My Testimony

By Anthony Yeap @ 2018

I was born in a small town, called Taiping, in Malaysia. My parents separated when I was only 3 years old. I grew up without a father and was often asked by other kids where he is. So I never really knew how it is like to grow up with a father. I only have my mother who is everything to me. We consider ourselves as free-thinkers who believe in everything that is good for us. Therefore I’ve been to various temples and consulted spirits that manifested in men.

I started my early education in Penang but in primary 4, my mum felt she couldn’t take care of me and her career at the same time so she sent me to a boarding school in Malacca. It was here that I began to learn how to survive with other kids. Bullies are plenty in boarding school, within and outside of school hours. However, my most memorable experience at this boarding school are my first encounter with Christians and my nightly nightmares.

As hostelites, we were required to attend Sunday Schools which were organized by the local Wesley Methodist Church. My first impressions of Christians were that they are very nice and orderly people. They dressed well and do not say foul words as and when they like. They are also generous as I received many free books, stationaries and food. It was a place of sanctuary, fun and belly filling. Because of this experience, I told my mum that I wanted to become a Christian but she told me to delay my decision as I was too young to fully understand about religion.

On the other hand, the hostel that I stayed-in, is possibly haunted. I suspected that it could be because it was used previously by the Japanese occupation soldiers to interrogate and slaughter many locals in the 1940s. At night, besides me, many of my fellow hostelites also have nightmares where we dreamt about seeing ghosts floating around the courtyard and chasing after us. Sometimes we dreamt about coffins under our beds and behind the doors. My mum on hearing this brought me to a medium where he gave me a charm to wear. And lo and behold, the nightmare stops immediately. It was peaceful for a few months until one evening while bathing, I took off my chain and accidentally left it in the bathroom. Once I realized my chain was missing, I quickly rushed back to the bathroom but discovered that someone had already stole my chain along with my charm. That very night the nightmare came back (with a vengeance).

To my relief, I only stayed there for about two and a half year. I was subsequently transferred to KL where my mum was residing then. She felt then that she could now take care of me. However, after two years, my mum discovered that she couldn’t give me a wholesome education and therefore sent me to another boarding school and this time, it was in Ipoh.

I discovered that after leaving Malacca, I could easily have nightmares each time I sleep in a certain position. Therefore I always make a conscious effort to not sleep in that position but sometimes your body just move to that position unconsciously while you are asleep. Anyway, despite not yet a Christian, I joined the youth fellowship as a guitarist as the group says they needed one and I obliged. After four years in Ipoh and participating in Christian activities, I told my mum that I’ve decided to become a Christian with or without her approval. There was no objection from her then. My mum’s understanding of becoming a Christian is the Roman Catholic way as she studied in a convent school when she was young. I told her that it is not the same in protestant churches. She couldn’t accept that it is different and in her mind, I have not really became a Christian yet as I did not go through the usual RC ritual. Regardless of how she felt, I felt relief that I’ve finally officially accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour although not baptised yet. That pray was made in Ipoh Wesley Methodist Church.

Since saying the prayer of salvation, I discovered that I no longer have nightmares, regardless of my sleeping position. This tells me that spiritual things are real and it also gave me the confidence that He that is in me, is greater than he who is from the world. My life had also became a miracle in some ways. In fact He has been my Father all along as He guided me through many challenging time and paths. All glory be unto God, our Father. I am who I am and where I am, because of Him.