Olivia – DMI Chats

Andrew Miller is the International Director of DMI. When he’s not eating chicken flavoured potato chips in Sydney, he’s travelling around the world raising funds and DMI’s profile in developed countries or visiting the fields we support to see what’s needed and how our funds are being managed. Either way, he works tirelessly to avoid unidentifiable food and meets lots of weird and wonderful people who he just can’t resist interviewing…

#23 Olivia

Olivia (not her real name) is one of our longest serving Deaf evangelists in China. A sweet lady, it’s not easy for her to share the terrible hardships that she and other Christians endure in China. Yet she also speaks with great Christian insight and wisdom. I meet her for the first time at our conference in Cebu where she is blown away by the freedom that Christians from other countries enjoy (and take for granted) in expressing their faith openly.

Andrew: Olivia, how are you enjoying the conference?

Olivia: Oh, it’s so graceful!

What do you mean by ‘graceful’?

I see the grace of God here. We have been learning about how God works in different cultures as each country presents its report. I’ve been encouraged to see how a lot of obstacles are handled in other fields and I’ve been uplifted by hearing about the church planting. It’s really opened my mind. It’s all so very different from China. I’m gaining so much understanding.

Was there anyone in particular that you wanted to meet at this conference?

I’ve always wanted to go to the Netherlands so I’d like to meet someone from there. The image of this country and its culture is so good to me that I’d love to meet someone from there.

Matthijs [DMI International Development Coordinator] is from the Netherlands. Have you met Matthijs yet?

Yes, one of the other ladies introduced me to him.

So what did you think of Matthijs? Did he meet the high standards you had for the Dutch?

Yes. He gave us his testimony and his signing is so clear. He can tell his story to share from scripture so easily.

What have you learned about the Christian faith since coming to the conference? Is there something new that you’ve learned?

I just find myself full of hope by the Holy Spirit to encourage the Deaf and to help them as much as I can, especially when I get back to China.

Tell me about your childhood.

It was very boring.

Well, I’m sorry to hear that but can you tell me a little more about your parents and family? Do you have any brothers or sisters?

I spent most of my time as a child with my grandmother who took care of me because my parents went off to work and didn’t have time for me. So I felt really bored at home because I was an only child and I was Deaf and there was no one at home I could talk to.

Did you go to a Deaf school?

Yes I went to a Deaf school and later to church so I was able to make many friends.

You said your childhood was boring but you had many friends. So did you mean it was boring at home but fun at school and church?

It was boring, boring, boring at home because I had no one to talk to and hearing people just made fun of me.

What sort of relationship do you have with your mother and father now? Are you close to them?

My parents love me very much and I love them so very much.

How can you have a close relationship with them if they don’t sign well?

We can understand each other if the conversation is simple. If we just use simple words and phrases it’s no problem but if we want to communicate at a deeper level, well, that’s impossible. We either write it down or they can speak into their cell phone and then I can see what they’re saying.

When did you become a Christian?

I gave my life to Christ in 2002 when I was 19.

Wow, I would never have guessed you were 43! I must try your skin cream. So what led you to Christ?

One of my classmates became my best friend and she brought me to the Deaf church one day. I was amazed when I saw the church – it all looked so beautiful and interesting and I just felt this release in my heart. I began to question things and before I knew it, I was saved.

Was there one moment or teaching that deeply convicted you and you thought, ‘I must give my life to Christ’ because of this understanding or teaching?

The stand out moment for me early on was the calling I had from God to go to Bible school. It really touched my heart and gave me a deep hunger to go and study the Word.

What year was that?

2007. I studied there for three years.

Western people have an image that becoming a Christian in China is dangerous and that pastors must face many hardships. Is that true?

Our religious laws are very strict right now. House churches are forbidden. We have to go to the government church and if we become a pastor or evangelist then we will be watched closely. If we invite a pastor from another country, we must be extremely careful because they won’t let us talk about the gospel.

That must be so difficult. Now I understand why you described this conference as graceful.

I remember when I was at Bible school. It was really dangerous. We kept to a secret underground program of study. I’m so envious of the Africans who now have the Africa Deaf Christian College – they can just turn up and study and worship. We can’t do that. We can only train underground. Sometimes we even want to have singing competitions or hold activities but it’s just too risky to do that.

Do you feel different now that you’re here in the Philippines and have the freedom to worship without fear?

This is amazing to us. We can talk about Jesus openly, even out on the street. Even at the airport, we simply showed them our invitation letter saying that we’re going to a Christian conference and they just let us through! We would be strictly questioned about this in China.

What is the greatest challenge you have faced as a pastor in China?

[Another female leader interjects at this point]

Tell him about our financial problems and how worried we are about this.

Thank you so much for your input but this is Olivia’s interview. [To Olivia] What do you think is the greatest challenge you face as an evangelist?

Oh, it’s the government. They are always watching. Even now I’m just worried about flying back into China. They will check our phones, they will check our passports, they will check any books or literature that we bring back. So we will make and hide a copy of everything and then just delete it all from our phones.

What is the most wonderful thing you have experienced as an evangelist in China?

It’s simply knowing how much God loves me. I know that he loves me so much and he wants to use me to bless others. That’s the most wonderful thing I can experience or know.

What are your greatest needs as a person individually and as an evangelist?

I’ll be honest, it’s the money. I need money to take care of others and for ministry travel. I live on less than $100 a month and it’s really hard.

Can you tell me a little bit more about the ministry work that you do? How can donor support help you?

I travel amongst the Deaf churches preaching, teaching from the Bible and teaching signed singing. I visit believers in their homes and in cafes and comfort and encourage them. So donor support covers travel costs and some of my personal costs.

Do you have a job other than being an evangelist?

Not right now.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to go to the beach and see the ocean or visit a lake. I like to go somewhere peaceful because I’m so, so, so tired a lot of the time. I also love to take naps. I like watching movies and reading books, too.

What would you like to say to people around the world reading this? What is your message to them?

Thank you for taking care of us. Please continue to help me and support me and please pray for me – a lot.

And what is your greatest hope for the future?

Going to heaven.