I was told about this website more than a month ago, and today I finally have time to put down my story, to honor the missionaries who brought light and hope to my life.

Growing up in China, I hardly heard about any gospel even though most of my family members were Christians. People were so scared to mention anything about Jesus, because this could be the reason to be put into jail. While the society was chaos, resource was restricted, hearts were cold, indifferent and desperate.

As a teenager in school, I always went home with all types of honors. I got along well with my classmates and I was a popular student leader. My parents and friends were so proud of me. However I hardly enjoyed one single day. The pain, disappointment and sorrow was all the time with me.

Since China was an atheist country, people subconsciously make fun of people who have faith. On a certain day of the each week, headmaster broadcasted in the loudspeaker to the whole school, to educate the students to follow the party's leadership and to make sure that we would not fall into "enemy's trap". America was always labeled as the greatest enemy and empirist. I couldn't disagree with all the education, but I realized something was wrong.

How could they say that people win over the nature, while the floods claim millions of lives in China every year? How could they say China was so stable and prosperous, while students were fasting and bleeding on Tian'anmen square? ... I started my secret journey of looking for a savior to give me peace.

I toured around the city I grew up myself, visiting the Buddhist temples and talking with the guard of the mosque. I refused to visit church, because I thought I already knew enough about Christianity by listening to family's preach. I hated Christianity, because I thought it was because of this, my family was persecuted and separated.

I thank God for giving me a merciful heart and a talent in language. My English was better than my peers and I could communicate in English easily. God prepared me to follow Him in such a miraculous way that I could meet His missionaries on all kinds of occasions. On the streets, in friends' party, in the skating field.... For continuously 4 years, I met numerous Christian Americans and they became my good friends! I shared my life with them, argued with them, and seriously studied the Bible with them for the first time in my life! They never pushed me to follow their faith, but I felt their patience waiting for me. Their friendship melted the ice on my heart, and convinced me that my family's persecution was a blessing instead of a tragedy.

Thanks to my family's prayers which passed through the generation, and thanks to the missionary friends' genuine love, I finally gave my heart to Christ. I cannot recall the exact date and location I offered myself, but I knew it was God's work. He planted a seed, and made it grow. I also became a missionary, spreading the good news to the nursery I served in, to the friends who studied with me, and to my own parents!

Now I am all by myself in a totally new environment than I grew up, and I continue to serve Lord in so many ways. Solitude made me understand better what my previous missionary friends went through, and I thank these Godly men and women who sacrificed their lives and served their best years in China.

Helen,

What a wonderful testimony! Thank you so much for sharing! It was such a blessing to read your story this morning. God has done a tremendous work in your life, and look at you! You're just like a bright, shiny, valuable pearl! The Lord has taken you and transformed you into something LOVELY for Him! When I heard your story, I thought of the scripture from Proverbs 25:4 that says, "Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer." Helen, I really believe with all my heart that there was a great purpose and plan for all the struggles and hardships you endured as you grew up in China. I believe the Lord endowed you with great insight throughout that time, and I believe that by doing so He also blessed you with a tremendous heart so you can reach out to others and share with them how deep, how wide and how precious His love truly is!

I pray that God will pour out His richest blessings upon you and your ministry, and may you never cease to praise Him and give Him the honor, the glory and the thanks for all that He's done to make you absolutely radiant from the inside-out!

God bless you always!
Emily