I have been a Christian since 1988. I didn't like morning service but I liked church functions, such as birthday parties, charity functions or camping, so on and off, I went to church. I had a decent job with a good salary and a good boyfriend. I loved my job and I worked very hard. I was busy all the time, a 24-hour day seemed too short to me. However, I had this experience inside me, I couldn't sleep and had lots of bad dreams. Something also happened to me in my business life, I was shattered and suffered very badly.

I got married in July 1998 and my husband loves me very much. I thought my husband's love could overcome my pain, but I still had bad dreams and was disturbed. I couldn't get the bad dreams out of my mind. Dreams mainly about my mother and I having big arguments, I felt that my mother didn't love me, she was unfair to me and I didn't have any freedom when I was growing up; she did not like to go out and she would not allow me to go out either except to and from school. My sad childhood memories and my anger were always in my mind. I realized even my husband's love could not gloss over my pain. Then I went back to church because I thought maybe God could heal me. It didn't solve my problem when I attended morning services and most of the time I dozed off. One day I received a newsletter and learned about an Alpha course and I attended the Alpha Supper. I felt comfortable and relaxed with the care and love I received. I was interested in some topics. I figured that they might help get rid of my bad dreams and the sadness in my heart.

During the course, God told me to forgive my mother. From the fifth lesson - 'Why and how do we pray?', and the other lessons about the Holy Spirit. God opened my heart to listen to His words and I confessed the wrong things I did and asked God to change my heart. I wanted to read the Bible again. . I was, in fact, looking forward to Monday's Alpha sessions then. A month later, I wrote a letter to my parents to share my feelings and thanked them for their love. I started going back home to visit them once a week. I tried to communicate with my mother and she seemed to change a bit every time and she talked to me with a more friendly voice. I had my baptism on 25th of April 2000; I really wanted to invite my parents but they are non-churchgoing Chinese. I did not think that they would come; but I still prayed and asked my Christian brothers and sisters to pray for me. Thank God, He didn't let me down. My parents, auntie, my cousin and other friends all turned up. My husband and I became members of Union Church that day. I was surprised that my mother even joined our celebration party afterwards. Our relationship is getting better now.

I want to testify to people that God is love, He is so real, He understands our pain, and His healing power is great, beyond our imagination. I hope all of you can attend an Alpha course to receive God's love and get close to Him.