My name is Joyce and I am 32 years old. I was not a Christian until 3 years ago. Since secondary school I had a friend and teacher talk to me about Christ. I have even followed them to Church once in a while. I believed in the existence of God but my belief in Jesus wasn’t strong and I did not follow Him.

My turning point happened 4 years ago. My aunt and uncle both died of colon cancer. I saw them suffer a lot during that period. Then, my father was diagnosed with nose cancer and during the same time my mother also had health problems. I was so scared and worried about diseases especially cancer. I worried until I found it difficult to breath and couldn’t focus on work.

By coincidence, a breast specialist found an abnormal lump on my right breast from an ultrasound during the same year. The doctor suggested an operation and a tissue biopsy for malignancy. I was so stressed and worried but I couldn’t tell my parents about my problem as it would worry them too.

I told a friend who invited me and other friends to her house. They helped me to pray and ask God to heal me. Surprisingly I felt peaceful after the prayer. After few days, I went to visit another specialist for a second opinion. Praise the Lord, the specialist after doing an ultrasound, told me that there was no abnormality!

I went to see a 3rd specialist and again the result was the same – no abnormal tissue! Thank God for healing me of not only my physical ailment, but also my inner heart. He has given me a healthy body and a peaceful heart. Peace, is a feeling that I had been looking and longing for all the time but I never had it. I had never felt peaceful before I believed in Christ. I feel that every day is a gift and blessing from God. I appreciate this gift and the blessing. Although our life is full of suffering, challenges and problems, I hope everyone can take a moment to thank God and appreciate the gift/blessings that He gives us every day. Praise the Lord!

Both incidences happened 20 years ago

1) At my work place

Part of my duties was to confirm and verify the chemical that the production line is using. An operator uses an electrical pump to pump the acid from a 200 gallon drum to a big storage tank. One day, during the process of transporting the acid, the pump hose somehow wasn’t locked properly. Acid burst out from the dislodged pump and it sprayed directly on to my wrist and down the lower part of my body.

Somehow, I didn’t panic. I stopped the pump while three other people flushed water onto my body under my supervision. My pants were shredded to many pieces but with God’s and St Anne’s help, there were no burns! The nurse on duty was shocked and I witnessed to her my faith in God and St Anne.

2) Accident in Green Lane

I was a pillion rider on a friend’s motorbike. Suddenly a car shot out from the side road and hit our motorcycle. My friend, the rider, was flung to the left of the pavement. I, together with the motorcycle flew to the centre of the road. My head was just 2 cm away from the wheel of a bus! People were shouting, ‘mati, mati’ ! But I got up, lifted the motorcycle and my friend (who was in shock) and I pushed the motorcycle all the way to my house in Pulau Tikus . My pants were torn and my legs were bleeding but I cleaned my wounds and went to St Anne’s where my friends were waiting for me.

Both these incidents did not require any hospitalization.

Parish: Church of Divine Mercy (Penang)