Kim received faith ‘through God’s words’

Sydney
10 August 2003

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Kim received faith ‘through God’s words’

By Kim Ha

I was born in Vietnam and brought up as an only child in a Buddhist family. I came to Australia in 1982 when I was eight.

When I was in Year 12 at Vaucluse High School, a friend tried to interest me in Christianity. I declined his invitation to meet some missionaries from Spain, not seeing how my life was connected with my faith.

But one Friday he called up and invited me to a weekend retreat called Life and Love. For some reason, I said “yes”, telling myself jokingly that this might be the most important decision I make in my life!

The weekend came and went and, to be honest, I didn’t get much out if it.

Looking back, I can’t remember a single detail that touched me. What I remember most was that there was a really good-looking girl there.

I guess I never gave much thought to God because no one had ever told me about him. I started to learn by going to Monday night prayer groups.

I went for about five years, trying to be with God through his words.

That was how I received my faith, through his words.

I was baptised, confirmed and received into full communion at St Andrew’s, Malabar, on November 9, 1997.

Since then I have worked for more than a year as a missionary in the Philippines as part of discerning my vocation. I came back last year.

I think the best way to serve God for me is to be a priest in Sydney where I have been brought up. So here I am at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd.

I thank God for the grace, faith and love that he has placed in my life so that I can say “yes” to him.

I see my life not as a mystery that can’t be solved but in the light of his love.

I pray: “I am yours because you have loved me from the beginning, because you have been patient with me, because you have suffered for me, because you have made me for yourself.”

I pray that my formation here in Christ is one which will produce fruits, fruits of love for the life of the world.

Kim, 29, is in first year at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Homebush.