(Clearwidom.net) I have suffered from various diseases from a young age, and I developed mastitis when I was nineteen. During the following four years, my mother took me to many hospitals, but my diseases did not get any better. Soon, my father died of an illness that was caused by the desperation and sadness resulting from the hopelessness of my poor health. My father's death made life more difficult for my family. My wounds would bleed, while pus came out constantly. I had an operation at a famous hospital that failed to cure the disease, and no more doctors were willing to treat me after 1997. I was desperate, yet I still kept a faint hope in the midst of a hopeless situation.

I had suffered much more than most people of my age, and barely ever smiled since my childhood. I cried a lot without letting my Mom and my brothers know, for they would be even more worried and burdened. Constantly experiencing bitterness and suffering, I was hoping for a miracle.

I will never forget the day, August 28, 1997, that a relative of mine brought me a copy of Zhuan Falun. What Teacher says in the book is all truth, and I was so craving for the words that I did not want to put the book down. I read the book aloud to my mom, then I read the book until midnight that night. Teacher says in the book:

"Due to karma resulting from past wrongdoing, one has illnesses or tribulations." (Zhuan Falun, 2000 edition)

Teacher also states that:

"In order to cure illness or eliminate tribulations and karma, these people must practice cultivation and return to their original, true selves. This is how all the different cultivation schools view it. One should return to one's original, true self; this is the real purpose of being human." (Zhuan Falun, 2000 edition)

I suddenly understood the causes of my illnesses, and why I was in this world. Teacher also explains clearly why we should not bully, scold, or take advantage of others.

I strongly believed in Teacher's words, I understood the reasons why Teacher said what he does, and I wanted to start with being a good person. My long-term illness was miraculously healed in six days! Having suffered for four years, no treatment or medication could have helped me, but now I recovered after six days of studying Falun Dafa only. I was eager to tell all my schoolmates, friends, relatives, and all the people in this world: It was Teacher who saved me! It was Teacher who gave me a second life! Because of my experience, dozens of people in my village started to practice Falun Dafa.

We got up in the early morning to practice the exercises for one hour, and in the evening, we got together to study the Fa for another hour. We were all striving to be good people and to be healthy. It was that simple. With good health, people can do better work for both their families and society. We practiced the exercises and studied in a group for two years and felt good, and were happy every day since we were able to be more open and tolerant by following the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance."

On July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started to persecute Falun Gong, and many people were poisoned by the CCP's wicked lies and deceived by the propaganda. Despite the severe and brutal persecution, I was strong and steady in my belief in Teacher and Dafa.

Once, the local police deceived me and abducted me, but I was not afraid at all. Teacher's telling us to be good people and to practice "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance" is not wrong. I told the police calmly, "Our Teacher tells us to be good people, not to swear at or bully others, and not to take advantage of others; these principles are not against any laws." They agreed with me. Then I said, "Many people from different social groups are practicing Falun Gong. If it is not good, why are there so many people learning it?" The police replied, "We also know Falun Gong is good, but this is the nation's rule to stop people from practicing. Give us 500 'yuan" as a guarantee that you won't practice any longer, and we'll return double to you later on." I told them, "I just want to be a good person and I have done nothing unlawful. Why should I give you the money? I will not give you a penny! I suffered from a severe illness for four years and no treatment or medicine worked, but I recovered in only six days by studying Dafa. This is a fact. You can ask anyone who knows about me if you don't believe it. Besides, I haven't finished paying off the many loans I had taken out for hospitalization and medication yet."

The policemen said, "If she doesn't pay the money, we must detain her." I said, "Dare you? I will talk to the head of the police station. Your words don't count, you have been deceiving me." Then an older policeman said, "Let her go, she's just a young girl." Thus I safely left the police station.

All the people around me know that I am a Dafa practitioner. After I married, I clarified the truth about Dafa to my parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, and other family members. They all understand me and the true situation, and are supportive of my practice. I try to maintain a good practitioner's state by following the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance" in any situation. Whenever people said good words about me, I would tell them that I am a Dafa practitioner and that our Teacher tells us to be good people. One of my aunts said, "The TV showed that Falun Gong practitioners killed people and themselves, but look at Shanmin, such a nice person with good health and a good personality." That reminded me of an old saying: "If someone helps you by giving you a drop of water, you should pay him back with a non-stop spring." My life was saved by my Teacher, and I have done nothing wrong in upholding Falun Dafa; I tell the truth, and I shall fear nothing. I am steady in the Fa, and neither a Buddha, Tao, God, or demon is able to move my heart. My heart for cultivation is righteous and strong, and nothing can stop me.

Later on, Teacher told us to clarify the truth to our fellow Chinese people who had been deceived by the persecution, so I started to tell more people, acquaintances or strangers, about Dafa in all kinds of situations such as when shopping for clothes, at the market, or asking for directions. I tried to talk to people of different ages from different angles about the persecution, and to tell them to remember that Falun Dafa is good. I told them that believing this would bring them inner peace. People usually reacted positively. I sent forth righteous thoughts every time before clarifying the truth, as well as at 6 and 12 o'clock every day. I believe strongly in Dafa and Teacher.

I have a daughter whom I have been teaching to recite Teacher's Hong Yin and I tell her to remember that Falun Dafa is good. She is three and a half years old now and is very well behaved. She said, "I like Mom to practice, study the Fa, and eliminate the evil."

I still practice the exercises in the morning even if I have to shorten my sleeping time, and I feel energetic and full of health.

I started clarifying the truth to my relatives and friends, and have expanded my scope to clarify the truth to more people. However, I feel that I haven't done enough, and hopefully I will do better in the future.

May 10, 2005