If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old is gone and the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Praying to the Lord since youth.

Though I was born in a family which worshipped idols, I had a strange habit when I studied in primary school. Whenever I could not fall asleep at night, for example when there would be a school picnic the following day or when I worried that I would forget everything for the dictation the following day, I would naturally fold my hands and pray to the Lord Jesus, “I cannot fall asleep. Please help me!” After each prayer, I felt peace and fell into sleep. I didn't know from where I learnt to do this, which was called a prayer. Perhaps this was how I began a relationship with the Lord subconsciously.

The beginning of nightmares.

When I was 17, I got acquainted with a boy. I knew from day one that he took heroine. Being ignorant and curious, I took heroine with him without any consideration. Shortly afterwards, I began not returning home. Within 2 years, he was in and out of prison twice. On each occasion when he went to jail, there was no one to take drugs with me and so I took methadone instead, hoping that I could kick drug addiction. When he was released on the second occasion, our son was 2 years old. For unknown reasons, he became fond of gambling. On an occasion, he took away $1,400 which was to pay for our son's stationeries and books. For this sum of money, I trafficked in drugs and was sentenced to imprisonment of 8 years and 4 months. Because of my pleading guilty and my lawyer's submissions on mitigation, I was eventually released after being in jail for 3 years. During the period when I was awaiting for the sentencing, my son's father started cohabitation with a woman who worked in a night club. At that time, I didn't know how to talk to others about this and I frequently vented my ill feelings on my son. As a result, relationship with my son turned sour. What I missed most during the period of my imprisonment was that I was unable to spend every day with my son. Yet the one I hurt most was my son.

Being moved.

I formally got to know God after I was sent to jail because of the visits of the co-workers and volunteers from the Hong Kong Kun Sun Association. Though what they said was simple, it was very touching. They asked me about my relationship with my family and taught me how to resolve problems. They encouraged me to cast all my cares onto God for Him to deal with. What's most touching was that these people, some single and some married, were willing to sacrifice their family day and travel all the way to prison to play games and chat with us. What made me happiest was that I could talk to them with a sense of security and trust which flowed naturally. In reality, one had to speak cautiously in prison. Any words wrongly spoken could be carried throughout the whole prison. There were also incidents of injustice. As I was all along an outspoken person, I was in tears during the first 3 months. I had to think twice before sharing with others what was deep down in my heart. I found the co-workers got along with one another harmoniously and happily. Their happiness flowed from within. At the time, I longed to be like them.

Thereafter, I attended each gathering. Eventually, I accepted the Lord at a gathering. I gradually learned to read the Bible. The more I read, the stranger I found the situation – as Jesus knew that the Heavenly Father wanted His crucifixion on the cross, why did he carry out the Heavenly Father's plan at all cost? At that moment, I felt hopeless and lack of control for Jesus. I also appreciated that Jesus had fully obeyed the Heavenly Father's will and that there was strong trust between them.

Confirmed to be a real Christian.

About a year later, a co-worker from the Hong Kong Kun Sun Christian Kun Sun Association encouraged me to be baptized together with two sisters. Though this suggestion came unexpectedly, I considered the Heavenly Father had sent this little angel to speak to me and tell me that it was not enough to be a mere listener and that I needed an advancement, like his sending the chief angel, Gabriel to speak to Maria. I got to be a real Christian and spread the gospel. I knew that the Heavenly Father did not choose me at that moment, but before my birth. He wanted me to go through a lot of things so that I knew that I was not an ordinary person, but one who was to witness and tell others about the love of Jesus.

After being baptized, I felt being commanded by the Heavenly Father to spread the gospel. I who was an introvert underwent great changes. I took the initiative to speak to and console an inmate who was waiting for an appeal. I asked her about her faith and shared with her the gospel. Looking back, I was amazed how I got the courage to do so. I might have been filled by the Holy Spirit in learning to be a child of God. Later, I was inspired by God to complete a long distance theological course.

The beginning of a new life.

Upon my release from prison, God really kept me in company every day. I had to face a lot of hardships and problems. When I was discouraged, God sent little angels to give me nice surprises. On the afternoon of the last Christmas Eve, I was informed by the Housing Department that I had been allotted a public housing unit. Christmas Eve is not an ordinary day. It was the Heavenly Father who sent angels to tell the astrologers about the big day to look for Jesus. I knew the Heavenly Father wanted me to know that this was a big present He gave me at Christmas. He also reminded me that He listened to my prayers and for my needs He provided me with what was the best for me.

By the work of the Lord, I am working in the Hong Kong Christian Kun Sun Association. I like this job very much. Apart from learning about computer and clerical work, I also have a deeper understanding of the Lord Jesus as all the co-workers around me are Christians. In the past, I was relatively introvert and easily got unhappy. Working here gives me a sense of security. Really grateful to the Lord for His grace. He understands my needs and will give me more nice surprises.

A family full of blessings

In the several months after my release, the Lord gave me abundant grace and experience. In the past, I was bad tempered and often beat my son up. I was afraid that I could not get along well with him But the Lord told me, “ A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” (Proverbs 15:1-3)

The Lord has come to my family today, granting peace and joy and mending the relationship between my son and me. He makes me understand that love between opposite sexes is not everything and that there are many other things worth doing and other people worth caring for. Both I and my son live in a family full of blessings and we spend every day in gratitude to the Lord. We knew that we could not take for granted happiness which could be built up gradually only by the Lord's love and grace and our faith. I have the salvation of Jesus in my life. He gave me a mission to accomplish in the days to come – to spread the gospel and tell people that the Lord loves us very much.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)