Listener Responses from China

Topic of the Month - Hardship of the Audience

How can we afford the huge expenses?

My parents, two younger brothers and I live in a remote mountainous village. My parents are hardworking, kind, and humble folks. As I am the eldest son, they put all hope on me. They saved every dime in order to send us to school. After graduating from junior high school, I planned to get a job. Though my parents are poor, they objected this and wanted me to further my education for better future. They even borrowed money to pay my tuition fees. As soon as I graduated from senior high school, I went to Guangdong to work as a manual laborer at pier. I swore that I would support my own living and my brothers' university education. My daily wage was about RMB 20. Every night, I slept on wooden planks.

One day, I received a letter from my father telling me that I was accepted by Hunan University with scholarship. After a moment of joy, I decided to continue my work as I need to take care of my two brothers. Three days later, my father came and found me at the pier. He cried and persuaded me to further studies. I was moved and went to Hunan next day. When I arrived at the university, I then knew that the scholarship could not cover all expenses. I still need to pay about RMB 2500 a year. It was indeed a lot of money to my parents. For two years, I led the barest and toughest life. Yet my parents have got a debt of about RMB 6000 for me.

A few days ago, my father wrote to me saying that my brother had quit school and went to the same pier to work as manual labor. I received my brother's letter yesterday with RMB 100. He told me that he was stronger than me and will be able to earn more to support me and my youngest brother. I really feel sorry for his sacrifice as he's going to graduate from senior high school. On the other hand, I need to pay RMB 1000 in the coming semester. How can we afford so? Please tell me what to do. I have never done anything wrong. Why does God punish me?

(#6180 Hunan, response to "In Search of Life")

My husband opposed to my faith

I converted to Jesus Christ two months ago through your broadcast. I know that there's a loving God and thus go to church with my younger sister to worship God and listen to His words. At first I didn't tell my husband that I am a Christian now because he's an atheist. I tried to share with him God's goodness little by little but his response was very negative and blasphemed against God. Some time later, I felt that I had to inform him of my change. He reacted angrily by tearing my Bible into pieces. His family also opposed to my faith. I did not say anything but prayed to God to forgive them. As my Bible was destroyed, I felt lost and sad. I am sorry for my weakness that I can't safeguard the Bible.

While I felt helpless, my younger sister came to visit me. After realizing my condition, she brought me a radio and encouraged me to listen to your programs. With the help of your message and her advice, I regained my faith in God. When my husband knows this, he ordered my sister to leave me. Now I listen to your programs secretly at night and can't attend church service. Please tell me how to face my husband.

(#4707 Shandong, response to "DAWN China" and programs on HLAZ)

Am I greedy?

I live in a coal city. There are a lot of mobile workers. They work for and move from one coal mine to another several times a year. Thus it's not easy to correspond with them. I did farming before and moved to this city eleven years ago. I settled here and then got married. Now I am the father of three children.

I was once a mobile coal miner. In 1995, when we started building our own church, I got to know brother Lau. By the grace of God, he arranged me to work in another unit. The workload is less and thus I can spend more time for spiritual growth. However, I am facing financial difficulty right now. The monthly salary of RMB 400-500 barely covers my basic expenses. Therefore I plan to return to the coal mine because a coal miner usually earns about RMB 1000-1500 monthly. Am I greedy?

(#01589 Heilongjiang, response to "Beside Still Water", "DAWN China Knight", "In Touch" and "Voice of Friendship Seminary")

She was very upset and depressed

We listen to your broadcast regularly. All of us have a heart to follow God closely. There are considerable businessmen in our church. Some of them pursue God earnestly, but some are occupied by their business and do not have time to read the Bible or go to church. One of our sisters who is seeking God fervently is forbidden to go to church by her husband and parents-in-law. Her husband even threatened to divorce her if she insisted going out. They own a boutique but its business is poor. They were forced to close it down recently. This sister is very upset and depressed. She loves God very much and please help her. Please give her some consolation from the air so that she can regain strength in God.

(#756 Henan, response to "Streams in the Desert" and "In Touch")

I was puzzled

I like study but I couldn't pass the university entrance examination for several reasons. I treasured this dream in the bottom of my heart. Recently, there was a upsurge in "self-study" in the mainland. I plan to take the self-study examination in hope of becoming a university graduate. You know, the certificate obtained through this exam is treated as the same as those awarded by formal university. I quit my job in order to join the daytime pre-exam tutorial class. After a year of study, I encounter many problems. First, since the teachers are recruited from outside, some of them require us to have lessons on Sundays. As such, I cannot take part in Sunday service. Second, I was puzzled by the conflict between study and church service. My time and effort are limited and cannot satisfy both sides. In addition, some people say that I may not be able to find a better job after I finish the course. They advise me to find a job first and then take the exam at the same time. But I am worried if I can study well. I have little faith is little and please pray for me.

(#11008 Zhejiang, response to "Voice of Friendship Seminary", "Abundant Fellowship", "Streams in the Desert", The Fountain of Inspiration", "DAWN China" and "Walk in the Breeze")

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