Beyond What One Can Pray and Think -- From A Quasi-Student To A Government-Supported Student  

My major was English literature. Before the branch was combined with the main university, we had been taught by the faculty of the branch. The faculty used an English textbook but lectured in Chinese. Later, when the faculty of the main university arrived, they spoke totally in English. Most of my classmates and I had always been in the inner land. Our level of English was very low, and we could not understand the lectures. It was quite baffling. After the classes, we could only consult with other students. They were children of the professors, so their level of English was high. What in the world was the professor talking about? They told us: "The director said that in the future the test would not be based on the textbook alone but would be based mainly on the notes of his lectures in the class." Oh no! How could I take notes when I did not understand anything the professors said? As a result, many classmates transferred to Chinese literature or History, or Geography, but I loved English. Besides, I was weak in memory after my illness. History or Geography required one to memorize the names of the places, and I could not do it. Therefore, I could only pray. "Oh Lord! Since you helped me to enter the university, you must help me to catch up with the schoolwork. I cannot understand a word in the class. How can I stay in school? Please help me quickly." How amazing it was! Very quickly my ears seemed to open, and gradually I could understand the meaning of the lecture in the class. Many times before a test I kept on crying: "Oh no! Oh no! I'm going to fail." However, I got good scores on the tests. Therefore, classmates made remarks about me: "Ahua is the trickiest one. She says that she is not going to pass, but in fact she does it so well." How could they know that it was the Lord Who helped me!

At the same time I also took Ethics. This was the course in which I got the worst score. Usually I barely passed because the test given by the professor required us to write long essays based on his handouts. Since my memory was poor, it was very difficult for me. One Saturday the professor announced that he would test us on the following Monday during the first class. That meant that the only time we had for preparation was Sunday. Usually I went to church every Sunday to worship for half of the day. In the past, the church in China had services both in the morning and in the afternoon. I used the afternoon to study. I thought to myself that I was pretty faithful to God, since other classmates had studied hard for the whole day on Sunday. This Sunday morning I felt that I could not go to church because there were so many handouts to be memorized. I thought that if I failed that would disgrace God's name because everyone knew that I was a Christian. Therefore, early Sunday morning, I took a Bible and went up to the attic.  I said a very short prayer, asking God to forgive me for not worshipping that day because I had a test tomorrow. I opened the Bible carelessly and read some of God's words and coincidentally turned to Jeremiah 17. There I saw verse 21: "This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath Day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem." I thought: "God is speaking directly to me! He asks me not to carry a load on the Sabbath. But Lord, I am sorry, because this is a special situation." I read more: "Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your forefathers. Yet they did not listen." (Jeremiah 17:22-23) Oh! God was scolding me for disobedience. I went on to read more and I saw if I paid attention and listened, I would be blessed. Otherwise, God would be angry with me. As a result I went to church on that day both morning and afternoon. However, when I sat before the desk that night, I saw myself from the mirror opposite me. I was so agitated that I scratched my hair to a mess. I thought: "This time I am tricked by God. I have not prepared at all today, how am I going to take the test tomorrow?" I barely finished reviewing once until the next day, and I could not remember anything. I ran into the big classroom in a hurry. The preparation bell had been rung. All of the classmates were sitting seriously and waiting for the test. As they saw me running in with my face flushed, they all laughed. They said, "You're late. So is the professor." After a short time, someone came to say "The professor is busy now. The test will not be held until the fourth section." It so happened that there were no classes in between, so I could review again carefully. That time I got 80, a high score.

Every sentence of the Lord's word is true. How faithful He is to those who keep His words. Pretty soon, unexpected grace fell upon me. My classmates read the news on the bulletin board and asked me to read it too. I had never paid attention to anything except the textbooks. I said, "I'm not interested. I won't go." They said: "Even if it has something to do with you will you still not go?" It turned out that my name was published among the list of government supported students. "How can this be?" I said, "I have never applied for a scholarship!" I knew that it was not easy to apply for a scholarship. One had to be good in character and study, and from a poor family. Then one was allowed to submit an application. In addition, only after investigation could one be approved for a scholarship. I had never even thought of applying for a scholarship. I was told, "The system has changed now, because many of those who received a scholarship wasted it in drinking or dating by strolling around the West Lake. Now a competitive system had been adopted. Whoever has an average score of 78 will receive complete government support, whoever has an average score of 75 will receive half support. There is no need to apply." 

I truly obeyed the Lord's word in worshipping God the whole day observing the Sabbath. He blessed me according to His promises, which were beyond anything I could ask or imagine. He promoted me from a quasi-student to a government-supported student from the first year to the end of the fourth year when I graduated.