Like many families, 2020 was a challenging year for us. My husband was diagnosed with kidney cancer in late April during a medical examination while on a business trip in China. This was an absolute shock to us as he had always been an active and healthy person. After discussions with medical experts, we realized he needed immediate surgery to remove the tumor. We had to make the critical decision: Stay in China or fly back to the US to have the surgery. The worst part was it was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. US hospitals were not admitting those traveling from China until after at least 2 weeks quarantine. On top of that, there were limited flights between China and the US during that period. He would not have a chance to have the surgery in the US until late May. At the same time, I did not have the visa to go to China, and the Chinese consulate’s office was closed due to the pandemic. This was extremely devastating to me knowing I could not go to China to be with him and take care of him. But God is good. Miraculously through local friends, my husband was able to find a top kidney surgeon in China and within a week the surgery was performed, removing the tumor completely. It was the darkest period of my life not knowing why it happened and how to deal with it. There was absolutely nothing I could do to help him -- no visa to China, no flight to China. The only thing I could do was pray.
Prayer is powerful. Brothers and sisters from my church and RM prayed for us. I still remember the night before my husband’s surgery. The word “Love” appeared in a dream; God let me see the outcome of the surgery which was complete removal of his tumor. Knowing God was absolutely in charge and He was with us the whole time brought tremendous comfort to me. The surgery was a complete success the next day. We were relieved.
Looking back, this was an extremely difficult period of my life, yet throughout the entire process God instilled my heart with peace instead of fear or anguish because I knew He was with us and controlling every step of the way. “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ [PSALMS 91:2]. He was able to restore my strength and rebuild my faith in Him through this crisis. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” [ISAIAH 40: 29]. Rainbow Missions became my spiritual family. Brothers and sisters have been praying for our family tirelessly and bringing us encouragement and comfort. God has been truly good to us.
My husband arrived in Seattle 5 weeks after his surgery and has been recovering well. We as a family have been blessed in many ways. In 2020, we encountered God in a miraculous way. Glory to God! His love never fails. Many thanks to RM sisters and brothers for their gracious love and support! As we embark into 2021, I would like to share 1 Corinthians 13:6-7: “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.” Amen!