(Minghui.org) I was born in Mexico, and our family had four siblings. We lived under impoverished conditions and had just the very basics. My father was a migrant worker who was constantly traveling to the United States for seasonal work. My mother always told me to go to school and get good grades, so that I could develop a career, find a good job, and have a bright future. I studied hard and was very competitive. I made good grades.
We emigrated permanently to live and work in the United States in 2001. I came across culture shock and the language barrier. I didn’t know basic things like asking for directions or how to begin a conversation. After many hours of study and practice I was able to overcome these obstacles, and learned English in a short period of time. Often, I would help translate when my parents went shopping and whenever they filled out paperwork and things of the sort.
After finishing high school, I was accepted into a university on a scholarship and became the first person in my family to obtain a college degree. I finished my studies, and I met a young woman whom I later married. We moved to a different city and were offered jobs. Everything seemed to go well on the surface, but despite my apparently good life, I always felt something was missing, an emptiness inside that sometimes was overbearing. It was difficult to understand, even though it felt heavy in my heart and body.
The lack of guidance and support made me develop depression, and in between many arguments with my wife, sometimes late at night, our marriage fell apart. It was a hard blow for both of us, and I sought refuge in mundane activities like watching TV, overeating, excessive use of social media, and playing video games. I thought that success meant earning a good salary and buying material things. I followed many experts on the subject of personal development, finances, and competitive ideals. And I couldn’t be more wrong!
I traveled to China for a vacation in the fall of 2019, and upon returning to the States, I heard about a new virus that soon spread throughout the world. During this time, I held an essential job and was fortunate to maintain a good standard of living despite the difficulties of day to day life. It was also during this time that a colleague talked to me about Falun Dafa. As a practitioner, he advised me to recite the words “Falun Dafa is good” to protect me from harm. At first, I didn’t pay much attention but after attending the Shen Yun show for the first time, I learned more about Dafa and recited the words every day in the morning, when I went to work, and again after I came home at night.
I didn’t have much knowledge, but I saw many people get sick, friends and family members alike. I was shocked and afraid of the outcome. My grandmother passed away as a result of complications from the disease in 2020. Then in 2022 my oldest brother, who was suffering from a degenerative condition, suddenly got sick and also passed away due to COVID. It was a very difficult time for the family, mourning the losses and making all the necessary arrangements. I became depressed and had an irritable temper. Not knowing where to turn to, I went back to my old ways and lack of care.
One night while I was driving home from having dinner with friends, I remembered how we got into arguments about what we considered to be poor service at the restaurant. I had negative thoughts about the encounter and was very anxious. After driving for a while, I took a bad turn and hit another car. I woke up from that bad trance and began to shift from a negative to righteous heart, remembering to have compassion and forbearance.
The driver of the other vehicle came to my car and asked me to lower the window. I was visibly shaken when I lowered it, and he asked me if I was okay. I began to cry and as tears rolled down my face, he consoled me and said that everything was going to be alright. When the officer came to file the report, he told me that he was not going to issue me a fine. He also helped me to have my car towed to a repair center and drove me home. No one was injured in the accident. I now believe Master was watching over me and guiding me in these difficult times.
One afternoon while I was free from distractions, I began to reflect on the words, “Falun Dafa is good.” I did not get sick from the virus and was saved countless times. Suddenly my interest grew, and I started reading the main book of Falun Dafa, Zhuan Falun, on the falundafa.org website. I learned about the Creator’s love for all life, and I purchased a hard copy of Zhuan Falun. I also started reading the Minghui website, where I learned about current events and got more guidance.
I no longer feel empty and have received a lot of encouragement from other practitioners, and slowly have continued to study and cultivate. I volunteered for different activities like distributing fliers for Shen Yun and watching the bus overnight for two years. As I gain more understanding and my cultivation improves, I am grateful for Master’s arrangement for my life and to have helped save others. I no longer feel depressed or anxious, and my interests in financial gain, material things, and social media have completely vanished. I hope to come back one day to the communities where I grew up and help others by telling them about Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. I will tell them that they can also learn what Falun Dafa is all about, and be saved.
Thank you, Master!
(Presented at the 2023 Mid-US Fa Conference)
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