On May 28, 2012, my life changed completely. On that day, my family and I arrived in Canada as an immigrant family from China. We left our friends and relatives for this foreign land, where we had no idea what life would be like. For a nine-year-old, it was truly tough and scary. I remember I was constantly in a state of anxiety thinking about what would become of me. While feeling extremely lonely, I would sometimes question why I was here. Perhaps it was because I was not used to hide my emotions, my mother always told my two sisters and me not to be afraid. God will provide, she said. I did not think too much of it at first; however, looking back, God indeed has provided for us. I can see now that there is nothing to worry about as long as God is with us. However, this conclusion did not come to me immediately, as there were many struggles God helped us overcome along the way.
I remember vividly that one of the greatest challenges for me at the time was learning English. This was a big problem because not knowing how to speak English meant that I could not understand anything in school, not to mention making new friends. In fact, I never thought of myself as a fast learner in languages because I struggled a lot in English class back in China. Therefore, although everyone told me that speaking English should just come naturally, I had a lot of doubts in my mind. At the time, this was my main source of anxiety and it would always be one of the first things I prayed about every day. I believe that God has heard my prayers. Over the next two years, I was able to befriend a few classmates who also recently came from China and had the same English level as mine. Suddenly, school did not look like a lonely place anymore as we shared many similar hobbies and interests. It also made learning English a lot more enjoyable. Gradually, by the grace of God and under the positive influence of my new friends, my English improved, and I was able to converse with native speakers after two or three years. I never expected that commanding of a new language would come to me so quickly. I know this was God’s grace working inside me. As James 1:5 states, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
When my family and I first arrived in Canada, it was a real culture shock. Everything about this country was just so different from where we came from. My first impression of attending church services was rather memorable. In the area of China where I grew up, True Jesus Churches were, thank God, established in many locations; you can find dozens of churches in just one city. My house was also a five-minute walk from a nearby church, which makes it really convenient for my family to attend services. However, the True Jesus Church in Toronto was roughly 30 minutes of car drive away from my house, which sounded absurd to me at the time because I rarely go on car rides this long. In addition, Sabbath services in Toronto were also held differently from what I experienced growing up. Unlike churches in China where we attended morning service, went back home to eat lunch (because everyone lives close to the church), and came back for afternoon service. The Toronto church had lunch in church between the two services. There are also bible study classes and religious education classes after the afternoon service, which means most members would stay in the church for almost the entire day. At first, I loved and “hated” this kind of system: I loved it because it felt wonderful to come to church every week and there would always be buffet-style lunch downstairs waiting for me (the food was always amazing!); but I “hated” it because staying in one place for the entire day was extremely tiring. I would always be passing out on the chapel pew during afternoon services or almost falling asleep on the classroom table during religious education classes. However, as I got used to the schedule, I truly saw the benefits of spending the entire day at church. Not only did spending the day at church help me stay focused for the Sabbath services, but it also allowed me to maintain fellowship with God. In a way, Toronto church reminded me of the apostolic church recorded in the book of Acts. Specifically in Acts 2:42, it records, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Looking back, Toronto church has always shown so much love and care for my family. There was a relatively long period of time when we did not have a car. However, by the love of God that filled our brothers and sisters, we have never missed the Sabbath once because there would always be someone willing to drive us. In addition, many brothers and sisters also helped us feel comfortable in this new environment by taking us to restaurants, inviting us over to their houses, and, most importantly, praying for us on a daily basis. Although we may toil and labour throughout the week, it was always comforting to come to church on Sabbath and have fellowship with these loving brothers and sisters. This kind of feeling is perfectly captured in Psalms 122:1, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” Here, the reason why David, the psalmist, loves to go to the house of the Lord is recorded in verse 3 and 4 of the same chapter: “Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.” David loves to go to the house of the Lord to see all the tribes of Israel, his fellow brothers and sisters, worshipping the Lord together — exactly how I felt going to church every single week.
Having fellowship with brothers and sisters is certainly a blessing. But being a Christian is more than just connecting with other people; it is, more importantly, about connecting to God: a lesson I learned since moving to Canada. I did not realize at the time how much emphasis my mother put towards that aspect, but I am grateful that she has always been the pillar of faith in our family throughout these years. She always asked us to pray more and read Bible more diligently, which made me wonder what this faith is so good about. Back in China, although I always attended church services and tried my best to understand the Bible, it’s more like another school that I needed to attend. The things I learned in religious education classes were like knowledge which I learned because there would be tests. I had been praying for the Holy Spirit during the weekly pray-for-the-Holy-Spirt services, but it had become like a game for my friend and me to see who can run to the front and kneel down first. I treated church as more of a social gathering rather than the house of God. When we moved to Canada, however, I started to realize that we have nothing to rely on other than our Heavenly Father. I had to be serious about my faith and pursue God genuinely. I also determined to pray harder for the Holy Spirit so that I may have the power and faith to do the right things. Thank God, I received the Holy Spirit soon after, in September of the same year. It truly was a life-changing moment for me. From that point onward, God has given me more wisdom to understand His word. He has also gradually changed my indifferent attitude toward faith into one that is more fearful and respectful. Holy Spirit has the power to change a person to do the will of God, as recorded in Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
God looked after my family, and me personally, when we first arrived in Canada, and He is still watching over us to this very day. Challenges in our life may seem daunting at first, but we need to know that God is in control of our lives. He will provide the best for us according to His will and at His time if we are willing to draw closer to Him and have faith in Him. Departing a place where you have grown accustomed to is a physically and emotionally demanding task. But wherever you go, God will always be by your side, waiting for you to come closer to Him. Let us not make Him wait any longer and draw closer to Him at this very second!
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