Gloria Hong Testimony Elgin Quan translated from Chinese Version
I was born in an era of turbulence and chaos in China. Sino Japanese war and civil war caused constant hardship. Everyone lived in fear while lacking humanitarian aid and resources. People around me fell into state of panic.
I am my mother’s first child. I was born 7 months premature and because I am a “seven-star girl”,七星女, my grandmother and my mother did their best to raise me. It wasn’t until I was three years old that I finally got on my feet and started taking my first steps. Mother and grandmother danced with joy, and three years of hard work paid off!
For a long time, our family had been living in Hong Kong and China following our ancestors. When they saw that I was in good health, they decided to take my second sister and I by train to Hong Kong to start a new life. This would be a transition before immigrating to United States
In 1966, my family and I were approved to immigrate to the United States. We settled in San Francisco. There, I had the opportunity to meet Sister Ying Yi穎儀姊妹. She is a Christian who loves the Lord very much and enthusiastically shares the gospel. She brought my sister and I to the church every Sunday and I grew up in the fellowship life, and met many good friends. There I was introduced to many friends who became dear to my heart. One of them was my soon to be future husband, Brother Hong Huan ping 洪煥平.
During that time, I met Pastor Wang Qichang 王其昌牧師who personally led me to know the Lord Jesus Christ: From him, I understood Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world; He was willing to sacrifice his life on the cross for sinners. Jesus died but resurrected three days later; He ascended to heaven in forty days; He will come again in the future, He will establish a new heaven and a new earth, and Believers live together!
As long as people believe in Him and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord of life, they can have life and have it more abundantly. More importantly, they can inherit eternal life!
In 1972, I committed my life to Lord Jesus and invited Him into my heart to become my Savior. I was baptized, confessed my faith in public, and my life was changed! I had become a Christian. Thereafter, I actively participated in serving the church devoting myself to God and tried my best to stand alongside with those in need.
In 1974, I married Brother Hong Huan ping, and we made a lifelong covenant before God and man. We became husband and wife. Thank God for blessing our marriage and for giving us two lovely daughters, who are lively, beautiful and smart. Together we participated in the life of the church and build happy and harmonious families according to the teachings of the Bible.
In September 1987, on the day of a church picnic, I experienced a sudden emergency. All of a sudden, I felt a very sharp headache. My husband rushed sent me to the emergency room for consultation; the doctor immediately asked me to sign permission to do a brain surgery. Suddenly I was undergoing an operation! I earnestly prayed to the Lord to heal and save my life so that I can see my daughters grow up! The brothers and sisters in the church all prayed fervently for me. 14 hours into the operation, I woke up and felt paralyzed on the left side of my body. I was in shock and unbelief!
Yet God answered my prayers. I still have a life to live. During my recuperation, I was in the hospital for a month, then went to a nursing home for physical therapy. Finally, I came home on Christmas Eve. Full of gratitude, I thanked and praised the Lord.
After a year of rehabilitation, I find can go back to my old job and get back to work. This is truly a special grace that God has given me. God has again taken my hand, restored and given my life back.
In November 1993, another shock, like an earthquake fell on me. My husband filed for divorce! I never dreamed that my husband would divorce me due to an extramarital affair. Finally, in 1995, the court officially announced that we break our marriage covenant and live separately.
After the divorce, I find I have to raise my two daughters alone. I am very tired, but I still tell them that everyone makes mistakes, but he is still your father. I tell my daughters the relationship between our family cannot be changed. You still have to love him. and honor him. So we kept in touch and continued to have a family life! We are also constantly interceding for each other, asking God to guide our lives according to our needs.
Few years later we discovered Huan ping had contracted cancer. In 2014, Huan ping’s cancer had reached its terminal stage. He often went to the emergency room and the hospital. During this period, a loving couple from church (Pius/Lydia) visited the hospital and led him to pray with tears, confessing his sins, repenting and turning to God. Amen! I thank God for listening to my sincere prayers and accepting the prodigal son with His never-ending love!
The Bible says God will not leave orphans and widows! My two daughters studied diligently and received scholarships to enter an ideal university; the Lord has prepared Christian spouses for them, each with a good career, excellent children, and a happy and happy family. I am so thankful. I bow down and praise the Lord!
In my life, I have faced three big hurdles. What I experienced in my life was a great test; but God, by His wonderful hand, turned them into blessings one by one. I devoted myself to praying constantly, and living a life relying on God. As I overcame each hurdle, my relationship with God became even closer!
To repay God’s grace, in my spare time, I participated in the ministry of the Gospel Team and shared the Gospel in San Francisco’s Chinatown. For several years, we passed out gospel tracks and visited four nursing homes while sharing the Good News through Christmas caroling. I now live a very fulfilling and meaningful life!
In recent years, my physical condition has begun to cause some limitations. My foot strength is not as good as before! My eldest daughter, who lives in San Diego, suggested that I move in with her family. By faith, I promised her I would do so.
When I think of leaving San Francisco, the place where I have lived for decades, the most reluctant feeling in my heart is leaving the family of Sunset Church! The friendships that I have developed, the love and care we have for my sisters and brothers, the help and encouragement from each other has grown deep roots in my heart. I feel sorrow yet at the same time, look to God for joy.
What will happen tomorrow? I deeply believe that my life is in the hands of God. As long as God holds my hand, I can have enough strength to live every moment, day by day, well!
There is a poem in this song I like very much. The special chorus stirs my heart every time “There are many things in the future that I can’t understand now; but I know who is in charge of tomorrow, and I also know who holds my hand” When I think about this song, I feel empowered to face the days ahead by faith!
I have relied on God all my life and experienced His presence each time; He is the strength of my heart and my blessing. I rely on Him in my heart for His constant help. My heart rejoices. My life is like the poem in this song. “I know who is in charge of tomorrow. I know who takes my hand”.