TNTT. Art. Prayer.
Another request for a flyer for the Huynh Trưởng Retreat next month.
I asked a fellow Huynh Trưởng where he finds his high quality Catholic images for his IG posts and websites. He gave me his resources. He’s the best!
After receiving the Eucharist, I knelt and prayed.
I looked at the tabernacle as I prayed. Everything was normal. There was nothing new or out of the ordinary, but I suddenly felt something in my heart which I have not felt in a long time.
It is always so hard to describe these feelings in words.
All I know is that I thought, “Why haven’t I visited You more often? I miss You.“
The last time I was at Santa Clara University was in February 2020. It feels like ages ago.
I registered online to attend the Christmas Eve 9:00 PM Mass, but decided to arrive early to walk around in the cold to explore the campus because they have completed new construction. The new buildings made the campus seem so much bigger. I thought for a second, “Why does it feel like it’s a different campus?“
However, I shortly began to feel extremely cold, so we went inside the church to sit. It was completely empty and quiet.
There was still about an hour left before Mass started. As we were sitting and waiting for the time to pass by, I became annoyed at myself and began to think, “Why did I decide to come here so early? We have to wait almost an hour before Mass starts. We could be doing something else!”
Silence. I only heard my thoughts and nothing else.
I do not know when I finally realized it. Or what made me realize it.
But, this was exactly what God wanted for me.
To remove myself from the noise of the busy life and to silence the rest of the world tries to tell me.
To sit in the quiet and enjoy his Presence.
Someone ask for a quick flyer for Liên Đoàn Thánh Gia’s Lễ Bổn Mạng next month.
There was a request for invitations well in both Vietnamese and English.
It was requested that the background was lighter.
“Do you feel lucky?” I asked.
“No, more like blessed,” he answered.
This year, I am especially thankful for:
🌿St. Joseph for being the father I needed, for protecting me, and for loving me.
🌿Santa Clara University for forming my faith when I was younger to become the person I am today.
🌿For my Montréal, Canada trip because I was reminded that I had another family, my TNTT family.
Happy Thanksgiving!🍁
In early October, I served as Sa Mạc Xuất Hành 68 Cấp 2 Ngành Ấu’s Tổng Trực. I also taught online lessons for both Sa Mạc Xuất Hành 67 & 68 Cấp 1 & 2 Ấu prior to the in-person training camp. Thank you to the Sa Mạc Sinh for going along with whatever I said at Camp St. Francis. It honestly would have not been as fun if it were not for your high spirits.
“What time is it?!”
“Tua time!”
“What time is it?!”
“Cờ Danh Dự time!”
I have recently accepted the role as Ngành Trưởng Nghĩa Sĩ for the year 2021-2023. Please pray for me. Thank you.
I jokingly said that I am Liên Đoàn Phó Nghiên Huấn’s flyer person now, but he actually agreed.
I am glad that I can still serve even in the smallest ways possible.
Designed on Canva, I burred and boosted the saturation of a photo of the original campsite where Sa Mạc was to take place at. The logo at the top ties the rest of the information in the box nicely.
When I am with TNTT, I am at home. 🙏🏻
A few weeks ago, we had our first in-person Liên Đoàn Thánh Gia event in a long time, in over a year and a half.
Afterwards, my brother and I went to get milk tea. As soon as I exited the store with my milk tea in my hand, I heard “Chị Thảo?!” At first, I thought I was hearing things because I truly missed TNTT and the kids I taught, especially after having our first Liên Đoàn event. I heard it again, “Chị Thảo?!” I looked up and saw a young girl whom I couldn’t recognize partly because she was wearing a face mask and obviously, because she had grown up. I asked for her name and she said the name of one of the little girls that I taught when I was Ngành Trưởng for Ngành Thiếu. I couldn’t believe how much she has grown. She was the same height as me now. I asked where her brother was and he was there with a group of friends. He has grown taller than me now. I asked if they were both doing their sports that I remembered they both did. They said they were getting back into it (because of COVID). It was such a wonderful moment to see my old TNTT kids again. They were both so much taller. They still seemed to be good kids. I was so happy to see them both again.
I was so surprised that she knew it was me. Granted, I was wearing my TNTT uniform, but I was also wearing a face mask. However, she recognized me despite not having seen me in a few years. And somehow, she knew it was me, and not another female Huynh Trưởng. I can only be optimistic and hope that it meant I made a good impact on her life.
It’s true that you might only see the fruits of your labor much later in life rather than immediately.
