Go Up To the Mountain

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Since I had already been called, I had been considering where I should go to be trained by the Lord. Two choices were laid on me. One was on a mountain in Hangzhou, and the other was the Devotion Seminary in Shanghai. The one on the mountain was newly established. In the year of the liberation, the Lord's servant, Uncle Chang, led several revival meetings in Hangzhou, and the Holy Spirit moved many young people to dedicate themselves to serve the Lord. At that time God instructed the Lord's servant to begin to set up the House of God in the southeast. At first, there were only the Lord's servant and two old sisters in the Lord, and four to five people who went up to the mountain for training. The facility on the mountain was simple and crude. There was neither electric lights nor tap water. There were only vegetable oil lamps. As for water, it was fetched from half way up the mountain, so it was precious. Every one was allowed to use one thermos bottle of water to drink and wash. Life on the mountain was very hard. Whoever went to the mountain paid three decaliters of rice every month. There was plain food, and sometimes there was only plain rice without anything else. As to the organizer, Uncle Chang, his speaking amounted to nothing. He was unimpressive in person. It was heard that he used to be a businessman, and he had neither great learning nor training in any seminary. He was just a follower of Dr. John Sung. There was no other textbook except the Bible on the mountain. Every one got up early in the morning at 4:30. Then every one went out to the valley or the open field to pray alone. After breakfast the students got together for Bible study. This consisted of comparing two chapters of the Bible with each other by interpreting Scriptures with Scriptures. This method of Bible study, inspired by and given by God to Dr. Sung, was called "whirling the wheel of life" on the mountain. In the afternoon, they studied Bible by scrolls. In the evening, there was a joint watch prayer meeting, which interceded for the souls on the world and the churches. Later when the number of people increased, a watchtower was established. It was rotated among brothers and sisters, who prayed day and night unceasingly. My younger sister was there too.

"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem: they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourself no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." (Isaiah 62:6-7)

At that time I thought that since I clearly was called, I should enter the best seminary in China to learn some Greek or Hebrew or music and piano so as to be an outstanding missionary. How could I go to this desolate mountain? There were neither theological professors nor English lessons nor music. All day long one led a boring life as a nun or monk and was accompanied only with a miserable vegetable oil lamp. How dreadful and unpromising it was! What I yearned for wholeheartedly was the Devotion Seminary in Shanghai. There was the old principal Yuming Chia who was of noble character and high prestige. Besides, it was located in Shanghai, a big city. Lots of college students had dedicated themselves to God and studied theology there. I also met several male and female students of the Devotion seminary, and all of them had such a noble manner. I truly yearned to go there for training.

Though I strongly yearned to enter the Devotion Seminary, and I was afraid of going to the mountain, I still had a sense of fearing for God and I dared not act according to my own mind. So I prayed: "Oh Lord! I ask for evidence. I will write to Principal Chia of the Devotion Seminary in Shanghai. If he returns my letter within one month and admits me to the Devotion Seminary, then that is your will that I should enter the Devotion Seminary. If he does not reply within one month, then that is your will that I go to the mountain." Actually, principal Chia would never refuse any young college student who loved the Lord if they wanted to enter the Devotion Seminary. It was also improbable that he would not answer me within one month because the mail between Shanghai and Hangzhou took only one day to be delivered. Also, not long ago he had come to Hangzhou for a revival meeting. He met us students of Zeijiang University who believed in the Lord and he raised his hands to bless us asking the Lord to revive us to work for the Lord. But how strange it was! I was looking for his letter everyday, and his letter had not come. One month went by. I stayed at home and was not willing to go to the mountain. Suddenly, one day at dusk, the Lord's servant, Uncle Chang, came to my place and strictly ordered me. "Follow me to the mountain quickly! Since you have been clearly called, how much longer do you want to delay it?" What could I do but gather some daily necessities with me and follow him? When we went up the mountain, he was ahead of me. As I walked, I was shedding tears just as a wild donkey that was being forcibly pulled up to the mountain, because I was starting to take a way that was totally contrary to my natural taste.

It was only a few days after I arrived at the mountain that I received a letter from principal Chia in Shanghai, who welcomed me to study at the Devotion Seminary. It explained that he was out of town, and that was the reason for the delay in replying. At that time, I lived by sight and my brain. I did not understand that God's will was beyond my thoughts. Blessed are those who fear and obey Him.