She didn't have a shiny college degree. She didn't have any significant achievement, nor hold any valuable possessions. She couldn't even quite memorize the English alphabet. She came to Canada as the spouse of an overseas student, and the first year here was extremely tough for her.

It was April, seven years ago. Morning came extremely early in Vancouver, and birds and flowers always extended their arms to welcome visitors. She came here with her five-year-old daughter to meet her husband she had parted from eight months before. Clear skies and emerald lawns brought freshness, but that freshness was quickly erased by joblessness, language barriers, and a low living standard. Worse, along with all the worries, hopelessness and anguish came pregnancy.

The child really came at such a bad time, and she didn't even have the courage to announce this news to the public. The landlady who hired her as a housekeeper was amazed after the child was born; she never suspected she had been pregnant. Parents on the other side of the ocean were not notified until after the child obtained her citizenship. She didn't want to keep the child because her husband's scholarship was so low. Their monthly budget was only between 200 and 300 Canadian dollars after tuition and housing expenses were paid.

The fetus, however, kept growing day by day. She also experienced serious pregnancy reaction. Even though she gradually became used to the little life within her, she never really gave up the idea of giving it up. So as soon as her medical insurance became effective, she made a doctor's appointment for abortion. Her family doctor was a Christian. Although he didn't demand that she keep the child, he firmly refused to perform such an operation. And he urged her not to do such a thing.

A few of her close Christian friends, on hearing the news, also came to encourage her with words from the Bible. They pointed out that what God gave did not belong to us, and we had no right to kill a new life that God created. "Such a deed is no different than murder". These words caused her a lot of pain. She had never broken any man-made laws. How could she bear the sin of being a murderer? She hesitated. Yet lack of faith made her struggle in vain while time slipped by.

Then came the day for the scheduled abortion. The day before, the doctor had already put medication into her to prepare for the operation the next day. Then she was supposed to sign an agreement. Without reason however, she suddenly became extremely sad and could not bear to even look at the paperwork. She began to weep and could not stop. Was it because she felt sorry for the little life about to be terminated? Or was it because she felt sorry for her own bitter decision? Her husband, who was talking with the nurse, did not understand why she acted like that. He hurried to her and asked if she was OK. The doctor and the nurse also rushed to her, fearing there might be something wrong with the procedure. She kept shaking her head but she could not say a word.

This went on for about four or five minutes before she managed to express her feelings. Tensions started to ease a little. The doctor suggested that the medication be removed immediately before it was too late. Half an hour later, it was clear the pitiable little being had been spared. Even today she still cannot explain why she acted like that, nor why she kept uttering praises like "The Holy Spirit be with me". Nevertheless, she had to admit that it was God who saved her daughter's life and sustained her healthy growth.

And so the fetus was preserved. But her heart was far from being settled down. She participated in Bible studies, but she had yet to learn how to seek assurance from God. She continued to live in anxiety and worry. To prove she was able to bear her share of the load, she began to work as a housekeeper for five hours a week. Was the work too much for her? Was it because her heart was always heavy? Was it that she had used medication for abortion? Or was it simply the will of God? For whatever reason, the little being in her couldn't seem to wait longer than six months, when her placenta began to fall and amniotic fluid began to leak out. Finally the baby was born less than seven months into pregnancy. She weighed 1.8 pounds and she was 13 inches long. Her small size didn't break any records in Vancouver Children's Hospital, but such a small infant was extremely rare. And so the little life which had come into this world a bit too early had to stay in the hospital for five months before she was allowed to go home to her parents. And the mother, along with her daughter's premature birth, finally experienced God's help when she needed it the most. From then on peace started to fill her heart.

Atheism had so long controlled her stubborn mind, and until now she had not discovered the love of God. But at this time her daughter's premature birth opened her heart to feel the depth of God's love. Many Christian friends prayed for her daughter, and many brothers and sisters extended helping hands, never asking for anything in return. They provided her everything she needed, including bed, desk, dresser, sofa as well as all necessities for the child herself. Only those who have gone through a tragic experience can appreciate what it is to feel such a love so timely, so sweet and so unforgettable.

The Bible Study Fellowship for the Overseas Chinese Students became the cradle of her faith in the Lord. The semi-monthly Bible studies gave her opportunity to enjoy the sweetness of Christian love. Guidance and counsel from some of the sisters in the Vancouver Holy Church accelerated the process of her conversion. At the moment when her little daughter was at the borderline of life and death, she was so moved that she decided to accept the Lord as her personal Savior. On Easter Sunday, just one year after she came abroad, she was baptized. Yes, that first year was really tough for her. Yet in retrospect, which moment during that first year was not spent under the loving protection of the Lord?

Today her little daughter is already six years old. From her personal experience of the Lord's salvation while still in the womb, to her participation in all kinds of Sunday services and Bible studies while still in cradle, her spotless heart has always been occupied by the Almighty God. When her mother and father were having difficult times and were about to seek divorce, she prayed to the Lord with tears that her parents would be restored to each other. When her mother accidentally locked them out while her father was on a business trip in America, she declared with confidence: "I prayed. The Lord will help you." When sick, and her mother became worried as her fever continued to rise, she reminded her: "Pray, mother. Pray for me!" And every night, she insists that her mother kneel at her bed and pray before kissing her good night.

Once mother asked her: "If mother died, what would you do?" She replied: "I would cry, and cry every day." "Crying would be useless!" "Then I would pray, and ask the Lord to let you live." What a simple, beautiful faith! The Lord is her assurance, her help, and He will be her hope for the rest of her life.

There is no eloquence and neither are there any Biblical quotations in this article. It is nevertheless a true testimony, because I am she.

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