Hey guys.
My name is Caleb Nguyen and I live in Syracuse, New York, a decent-sized city in upstate NY that really, if I’m being honest, doesn’t have too much going for it haha.
I’m 17 years old (turning 18 just in time to make the trip!) and spend my time reading God’s word, reading business books, working on my two businesses, bodybuilding, yelling at employees, and maybe doing a little more work. I do have fun, though, and love going for a drive in a sweet car, listening to a good podcast, enjoying a sunset after a long day, or just doing stupid things with my brother or friends.
God has placed some pretty wild dreams on my heart that I’m working to make a reality, and He continues to grab hold of my heart and made clear that he has a bigger plans for me than I can ever imagine.
I heard about World Race through my mom, and decided to go to Africa because it worked well schedule-wise for some other business events, and well, you didn’t have to get juiced up for the trip (if you get that joke, great, if not, oh well). My mom really wanted me to do something for gap year and she really only gave me a few options for how she wanted me to spend my gap ‘year’. I didn’t want to rock the boat, so I chose the best fit- World Race! And to be honest she was crying a lot about it, so….
Don’t let the story make you think I don’t want to do this, though, I am definitely excited. Recently God has been changing my heart, and has kept bringing the passage with Samuel when he was staying with Eli in 1 Samuel, to mind. God speaks to him and he’s confused, thinking Eli is calling him. Eli tells him to tell the Lord “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” He does, and God takes him on a pretty wild ride. I feel like this trip is my expression of “Speak Lord,” and I want to make the most of it.
If I can get on my soapbox a bit, I don’t think God called his children to work a 9-5, watch Netflix and TikTok, get fat, go to church, and maybe tell people about Jesus once in awhile. He intended for us to be the exception. He put us here to build, to conquer, to fight in HIS NAME. Psalm 37:3-5 says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” God gave your those desires for a reason. If he wanted you to desire something else, he’d make it so you did. That’s why I’m going to Africa. God gave me the desire to seek him, and to build until I bite the dust.
As Jacob said in 32:26c “I will not let you go until you bless me!” I will never let go of God until he blesses me, and will chase him to the utter ends of the Earth if thats what it takes, and so should you. Chase that desire he has given you and do not let him go until he blesses you. That’s all I’ve got.
Go forth and multiply (disciples, not necessarily kids. But kids is cool too). Stop when you’re dead. Never settle.
Peace out girl scouts and see you in Africa.
-Caleb T. Nguyen
P.S. You can hit me up [email protected] or shoot me a text 315-530-7183
