Ever since the day her brothers teased Ling Fang about not being able to speak English, what she wanted most was to learn the language. Only boys went to school in China at that time. Education was not thought to be necessary for girls.
Ling Fang saw only one means of learning English; she would have to attend a foreign missionary school. She didn’t dare suggest this to her father, but she did tell her secret wish to her nurse.
“I want to attend a foreign missionary school where they teach English and piano,” Ling Fang told her.
“But are you not afraid they will make you eat their Christianity?” her nurse replied.
“I don’t want their Christianity, but I would rather be an educated spirit than a stupid peon.”
The nurse told this to one of Ling Fang’s brothers, who then told their father.
The father, who genuinely desired his daughter’s happiness, gave his permission.
The first time Ling Fang went to the missionary school she dressed in new and very costly clothes and was carried by servants in her own sedan chair. When Miss Leaman, who was in charge of the school, saw Ling Fang she knew at once that she came from a wealthy family.
“What is your name and what is your father’s name?” Miss Leaman asked.
When Ling Fang answered, Miss Leaman looked surprised and said, “Your father is Mr. Tsai, the Acting Viceroy of Hangchow?”
Ling Fang nodded yes.
“This school has many poor orphans, and I am not sure someone with your background could be happy here,” explained Miss Leaman.
“But I want to learn English and how to play the piano. I don’t mind the orphans. My father also gave me permission,” Ling Fang replied. And so she was accepted.
Ling Fang’s first English lesson was a story called, “A Deer at the Brook.” A few days after, Miss Leaman asked, “Would you like to attend our English Bible class?”
“No,” Ling Fang answered abruptly.
“But you cannot really be educated unless you learn this book,” Miss Leaman said.
Ling Fang did not reply to this. To herself she thought, “What? Not educated if one does not know this book? Does she think our Chinese scholars are uneducated!”
The first time Ling Fang saw Christians worshiping together she was bewildered by it. She asked Miss Leaman, “What is everyone doing?”
“Worshiping,” was the reply.
This seemed strange to the girl for she was brought up to worship Buddhist idols and to burn incense to dead relatives. The idea of worshiping without something to look at was new to her. She didn’t know that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:2424God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24).
Ling Fang worked hard at her studies and was sent to another missionary school which offered her more advanced classes. All this time her heart remained closed to Christianity.
At this new school it was required of all students to attend a regular Bible meeting. Ling Fang would make up excuses not to go. “My back is hurting today,” or, “I have a toothache.” The teachers soon understood that these were only excuses and made her attend. Ling Fang would bring Chinese books to the meetings and spend the time reading.
Ling Fang and another Chinese friend at the school even started writing a book about why they didn’t need Christianity, because they had Confucius and Buddha.
Even though Ling Fang was dishonoring God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, God didn’t give up on her. In Psalms 103:88The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (Psalm 103:8) we read, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” To hear one time of the Lord Jesus and the salvation He offers is a great mercy, but to hear of Him many times while still not receiving Him is only possible because “God is plenteous in mercy.” It was Ling Fang’s love of the English language which God used to draw her to Himself.
An American evangelist was to preach at a gospel meeting. The man was well known for his speaking ability. Because of this, Ling Fang decided to attend. The man was preaching from John 8:1212Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12). “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Ling Fang let down the bars of her heart and listened. One illustration the man used stuck in Ling Fang’s mind. It went like this: “If a piece of wood is kept in darkness, all kinds of insects will hide under it. But if we expose it to the light, the insects will run away. So it is with our hearts and the Lord Jesus who is the light of life. If we do not have Him in our hearts, our hearts will be full of darkness and have all kinds of evil in them. The moment we receive the Lord Jesus as Saviour, light comes into our hearts and the evil must leave.” This illustration stayed in Ling Fang’s mind, because she hated insects.
A few days later she was playing a game of croquet. She saw a white stone lying on the grass. This reminded her of the illustration. With her mallet she lifted the rock up, and as the daylight reached them, out ran a big lizard and several creeping insects. Ling Fang shuddered. A voice within her seemed to say, “You are just like this white stone — smooth and white on the outside and full of sin on the inside.” Ling Fang was beginning to see why she needed a Saviour. She hurried to her room and made sure she was alone. She kneeled by her bed and prayed, “Lord Jesus, forgive me my sins and help me to understand Thy Word.” It was only a short prayer, but it was a prayer of faith. As she got to her feet, her face felt hot and her heart beat fast. She had just left the religion of her family behind, with its idols and ancestor worship. The burden of sin and the weight of unbelief rolled off her. She felt new and free — a joy and peace were hers which she had not experienced before. Her life was changed. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). No person can accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and be the same again.
“My life was changed,” Ling Fang said of the time of her conversion. “The old unrest was gone, and all the world seemed a beautiful garden of the Lord.”
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not... ye rejoice with joy unspeakable.” 1 Peter 1:88Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8). This joy was Ling Fang’s. It can be yours, too, by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15).
ML-07/12/1987