Remember Nhu

Last fall I had the privilege of hosting a remarkable woman named Nhu and her adopted father, Carl Ralston. Nhu's testimony is incredibly powerful. I have a strong connection with this woman on multiple levels, and I'd like to invite to you read what she has shared with hundreds of churches here in the states.

"Thank You SO MUCH for joining us tonight. I would like to share my story. I remember I was seven years old. Near my house there was a Vietnamese church. They had a school that was more affordable than the other schools.

Because the school was in a church, I had to ask my grandmother if I could go there. She allowed me to go. My teacher helped me to study the Bible every day. Then I believed in Jesus Christian.

Then I went to church every week. I would clean the church each week before it started.

When I was 12 years old I remember my family had a very difficult life. Because all of my family did not have work, my grandmother had to borrow money.

She borrowed the money to buy food for my family. She had to pay high interest every day on the money she borrowed.

One day I saw a lady talking with my grandmother when I came back from school. My grandmother told me I might stop going to school. When she said that I knew I might be sold.

So I started to pray. I told God I was very scared and I did not know what they would want me to do.

Three or four days later, the lady took me to a doctor to make sure I was a virgin.

Then the lady took me to a man. I was just 12 years old.

He was in a hotel room and I had to stay with him for three days. I knew I had to do everything the man wanted me to do.

Before the man did anything to me, I said please do not do this to me. I cried out to God asking Him to help me not be hurt.

During those three days, I could not eat or drink anything. I never went to sleep.

The first night I was crying and I was saying all of the sin in my life, including sleeping with the man.

At that time, I believed God did not love me anymore because of my sin. I had lost all hope.

At the end of the three days, the lady picked me up and took me back to my house. I was given some aspirin for the pain but did not see a doctor.

I stayed in pain for two weeks. My life changed a lot.

I was very sad, I did not want to eat or talk to anyone. I could no longer smile.

At night, I would cry and ask God, “Why did you make me have this pain ? Why did you break my heart ?

If I did not know You, I could understand.

But, I know You. I love You.

I follow You. I talk with You. I do everything for You.

But since this happened to me please let me be the last girl this happens to.”

After about two weeks, my teacher, Trang convinced me to come back to school and church.

During the next six months I learned that my friends at school were talking about me. They were telling people I was sold. So I quit going to school and church.

I was very scared I would be sold to a brothel. So I asked my grandmother to let me go to school to learn hair and nails.

After asking for seven months, my grandmother finally said yes.

But because I did not have enough money I had to clean the school to study hair and nails.

After one year of school, I started working 12 hours each day with two days off each month. I was 14 years old.

Now I know that at the same time I started going to hair and nail school, God spoke “Remember Nhu” to my dad’s heart. I learned many people were praying for me during this time.

I learned that my dad came to Cambodia six times during this time to try and find me. Then in July 2006, we met for the first time. He told me how God spoke Remember Nhu to his heart. And how God wanted him and Laurie to help me.

Then in September 2006 I became the first worker of Remember Nhu. I started to teach the older girls in the Children’s Home how to do hair and nails.

God has done so many amazing things and showed me so much love. Jesus has given me new parents in Carl and Laurie.

He has taken me to Thailand, the Philippines’ and, America on behalf of Remember Nhu. Jesus has answered my prayers by using me to help prevent children from entering the sex trade.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story. And, thank you for coming tonight to learn how you can help the children."
If you would like to learn more about Remember Nhu... visit http://www.remembernhu.org/.