| A New Hope |
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| Written by Winnie Sea |
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One of our primary goals during this mission is to get to know our brothers and sisters in Malaysia. So we use English teaching as a vehicle to connect with them. We were clapping, singing Christmas carols, laughing, simply having a great time with each other. However, I noticed there was a young girl, squatting outside the door. She looked sad and quiet, disengaged from all the activities we were doing. Her eyes were big and beautiful, yet hollow and lifeless. I squatted right next to her and invited her to join us. She shook her head, seemingly saying she didn't understand me. So then I invited her again in Mandarin this time, she started to respond to me in broken phrases in Mandarin. Now she understood me, but she told me she didn't want to go in. Feeling somehow rejected, I decided to stay with her and join her company. During our conversation, I couldn't help but noticing the three pink slashes on her left wrist. I had a long sigh in my mind and started pondering what kind of trauma and hardship this girl had been through.
I kept the question in mind until I had a chance to ask Mom/Christina. Then this young girl's story unveiled to me. Her name is Lien. She's 25 years old and was tricked to prostitution from Vietnam to Malaysia. After months, she finally escaped from the prostitution house and found Mom through a friend. She's now staying at Mom's place, sharing a room with some other girls. Mom takes care of them and teaches them how to cook and clean. Mom tells them how much the Heavenly Father loves her so that she is capable of loving them as her own children. Lien had no idea who God was until she met Mom and experienced this amazing, selfless love from Mom. The next evening (12/23/07), our mentor and wonderful friend, pastor Sabastian, gave an inspiring sermon at a local church. At the end, Sabastian invited the audience up to the stage if he/she decided to welcome Christ in life. I saw Lien standing up from her seat and going toward the stage. I was so happy for her! She only knew of God for barely a couple of weeks! Stepping out of church, Lien was squatting by the door, looking into the starry sky. Again, I squatted next to her and told her how excited I was to see her up on the stage because God will take care of her, comfort her and He will never forsake her. She broke a smile at me. Her eyes sparkled, just like the stars in the cloudless night. On Christmas, pastor Sabastian baptized 22 guys and 6 girls in the pool at the place we're staying. Isn't it the best Christmas gift for our Abba Father? And Lien was one of the girls! Some of them jumped back into the pool after baptism, I heard Lien calling my name, shouting, "Come swim!" She had this huge, ear to ear, smile on her face and was busy splashing water to Sabastian's boys, Kaleb and Joshua. I saw freedom in Lien and God's healing hand on her. It stunned me how powerful God is—to transform a spirit from deep despair to pure joy, over a few weeks. I know Lien is still scarred from the unpleasant experience, yet I also know God will clean her wound, heal her and comfort her soul. With God, everything is possible and hopeful. I'm absolutely in awe of God's miraculous work by witnessing a new life begins. |