Life is a long-distance run.
Fulfillment of a vow
When I was nineteen, I was baptized and came to the Lord. At that time, I had a grand vision in my heart to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth for Him. However, I hadn’t yet considered how to do it or when to begin. Since I was still new in the faith and lacked experience, I believed that the most basic way to evangelize was to share personal testimonies. The next step, I thought, was to study theology and become a pastor—there seemed to be no other path beyond that.
I was born and raised in Vietnam. During the 1960s, the political situation was unstable, with frequent warfare, causing widespread panic and confusion among the people. Living in such uncertainty—where today's orders could be overturned tomorrow—made it impossible to plan for the future. Amidst this aimlessness, I reached the age of thirty. In April 1975, as the last group of American forces withdrew from Vietnamese territory, my family and I were placed on the final flight out and fled to the United States.
Coming to the United States meant entering a completely new environment and having to adapt from the ground up. Learning, working, and caring for my family took up most of my life. By the time things had settled down and my children had grown into adulthood, I had already reached my sixties. Suddenly looking back, I was struck by the realization that more than half my life had passed. The grand vision I once held still flashed in my mind, stirring a deep and poignant feeling in my heart.
In the summer of 2002, I read about the Christian Writers’ Camp in Ambassadors Magazine and felt in my heart that this ministry was well-suited for me—perhaps it could even help fulfill the lifelong dream I had carried. During the four-day, three-night camp, I truly learned many valuable lessons. I learned the ethical standards that a writer should uphold: “The worker comes before the work, the author is more important than the writing, sincerity surpasses all.” This became my motto. It serves as a daily reminder for me to examine my spiritual life; daily devotions have helped me grow spiritually, and practicing the “Seven Daily Disciplines” has helped me live a simple yet fulfilling life.
During the camp, the teachers introduced many excellent books and articles. Among them, a collection by Yu Qiuyu gave me great inspiration. As I looked back on the past, I was amazed to discover that former hardships had actually been blessings in disguise, and that many seemingly meaningless fragments of life were, piece by piece, forming a picture full of meaning. Some parts have faded with time, while many remain vivid and traceable. But years from now, everything will vanish like smoke, leaving no trace. If I don’t make an effort to preserve it, the journey of these decades will have been wasted. What’s more, I was born into a family that did not know the true God and had no part in His salvation—yet God made me the first Christian in my family. Now, my whole family has come to faith, and we can clearly see this was part of God’s plan and guidance. Having received such deep grace and love, how could I not respond to God’s calling and share this good news with others?
I began to write down everything I could remember—starting from my childhood and elementary school days, my first visit to church where I heard the true gospel, my workplace experiences, time in the military, years spent fleeing from danger, family life, and all the things I’ve seen, heard, and personally experienced. It was as if I were reliving those past days. The difference is, what once felt long, difficult, and tedious now, in retrospect, seems fleeting and brief—bittersweet, yet deeply cherished. I’m grateful that I came to know the Lord in my youth and have been guided by Him ever since. Even though I lived through regime changes, I was able to remain calm amidst uncertainty. Even when facing death, my heart was at peace. For decades, I have experienced the sufficiency of God’s grace and His loving care. I hope that through my writing, I can share His great grace and love with the world. May His mercy spread far and endure without end.
Author profile:Peter Khuu, A Chinese-Vietnamese who came to the United States in 1975. Earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in counseling from the University of Pittsburgh. Worked for fifteen years at Westinghouse in Pittsburgh and another fifteen years at the Philadelphia Police Department, retiring in 2007. Married, with one son and two daughters. Now devotes the rest of his life to writing ministry and evangelism, sharing life experiences and strengthening fellow believers.