This is a harrowing first-hand account of the tension, emotion, stress and miracles of being the epi-centre of the COVID-19 outbreak in the city of Wuhan, China. Gateway Adventist Church elder and his wife, Benny Wen and Jessie Chen, were stranded there for months before finally returning to Australia. Jessie shared this testimony and our Gateway churches were blessed.
Good afternoon and Happy Sabbath. My name is Jessie Chen. I am a mother of two children, Elisha and Esther. My husband is Benny Wen. I am a Chinese, from the city of Wuhan. I am sharing with you this afternoon my experience of God’s protection for my family during the time of the COVID-19.
In mid-2019, my husband Benny was invited by the Fujian SDA church to be the speaker for their winter camp. The camp was during Chinese New Year (CNY), so our whole family planned to spend the new year in China. Since both Benny and I have been living in Australia for so many years, we rarely had any chance to spend the new year with our family. I was so looking forward to it, especially this time with our two children, including our then 10 months’ old baby girl. I was excited and was grateful to the Lord.
Everything went according to plan. Just a week before CNY, in mid-January we arrived at my hometown, Wuhan. As we were all looking forward to the big day, a breaking news spoiled the wonderful new year atmosphere. Because of an initially unknown respiratory disease that had already spread widely in the city, the government decided to have the whole city in hard lockdown in Wuhan. No one could leave or enter. Everyone inside the city that time must quarantine at home for two weeks. At any given time, each household could have but one person to go out to shop for food. Most business in the city were required to close. Wearing masks is compulsory at public area. The sudden changes brought anxiety and stress on everyone’s mind. We stayed at a different place from my parents, which was just a few minutes away by car. But unfortunately, it would mean we would not see my parents for the entire new year.
Almost 10 million people in the city were stuck in the lockdown. At that time, we thought it will last for just two weeks, not knowing there were months to come. I felt very disappointed. But I knew I should not show to my parents my frustration, otherwise they would feel even worse. Each time while we video called each other, we all tried to be cheerful and encouraging. We were no longer separated from family across the ocean. We were just a short distance away yet like poles apart. A Chinese new year that was supposed to be full of joy and laughter, now with worry and disappointment. The hiking number of confirmed cases worried us. Because most of the patients were elderly people, I was very concern for my parents. My dad had always suffered from bronchitis, and my mum had lumber disc protrusion. They used to have a helper at home, but during the lockdown the helper was away so they would have to look after themselves. Worse still, the ‘hottest spot’ of confirmed cases was just across the street of my parent’s apartment. I felt helpless and hopeless at that time. Every morning when I rise, the first thing was not to read the bible or pray, but to call my mum and check whether they were well. This indescribable anxiety gave me numerous sleepless nights. The existence and the mighty power of the Lord was forgotten. My heart was sorrowful, and I felt lost.
How often Satan used this opportunity to pull us down and drew us away from God. More and more negative feelings and emotions crept in and piled on. The devil was determined to snatch my heart away from the Lord. Benny noticed that I felt depressed and discouraged, so he prayed with me every night. However, the weight of sadness still lingered in my heart.
Then one midnight, the whistles of an ambulance broke through the quietness of the air, travelling across the lonely streets of the empty city. I suddenly realised that thousands of medical professionals have been working tirelessly in these snowy winter days. For those patients that were struggling in their dead bed, they were making so much sacrifice. They all had parents like us to look after, they had their under-aged children waiting for their arms, they had their dreams unfulfilled. Hundreds of them died in the battlefield because of COVID-19 infection; yet thousands more voluntarily flooded into the city from other parts of the country. Each life is precious, but they were willing to sacrifice theirs to save others. What about me? At this most difficult time for the people in this city, what did I contribute? I even almost forgot I have a merciful and almighty God who is always with me, right there waiting for me to reach out for Him so I could see His loving smiles and His steadfast mercy. I burst into tears at that moment, and I prayed to God for His forgiveness. I started counting blessings from God. Now it was the end of the 2nd time of 14 days quarantine, but all my family members were well, even though my parents lived right next to the “hot spots”, none in their neighbourhood was infected; we had sufficient supply of food every day; Esther and Elisha had been so cooperative and never complained, but just happily and nicely played inside the apartment; Elisha’s piano teacher in Melbourne gave him special online lessons each week; Melbourne’s church member, Judy helped Elisha to get his work from school and sent to us, so Elisha would not need to miss his schooling; encouraging messages from our friends in the church arrived constantly; endless prayers from around the world had been submitted for our family; even my dad, who is very serious and used to keep a poker face, managed to maintain his loving smiles in video calls, just trying to cheer us up. The Lord has blessed us in our daily life all the time. Count your blessings, you will also be amazed.
From then on, I stopped worrying or complaining, because I knew God cared for us and all the people in this city. Though I could not go to the frontline like the doctors did, but I have an almighty God who is willing to answer our prayers. There is a great need of prayers in this city. I remembered the story of Abraham, who prayed for Sodom and Gomora. In Patriarchs and Prophets, Ellen G. White wrote: “Love for perishing souls inspired Abraham’s prayer. While he loathed the sins of that corrupt city, he desired that the sinners might be saved. His deep interest for Sodom shows the anxiety that we should feel for the impenitent. We should cherish hatred of sin, but pity and love for the sinners.” At that very moment, I could feel the heart of Abraham, how he prayed for the people in Sodom. His prayer was full of faith in God and love for his fellowmen. I knew I was not as righteous as Abraham, neither was I any better than other people in this city. But I could pray to God in faith: even if there was just one person who knew Him and believed in Him, He will not destroy the city. With faith and trust in God, my family prayed each day for all the sick, the doctors, nurses, policemen, volunteers, governors and even couriers, cleaners and all who worked hard on their job to keep this city going.
God did not send me to preach to the people in this city as He sent Jonah to Nineveh, but He inspired me to stay with my family at that difficult time. More importantly, He taught me to submit all my worries unto Him and to learn how to pray in faith and love. When I saw the news with thousands of new cases of COVID-19 every day, I was concerned but with no fear. The city had been turned upside down by the virus, where people could easily imagine the picture of the end time. But I knew God is the One in charge. I started making effort to make our days enjoyable. Teaching Elisha Chinese, playing bible games, learning to make bread, cakes, biscuits, apple pies, buns, Chinese donuts, noodles… there was too much to name them. It seemed God used this experience to prepare us for the end time. He also showed me that He would never forsake me nor leave me in the darkness, but to draw me closer to Him through the remembrance of His blessings and through the power of prayer. I learned how my family and I should face other end time events to come, because we had already experienced it with God together.
8th of April was a milestone for the city of Wuhan – the end of lockdown. That was 11 weeks’ closure of the city. At the midnight of 8th of April, all night lights of the city were turned on, the national flag of China was displayed on the screen. Thousands of people were singing the national anthem at the top of their lung to celebrate the victory of this battle – in the world’s eyes, a battle of life and death, human and nature; in a believer’s eyes, a battle of God and Satan, good and evil. A city with over 10 million people was now revived! And I knew in my heart that the victory belonged to the Lord, and His grace lit the light of this city again. I knew I would continue praying for those dear people in my homeland: pray that one day they could also encounter God, to know Him and follow Him. I don’t know how this may happen, but I know nothing is impossible with God.
Two weeks after the lockdown, we could finally see my parents. It felt like a reunion after a whole millennium. So excited that we could not hold back our tears.
My dad’s company resumed its business, and all staffs including everyone in our family need to go through COVID-19 testing. Everyone of us was negative, but one of the tests of my mum was positive. My heart sank at this news. I was very concern for my mum, and it became a burden in my heart. However, I had peace in God, and I trusted His protection was always around us. Thank you all for your prayers. The result was negative in a second test one week after. God’s grace helped me to realize the power of prayer again and again.
Because of the border control, returning to Melbourne was not a smooth journey. Besides the expensive price, it was extremely difficult to secure an air ticket owing to the infrequent flights between China and Australia. Finally, in mid-May we managed to secure tickets for the 19th of June, which had a no refund policy. In the meanwhile, my bible student Bao made her decision to be baptised on the 27th of June. Considering the 14 days quarantine requirement after we landed in Australia, it simply meant we will miss Bao’s baptism for sure. It was a pity, but I knew God has His timing and everything happens for a reason. However, the flight we were supposed to take was cancelled by the airline, and we were fully refunded. We prayed that God would provide tickets for us, not only so, we could make it for the baptism. God answered our prayer. We found seats from another airline – and you guess what? The flight was on the right date for us to make it for the baptism, and there were exactly only 4 seats left, just for my family.
Our flight landed in Sydney followed by a 14 days’ quarantine. Then it was 12 hours’ tiresome drive from Sydney to home. God’s protection was upon us. When we arrived home safely, there was a lovely surprise behind the door. Spotless floor, beautiful and fresh flowers, delicious home cooked food – all from our church family. Tiredness was gone, big smiles on our face, sweet dream of the first night home – we were rested in God’s strong arms. We were never alone on our long journey home. God’s hand-led us all the way through. We came back the night before the baptism for Bao.
COVID-19 may sound scary. But the most scary thing is when we lose our faith and trust in Jesus. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Nothing should separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
So brothers and sisters, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
I would like to end my testimony for today with the prayer from Paul at 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us lose not our faith and love in Christ, until His return. Amen. May God bless you all.