated by the spectacle of the blast.
They were towed to a small Island called “Bidon” and dropped off, left to fend for themselves. The Malaysian government had placed them there until they could determine what to do with the multitudes descending by boat from ravaged Vietnam. Often, a boat that was built to carry 200 hundred people was jammed with double that and was anything, but safe at sea.
Tom described his brother’s efforts to build a shelter for the family from tree branches on the island. “The water was salty”, he explained, as there were no fresh water sources that he recalls on the island. Meals consisted of Sardines and a bowl of beans every day provide by the Malaysian government. They survived there for 18 months, but with an uncertain future.
He reflected on his time under communism, “Every house had a picture of Ho Chi Minh placed on their wall by the government.”, he said. He continued, “My grandmother didn’t care.” He explained that she had a picture of Christ and she put that picture in a location above the feared North Vietnamese leader. “We weren’t supposed to do that”, he remarked, stating that this would have been viewed as an act of rebellion against the communist government.
“Processed” by the Malaysian government eventually he and his family were flown to San Francisco. “My first meal was mashed potatoes and chicken gravy…it was nasty”, he explained again with that subtle smile and laugh. Tom’s dad rejoined the family there, but things were tough with no money or housing. “Dumpster Diving” every Saturday to collect recyclable materials such as aluminum cans and cardboard and taking on a newspaper route, he contributed to the family’s survival. Eventually things began to change as his father and mother were able to find employment.
“I thought everyone was millionaire”, he said, referring to what he observed in the multitude of cars everywhere upon arriving on US soil. He had no experience in his small village of such wealth and resources available to so many people. He recalled his father had a motor scooter as their lone form of transportation in Vietnam. “We always walked everywhere”, he said.
Returning to what he remembered from his experience under communism, Tom explained that Christian pastors were, “rounded up” and sent to a “Re-education Camp” by Ho Chi Minh’s military. He later learned that many were imprisoned there for up to 20 years!
The family started attending a CMA church in Santa Ana, California. Eleven family members living in a three-bedroom house that included members from his extended family. Tom explained that it was difficult to settle into a new school with very little ability to speak English. Bullied, maligned, and mistreated by students at his school, he explained he had to defend himself weekly.
Tom eventually settled in with stronger English language skills, excelling in math and other subjects, and finding his way in the American culture. He continues to work then at a pizza restaurant and maintain a paper route. Saving money, he buys his first car, cash no less. Dave Ramsey would be proud!
A Turning Point
“I spilled a stack of newspapers in frustration…that became a turning point for me”, he said. Moving from a survival mode at age 17, to thinking of a future with financial and career promise, Tom applied for Cal Poly Pomona program in Construction Engineering and Management. He explained he graduated six years later. “I messed around the first two years”, caught up in the party scene. Things were about to change with eternal consequences.
A Spiritual Awakening
Things changed dramatically at a youth summer camp he attended sponsored by his church. It was during this camp that God brought Tom to true repentance. With tears in his eyes and overwhelmed with emotions, he responded to the camp leader at an event during an evening gathering, truly repenting, and committing to Christ as not only Savior, but Lord.
She’s the One
Tom met Mylien in the Vietnamese church in Santa Ana. She too was one of the Boat People with her own story of struggle and refugee status. She was orphaned and was sponsored by a Vietnamese family that brought her to the United States as a Foster child. Mylien was previously a Buddhist and became a follower of Christ on her own spiritual journey while in the care of her sponsoring family. Now married 27 years, Tom and Mylien have a 26-year-old daughter, currently attending medical school.
POWER Ministry Experience
I asked Tom about his experience with POWER. He pauses to consider my question. After a few moments he responded. He explains that he observes the older gentleman of POWER and wants to be like them. He remarks, “I see them as warriors!” He continues, “They remind me of my grandmother.” As you may remember from the outset of this story that it was grandma that inspired Tom to be a Christian from early childhood. He goes on to explain that wants to serve Christ and others until he simply has no more life left to give.
What an amazing story of challenge and endurance. God we are grateful that you chose Tom to be a part of our 35 this week. Thirty-five members working for a common goal to be your hands and feet. What a privilege it is to serve You and others! In Christ’s name. Amen.
With sincere gratitude,
Clark