Thank God for FEBC, where I really learned how to love my Lord best and to strive to live more for Him. My beloved alma mater and conscientious faculty helped me mature in spiritual awareness and biblical knowledge. Through dear Matron, I gained the domestic arts of housekeeping and cooking. Certainly my life was changed for the better in countless ways (Romans 8:28). Though I never had any missionary vision in FEBC, my Divine Captain mapped me an adventurous itinerary to the far-flung shores of Israel, Thailand, Saipan and China, all greatly removed in distance and facilities from Canada, my comfort zone.

Despite my English educational background (with no Chinese skills), somehow my  Lord led  me to  the Chinese church in Saipan on 13 September 2006, with a one-year air- ticket. But by God’s Higher Hand, I only taught the brethren for just three months. In order to learn how to communicate in Mandarin with the non- English speaking church community, I joined the children’s Chinese pinyin class for beginners every Saturday for about two months. My Lord helped me pick up the language (Prov 20:12); and at the Airport, I was constrained to give an impromptu farewell message in English, which I automatically translated into Mandarin. The whole group was amazed at my “language ability.” I laughed at their spontaneous declaration that I was qualified to go to China alone!

Back home in Canada, I was most restless, burdened for the mainland Chinese. By God’s providence, I wrote and completed my Junior RPG writings for “Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 13” on 1^st July 2007. After much prayer I believed God was leading me to a house church in a small village near GuangZhou  in  South  China,  even though the outreach was to only one 6-year old neighbor girl, whose non-Christian parents wanted her to study English! Every soul is precious! So, armed with my 6- months’ tourist visa, I left Canada on 14^th July 2007, praying unceasingly (1 Thess 5:17) during that 20+ hours’ flight to my “fearful” destination (for China had always been a “no-no” during my past travels). Thank God for graciously providing many prayerful supporters in different parts of the world, too!

It was teeming with many factories, very polluted, dirty and noisy, with several miserable, sickly-looking, stray dogs. The many crude factory workers daily squatted or sat on the verandahs playing cards during their lunch breaks. Indiscriminate spitting and smoking were common. The frequent smell of cigarette smoke caused me to cough. Was also warned of prevalent snatch thievery. Being advised to blend in with the locals, I attempted to dress like them, yet people still commented that I was “foreign” even before I spoke a single word!

The very high humidity was a “daily heatwave” to me! Was often most drained physically, but my Lord enabled (2 Cor 12:9). Sanitation indoors and outdoors was quite negligible. It was tough, contending with the stench and filth. The house church was also next (almost ‘touching distance’) to a construction site and the daily (dawn-dusk) relentless building works (of loud, piercing noises of piling, drilling, banging, hammering, shouting, etc.) resulted in most clamorous, dusty, and unhygienic surroundings. I could only focus on the Author and Finisher of my faith, finding strength and encouragement in earnest, frequent communication with Him and His Word. Oft-times I sang many beautiful hymns (learnt from FEBC), whose meaningful lyrics greatly comforted me too. My daily prayer was for divine protection from the environment, harm, evil, even the spitting, viruses and germs from man, animal, as well as the water, meats, veggies, and fruits, in that “consumer-unfriendly” land.

Despite the unpleasant scenario, I had to fulfill God’s plan. Never doubting His love for me, but most aware of my own weaknesses, I prayed fervently for increased love for Him and more submission to His will. Certainly every day was a “thank God/count my blessings” experience of drawing nigh to Him and His Word, focusing on heavenly things not looking at my feeble frame nor the people and things around me. On 2^nd August, I was led to fast half-day every day for re- confirmation that I was to stay the whole period of six months there, and for strength to cope with the never-changing, never-ending atrociously unpleasant conditions. Yet, amidst all these unpalatable circumstances, my Lord graciously enabled me to complete my Junior RPG writings on “Children of the Bible” (Phil 4:13).

As in all my other mission stations, despite the circumstances, I had much joy preparing my lessons and teaching them (Neh 8:10c). The medium of instruction was Mandarin, and my oral pronunciation gradually improved. As it was school holidays I had lessons Monday- Friday and Sunday mornings. Since my text was based on the Bible, my English lessons were actually Sunday School classes. The gospel was presented in songs and stories. Sweet MongQi wanted to believe after 12 lessons, but I waited another 4 lessons before asking the house church Chinese preacher to lead her in the sinners’ prayer. Obediently she shared at home and her parents attended two worship services, too. Hallelujah!

One day I realised I was even thinking in Mandarin. Funny but true, I was only speaking English to my Lord! The weekly night class had poor attendance due to the brethren’s over-time work at the factories. About 73 days (2½ months) later, according to God’s mercies, after much prayer and 52 half- day fasting, I ascertained God’s leading to the city of Tianjin in North China. My only contact there was a Chinese professor. During her recent research project in a Canadian university, she was brought to church where by God’s providence I presented the gospel and shared God’s Word every Sunday as well as counseling via e-mail during the week. Prayed with her to confess the Lord Jesus before I left for Saipan in 2006.

Unhesitatingly, I flew to Tianjin on 26^th September, because I was following my Divine Commander. What a great harvest field! (Luke 10:2). Young and old were thirsting to learn English, which I readily taught, using the Bible. My day and night classes with individuals and groups (of both sexes, aged from early teens to late 60s) speedily began. Their enthusiasm and numbers were most encouraging. Believers and non-believers phoned or came with their doubts, problems and many questions. Some also came during their lunch-break for clarification or biblical discussion. Thank God for wisdom to minister to these needy ones. One long-time believer gratefully praised God for learning from me about repentance of individual sins and “who is my neighbour?” On 17^th October, I guided two teenagers (who thought they were Christians) to confess their sins, and received the Lord. We all shed tears of joy.

Four days later, I heard a mature-looking 12 year-old prayed a beautiful prayer in Mandarin, but she had no inkling about repentance of sins, having believed on her own at the age of eight or nine. What a wonderful privilege to explain and then to pray with her. She faithfully attended my classes, making the one-hour journey alone, even on bitterly cold wintry nights. On 22^nd October, a “Christian” who had no peace in her heart stayed back after night class and asked me to lead her in the sinners’ prayer. On 13^th November, a shy, middle-aged man who suffered from spiritual oppression, came with a long list of questions and concerns. He was accompanied by his good friend, a lawyer who is a staunch Buddhist. After some hours of Bible sharing (he read from the Chinese and I from my KJV), he voluntarily knelt to pray the sinners’ prayer. At the time of this writing he is still in contact with me and thankfully testifying that he had no more oppression ever since he turned to the Lord! (Gal 6:9).

In late November my Lord miraculously led my footsteps to a small house church (Jer 10:23). It later transpired that it is led by Ting Li Mei’s descendants. Constrained by the Lord, I spent my remaining weeks teaching the brethren on Fridays (Seniors’ Fellowship), Saturdays (Youth), and Sundays (worship). They continually testified of God’s love for them, in bringing me from faraway Canada into their midst, to share so much Bible truths. I gave all praise to my God and alma mater for equipping me. Watering, I had been watered myself!

As the days sped by, I was much burdened by the “lost sheep,” touched by the “undernourished sheep” who cried about the lack of “grass” there; and much encouraged by the devotion of many (lacking in knowledge and experience, but very committed). Mixed feelings and reactions surfaced. My chronic allergic cough was troublesome and I was very exhausted physically, yet I felt reluctant at my soon departure, because the need was so great and I tried to reach out to more. Felt rather troubled by those, who in anguish lamented, “who will teach us when you leave?”, “where to get answers to my questions, doubts, fears?” etc. I exhorted them to pray God to send His other faithful servants in future (Mark 10:27).

Several beloved brethren also shared their paradox of being relieved I would be returning to Canada soon, because of their concern for my allergic cough, yet simultaneously, they fervently wished I could stay on longer to teach them more. Have lost count of the many who had asked and invited me to return to China next year, declaring there was still so much they had not learnt from me yet! Encouraged them to pray as I had been praying myself for God’s leading. They feared I might choose not to return but I promised I would submit to my Lord’s will, whatever my personal preferences.

There was no lack of “guides” for sight-seeing, but I just had no time, energy, nor inclination, not even for their famed Great Wall. Anyway, I reminded them that Heaven would be much more beautiful! The days were hectic, filled with classes, visitation, counselling, lengthy discussions, writing, besides much praying and preparation in English and Mandarin (2 Tim 4:2), but there was tremendous satisfaction at the end of each fatigued day.

Thank God for preserving me many times,  especially  from  confidence–tricksters and charismatics (John 10:28-29). My Lord blessed my six months with so many rewarding fruits (Isa 55:11). By God’s mercies, I am now back home in Canada. Across the oceans, we are communicating by phone and e-mail. The young people are still gratefully conveying their thanks for my lessons, hoping I would return in the very near future. Yes, I missed them, praying daily for them, as they do me. I believe strongly that my Lord will soon send me back there again, and I have begun making preparations.