Vol.14 No.2

I Changed Gods
By Tat Ying Wong as told to Amanda Klump

I was born in Malaysia, which is south of China, in September 1980. My parents are Buddhists, as are many people in my country. Although my childhood with my three siblings was relatively happy, as I grew older, my life became aimless. As a teenager I began to question what life was all about.

One day I asked my friend, “Do you suppose there is a god other than Buddha?”

“Tat Ying, Buddha is enough for us. We don’t need another god,” my friend replied.

When I was sixteen, I started talking with one of my uncles. He was Christian so when I questioned him about life, he opened his Bible to Genesis 1:26, which told me how God created me in His own image. If God created me, He must have some reason for my being here, I reasoned.

I began attending my uncle’s church. As I attended the youth meetings, my friends teased my claims to be a Christian. But because of my Bible studies I was convicted to give up many things, including smoking and drinking.

In 1998, I decided to enroll in Aenon Health Farm, a school run by Seventh-day Adventists. Aenon based its health curriculum on caring for the sick by changing poor lifestyle habits and using natural remedies. When I told my father, he became enraged.

“I don’t want my son becoming a volunteer. You need to know how to earn money!” He shouted. “If you go, you are not my son!”

His words cut me deeply. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Dad, you don’t know what you are saying.”

“I do, and I just said it!” he snapped back.

LITTLE DEEDS—BIG IMPACT

With a heavy heart I set out for Aenon, where I acquired practical skills in therapeutic massage and hydrotherapy, which use water treatments to help sick patients get well. When I came home for a visit, I wanted to show my parents how being at Aenon had helped me grow spiritually. So I helped my mom wash and dry the dishes, I kept my room clean, and made my bed every day. I even took down my worldly posters. These small acts impressed my parents and proved my sincerity to my dad. When I left, I praised God that my dad was speaking to me again and both my parents supported me.

WORK, BUT NO PAY

As my two-year program drew to a close at Aenon Health Farm, the founder told me about a small, rural college established by Seventh-day Adventists in the U.S., in Virginia. I was twenty when I filled out an application and sent it in.

During those months of waiting, I was asked to become a Bible worker in a nearby town. I would get paid, and, if after six months of service I did very well in my district, the Mission for which I worked would pay for me to attend another school and study. Despite my misgivings, I decided to become a Bible worker for six months. But God impressed me to have a stipulation, which strengthened my faith later.

“I don’t want any money from you,” I told the Mission president.

“I believe God will provide for me. If, after six months, the college in America does not call, then I will stay here longer.”

Days before the six months were up, the phone rang. It was Hartland College. I had been accepted!

Many BLESSINGS

The first time I applied for my visa I was promptly rejected. When I went back the second time with three friends, I was last in line. As they came out of the office one by one, each had a smile.

I thought, This is going to be easy. If they got theirs, I’ll get mine too. But when I came out of the office, I noticed that my papers were yellow. I leaned over to my friend and asked, “Why are my papers yellow and yours are white?” Though I could understand some English, I could not read it. My friend scanned the paper silently. “Tat Ying, I’m sorry—you got rejected,” he told me.

My soaring spirits dropped like a rock. As I rode the train seven hours back to my home I cried out to God.

You opened the door for me to go to Hartland, Lord. Now, why won’t you let me get my visa?

After I came home, I decided to visit another Christian uncle, who had recently returned from living in New York. Although I hadn’t seen him in many years, he graciously invited me into his office. When he began to question me about my future I told him that God was leading me to study Pastoral Evangelism. He was very pleased. When he found out that I still needed one-third of my tuition, he became quiet and thoughtful.

Finally, he told me, “Tat Ying, I want my nephew to be a pastor, and I’m willing to pay for a third of your education until you graduate.”

I was too amazed to speak. As my mind flipped through everything that had happened in the past few weeks, I could see how the Lord had led. Had I gotten my visa right away, I would have missed the opportunity to talk with my uncle and receive the blessing of help that was in store for me.

When I began studying at Hartland, I found it very hard to take notes in class and read assignments because my English was so poor. When reading Christ’s Object Lessons—one of my first textbooks—I read it through in Chinese twice, and then in English twice. Although the first few weeks were filled with many tears, God taught me lessons from that book each time I read, and I began to realize that I was actually receiving a four-fold blessing from God.

I have now been studying at Hartland College for two years and God has helped me, not only to understand, but to speak and write English much better.

MY VISION

When I first learned from my uncle that God created me in His own image, I knew that He must have a plan for my life. Then, a former Bible instructor inspired me once by telling me that Malaysia needs at least one good preacher.

“A preacher?” I asked. “Who?”

His eyebrows furrowed and he leaned forward, pointing his finger in my face. “You!” He declared firmly.

Looking back at my friend’s words—and the way God has led me—I now have a vision. I hope to return to China and begin to minister to my people who are still in darkness, who do not know the true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I want to teach them about the Bible and begin translating Bible-based literature into Chinese.

Seven years ago God put a new heart within me. It is my prayer that my life will point others to Him. He saved me and can work the same miracle in you!

* Tat Ying Wong is still a student at Hartland College, majoring in Pastoral Evangelism. Amanda Klump is an editorial assistant for Last Generation magazine.