There are countless times that the saints have helped me. I will just name a few. There was a time when I felt like I had no reason to live anymore. I wanted to die and to end everything going on in my life because I felt so distressed and so empty. I was depressed and I felt like I had no one to talk to, but through the Lord’s mercy, I realized that so many saints depended on me, especially my mom. My mom has been everything to me. Instead of my mom, she is like a sister in the Body of Christ to me. She and so many other saints prayed for me. I couldn’t have passed through that period of my life if it were not for the unceasing prayer of the dear saints.

After I moved to Fremont, the Lord gave me a companion. Gina has helped me in every way. She was always there for me to pray with me. She always had words of encouragement and faith to give me. Whenever I felt like I was dead in spirit, she was there to revival with me and to drag me out of the world. The sisters in Fremont have really stuck with me through good times and bad. I couldn’t have survived the first few years of high school without their prayer.

Lately, I’ve been having a lot of trouble at school both socially and academically. I believe the main reason for that was because I wasn’t in my spirit. It was so hard for me because I had such a high spiritual high during the summer that after school started, satan took advantage to shoot me down. Because I was enjoying the Lord so much, satan couldn’t stand it and had to get me down. Being the emotional sister I am, I fell so low from such a high place. I began falling into the world. Then, just when I was going to do something stupid that would involve a devastating, crushing, and complicated result, the Lord sent me a reminder. I was talking on line with Caleb because I wanted to show him our Fremont YP site. We have some good testimonies in there. [I had just finished enjoying Susan’s portion] He began asking me how I was and he told me I was a good sister and that he took me as his role model. This may not seem like anything special but it gave me so much encouragement, which I haven’t felt for the longest time. I realized that many brothers and sisters out there look up to me without my knowing, including my sister. I have to set a good example for them and help them pursue Christ with me. Talking to Caleb made me realize that I DO have a part in the Body. No matter what I’m doing, I’m not only doing it for the Lord alone, but I’m also doing it for the saints. This reminder not only stopped me from doing something extremely stupid, but it also recovered me from my fall. I know that I can only go upward from this abyss.

I have learned so much from the saints. No matter how small you think you are, you are still a part of the Body, even little Grace Lan has a part. During the winter Alliance conference of 2002, I was about to give up memorizing Genesis 1 because I was totally frustrated. She came up to me and said in her quiet voice, ”You can do it Esther! That wasn’t even anything! But I felt SO encouraged and I started memorizing again with renewed strength and patience.

It makes me really happy to see the Fremont brothers growing in life. I remember the first time I came to the meetings in Fremont, I had thought the brothers were helpless beyond hope. Now I see a total change in every single one of them. I see them praying for each other, pursuing Christ, loving the Lord, struggling against the world and satan, and just being there for one another. During our gospel meeting last year, the young people were really brought together by the Lord. We supported each other and experienced Christ.

I really enjoy the saints! The church life is the most wonderful place! I’m just so happy in this lovely place! In His garden growing in grace! Praise the Lord for the wonderful brothers and sisters! There is no better place here on earth! As Gina always tells me, “I live to go to meetings!!?2 Timothy 2:22 says, “But flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, WITH THOSE who call on the Lord out of a pure heart!?Thank you Lord I’m not on my own! But I am WITH THOSE!! Hallelujah for the One Body of Christ!! I love each and every one of you brothers and sisters!! Thank you all for your steadfast prayer and divine love from God!

Sis E. Chang
February 15, 2003