Well-dressed young Chinese women pull their motor scooters up on the sidewalk along a busy street. Shops, apartments and small stands of fruit and clothing clutter the sidewalks. Packed among the buildings hides a small church with open doors, where a number of English classes meet.

I recently joined these classes for a special tea and an opportunity to share my testimony.

Among the attendees was Sunny, a young professional woman, who had led her mother to the church that day by the hand. Recently widowed, Sunny’s mother wanted to hear how I have faced life’s difficulties. Since the time of her husband's death, Sunny's mother had felt that life was futile.

When Sunny told her mother about Jesus a year earlier, her mother was furious and continually scolded her. Until this day, her mother had never entered a church.

The room was filled with English students and a few businessmen and women in pant suits, slacks and sweaters, all with straight, coal black hair. Advertised as a special tea, there was a long table with foreign and local desserts.

The chattering women seemed excited. Energetic and smiling, Marla Bettinger the English teacher and OMS missionary, began to lead choruses and welcomed the students and their friends. The room was full.

Our loving Lord, in answer to many prayers, worked in hearts. The group leaned forward as I shared how the love of Jesus gives us hope during difficult times. Then, I gave the amazing news that each person could know Jesus in a personal way. The mother was very moved and asked if there were any women her age who might be her friend.

Another gray-haired woman, Naomi Williamson an OMS missionary in Taiwan, walked over to converse with her. She asked Naomi, “How old are you?” She was surprised that Naomi was 75, her same age. Then she asked, “If you’re 75 years old, why do you look so happy?” Naomi began to share the joy Christ had put in her heart. Sunny's mother listened and allowed Naomi to pray with her, but she still had darkness in her heart. Naomi said, “I know some Chinese Christian women your age. There is a group of widows and older women who meet together to pray and study the Bible, and they will be inviting you to join them.”

Then Naomi wrote to her home church with a prayer request saying, “Sunny’s mother is very, very lonely. When you think of her, please pray that the light of the Gospel will be able to penetrate her mind and heart and she will open her heart to Jesus.” Will you, too, pray for Sunny’s mother in Taiwan when the Lord brings her to your mind?

Editor’s Note: Valetta Crumley has earned the right to speak to groups like the one in Taiwan. She has survived several major tragedies that took the lives of her husband, a son and a daughter. Her faith also grew in spite of a criminal attack and rape while involved in overseas ministry. Valetta knows that the love of Jesus overcomes any darkness.

Look for more of Valetta’s story in the September 2007 issue of OMS Outreach magazine.