From July 18 to 23, 2016, our local area suffered from a severe flood. Due to a heavy rain over several days and a discharge from Shilong Reservoir, many crops were inundated, and the highways and bridges in some places were destroyed and submerged. Every day we had to walk in torrents against the heavy rain when going out for the meetings and performing the duty. Cared for and protected by God, we passed those days peacefully. On the morning of 23rd, while reading God’s word upstairs, I saw through the window that the water in front of my gate rose very rapidly and was about to flood my vegetable patch. At that time, I suddenly thought of Sister Yang who kept the books of God’s word and was alone at home. The books were all stored on the first floor. Today it rained so heavily and the water rose that fast. I was not sure whether the books were drowned. After a prayer, I went to Sister Yang’s house through the rain. On arrival at her home, I was relieved to see the books of God’s word were not drowned. But for the safekeeping of the books, we still moved them upstairs, and then fellowshiped about the principle of keeping the books of God’s word of the Church. Sister Yang was confident, saying, “Take it easy. These books are used to water and supply brothers and sisters. I’ll surely keep them safe and sound. I believe God is the Ruler of all things and that everything is in His hand. I’ll rely on God to maintain them undamaged.”

It continued to rain heavily the next two days. Afterward, when I went to check the books of God’s word again, Sister Yang said to me, “I prayed to God every day, ‘O God! It’s Your uplifting and grace that today I can perform this duty. Now it keeps raining heavily. It’s the revelation of Your righteous disposition, and You begin to chastise this corrupt mankind. I still have corrupt satanic disposition, so I also need to accept Your judgment and chastisement. My life is worthless. I’m willing to protect these books of God’s word with my life….’ After such prayers for many times, I felt assured and at peace. These days, I checked frequently whether the roof leaked for fear that the books would be wetted. Unconsciously, the rain stopped two days later and the water receded very fast. Seeing the books of God’s word undamaged, I thank God for His care and protection from my heart and I have more faith to perform the duty well.” Finding Sister Yang so full of conviction, I was doubly encouraged and resolved silently to fulfill my own duty as well to satisfy God.

On the afternoon of July 27, I went to have a gathering with other brothers and sisters. On the half way, the sky changed suddenly. Dark clouds were blotting out the sky, accompanied by fierce thunder and lightning. I became very nervous, and cried out to God for His protection as I walked on. When I arrived at the host family, there was a power outage. Since the room was so hot that we could hardly breathe, the sisters and I went to the balcony to get some fresh air. Scarcely had I sat down when a cool wind arose. In a while, a gust of wild wind roared through as if to blow us away, and we couldn’t stand steadily. It carried a very terrible sound. Then, I heard trees broken off and tiles fall down. I trembled with fear. At that moment, I suddenly thought of the books of God’s word which had been moved upstairs by Sister Yang and me due to the heavy rain several days ago. Today it blew so fiercely. If the tiles of the roof were blown away, the books might be damaged. I was overwhelmed with anxiety. Then God’s words suddenly occurred to me, “The disaster originates with Me and is of course orchestrated by Me” (“Prepare Sufficient Good Deeds for Your Destination” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). So, I cried out to God, “O God! The disaster is brought down by You and orchestrated by You. It’s in Your control whether Sister Yang’s roofs will be damaged by the wild wind. May You give Sister Yang the burden to protect the books of God’s word well.” After the prayer, I felt much assured.

The next day after the meeting, on my way home, I saw many trees were uprooted, and that some others snapped in half; many houses were damaged to varying extents by this wild wind, and some of them crushed by snapped, fallen trees; some people’s solar water heaters were blown down and became useless. Then I hurried to Sister Yang’s home. She said very excitedly, “I really saw God’s wonderful deeds. Last night a strong wind blew up. As there is a big tree behind my house, I was afraid that the tree would be snapped by the wind, falling on the house and crushing it. So, I prayed to God, ‘O God! If You permit the strong wind to bring the tree down to crush my house, I’ll obey. But I only beg You to care for the books of God’s word and protect them from damage.’ Then, I felt very peaceful in my heart and went to listen to a preaching about life entry. After that, I slept through the night. When I got up in the morning, I found that my neighbors’ roof tiles were all blown away, while only mine remained intact. They all said, ‘So strange! All our tiles on the roofs were blown away, but none of yours.’ At their words, I silently offered my thanks and praise to God. I know it is for the duty I perform that I was kept by God. Just as Almighty God says, ‘Almighty God, the practical God! You are our impregnable fortress. You are our refuge. We huddle under Your wings, and calamity cannot reach us. Such is Your divine protection and care’ (“Chapter 5” of Utterances of Christ in the Beginning in The Word Appears in the Flesh). There’re four families here. Although there’s one believer in Almighty God in the first family, she didn’t pursue the truth and seldom read God’s word. She always focused on earning money and living her life, and drifted off to sleep during the meetings. This heavy rain flooded her sheep shed, and her several sheep were drowned. And the strong wind blew off the tiles of both the sheep shed and her house. The one in the second family believed in Almighty God for a year but backed out afterward. The roof tiles of her house were also blown away. My family is the third one, and my house is sound. The fourth family comprises an unbeliever. His house was also damaged by the strong wind.”

Hearing what Sister Yang said, I thanked God unceasingly in my heart. From this experience, we all saw God’s wonderful deeds and His protection for man, and even more His love and salvation. We had more faith in God, and understood all the more the significance and value of pursuing the truth and fulfilling our duties. Only those who seek the truth and are willing to perform the duty as a created being can receive God’s care and protection in disasters; those who covet the fleshly enjoyment instead of pursuing the truth after coming before God, those who don’t believe in God, and those who resist God, will all be punished and cursed by God. This is decided by God’s righteous disposition. Just as God says, “My mercy is expressed toward those who love Me and deny themselves. The punishment visited upon the wicked, meanwhile, is precisely proof of My righteous disposition and, even more, testimony to My wrath” (“Prepare Sufficient Good Deeds for Your Destination” in The Word Appears in the Flesh). From today forward, I’m willing to seek after truth, perform my duty faithfully, and do my part in spreading God’s gospel to repay His love.