Aunt Thu Vân Nguyễn is from Vietnam. Her Vietnamese name means “Autumn Cloud.” She was born and raised in the coastal city of Phan Thiết. Her family practiced worshiping ancestors and Buddhism. Yet from a very young age, she was familiar with Christianity because her home was near a church. She loved the Christmas hymns and the joyful atmosphere of the season, especially singing the songs.
Two years after I moved to California for missionary work at King of Kings, I met her for the first time in a citizenship preparation class. After each class, I often invited the students to stay and read a passage from the gospel of John or Luke about the life of Jesus and His love for humanity. She enjoyed listening to the Scriptures and frequently asked thoughtful questions about Jesus.
At that time, her family was going through many conflicts. Her daughter was angry and refused to speak to her, and she herself was struggling with health problems. She came to see me and asked for prayer. We sat together and prayed many times. I asked the Lord to grant her healing and to restore peace within her family.
A few months later, after one of the citizenship classes, she came to me with great joy. Her daughter had reached out to her, and they reconciled. With gratitude in her heart, she thanked God for His wonderful grace upon her family.
On October 26, 2025, in Garden Grove, Calif., on a beautiful, cloudy autumn day—fitting for someone whose name means “Autumn Cloud”—I had the privilege of baptizing her as a child of God. Although she has not yet passed her U.S. citizenship exam, citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven is far more important.
One more soul has been written in the Book of Life.
Written by Trung Le, pastor at King of Kings in Garden Grove, California
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