In the early morning hours of January 31, 1968, eleven-year-old Minh Phuong watched in horror as her father and two siblings were gunned down by the Vietcong in their backyard. Though she escaped the bullets that night, abuse, prison, and torture would follow. The tragedy of her childhood would haunt Minh Phuong for the rest of her life and lead her to question God's very existence. Straining Forward is the true story of Minh Phuong's dramatic escape from war-torn Vietnam and the effects of undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder on her adult life. Author Michelle Layer Rahal not only provides powerful insight into the minds of refugee children, she also calls each of us to accountability for their care and healing. A riveting, spiritual journey of hope and healing, Straining Forward reminds readers that even in our loneliest and most desolate moments, we are never truly alone.