8. Refinement and Comfort

            Soon a sister who had been my co-worker and had earlier gone to California joined me.  Every morning we studied the Bible and prayed with sister Lu and her husband.  Then they would go to work.  Two or three times a week we would read the Bible, pray, and   share with the women’s  fellowship or the fellowship for graduate students.  There were not many people in either group, but they were very hungry for the Lord’s Word.  They always humbled themselves and were contrite in spirit.  They interceded for the souls of the whole world and the churches by grasping the Lord’s Word.  They also earnestly prayed for their families, relatives, friends, and themselves.

            However, at this same time the invisible enemy launched attacks at us severely and sowed dissension among us.  First my co-worker disagreed with me about helping our co-workers in China to come to America.  She thought it would be a burden for us and for others.  Neither did she agree at the Bible study because she thought that sister Lu and her husband would be offended.  However, since Professor Huang had promised me, I thought I should invite co-workers to come as soon as possible.  How could we prevent those who thirsted for the Bible from coming?

            Afterward, due to the helping hand of the Lord, sister Lu and her husband were moved by God to take back a house of theirs.  This house, near the downtown area, had been for rent but now they let us use it rent-free.  We looked up to the Lord by faith for our daily expenses.  The house was close to the church and university, and had access to transportation facilities.  This resulted in more people coming for Bible study.  Some of them had a clear burden for the Home of Grace for Christ Workers and they have become active supporters for this work on the mountain.  This is a great comfort from God.

            By this time three brothers and an elderly sister had come out from China.  One brother was the husband of my co-worker, who had moved from California to join me.  There were six of us.  However, I was childish in the spirit and had lots of dross, full of flesh and human feeling.  Sometimes I was cowardly and judgmental.  I did not earnestly seek love, endurance and wisdom from above.  Therefore I caused unnecessary misunderstanding and hatred.  The Lord permitted this to refine me through water and fire.  Sometimes I would have to go to the park to pray; otherwise I had no strength to face the situation.  It was during this period of time that I finished writing most of my testimony.  I also compiled what I had learned from reading the two chapters of Scriptures daily, by using the Comparative Method of Bible Study.  As I look back, all is grace.  Refinement is a required course for me and is for my benefit.  How pitiful that up to now I am still so rough and shallow that I cannot glorify God or benefit men.  My soul sighs for such a gift.