After finishing my PhD, I faced the choice of either going to the U.S. or to Israel… One brother said, “In the U.S. there is no lack, but Israel needs you!”
This is a record of an interview. The content is rich. We expect to publish them in a series of six articles. The interviewees are a Chinese couple who worked in Israel for three years. They will introduce about Christian life, work and study there. In order to cover Christians of Jewish descent who gathered together, there will be no mentioning of names and identity.
Since then, there was a major change in my life. Prior to that consecration, my concept of Israel was just a place of conflicts. Thanks to the reminder of that sister, and after our consecration to God and to Israel, my life was changed. My thinking was linked to Israel.
I have made many other consecrations before and after, all of which I forget pretty fast - except the consecration for Israel– it did not go away, even the burden grew day by day. This consecration constrained me and preserved me. In my practical living, I was in a critical stage in my PhD research. I also became a new father. Adding to these was the responsibility to take care of my mother who suffered from psychiatric problems. There were a lot of difficulties in my studies, living and economic situation.
Such a difficult environment continued for about 4 years. Every time when I felt very weak and wanted to give up my PhD, there was a voice within reminding me, “What about your consecration for Israel?” Although I wanted to give up my “personal” pursuit of PhD, and wanted to try some political maneuvers so that my supervisor would let me graduate earlier, my consecration to the Lord and to Israel stopped me, preserved me and strengthened me.
It was the mercy of the Lord that I got my PhD in 2010. In 2011 my sister was willing to take care of our mother with psychiatric disease. As such myself, my wife and our three-year old daughter could go to Israel. My sister is a single-mother who just entered into the workplace. She was not prepared in many ways yet she was willing to support us to go to Israel. I believe the Lord has touched her and strengthened her.
The opportunity to go to Israel was also very special. In fact, in 2010 and 2011, two research units in the U.S. offered me post-doctorate positions. To me, going to the U.S. was an enjoyment and was very attractive. Going to Israel was a “challenge”. But the thinking of our Lord is different. Through one brother He reminded me “In the U.S. there is no lack, but Israel needs you!” Such words sounded an echo within me. Within 10 minutes after the brother spoke, I went online to search for schools and sent my CV. Within one hour I received one reply – my supervisor in the research team said that he wanted me to join! Actually, I would go regardless who wanted me to join! I was very busy at that time, settling my mother, handing over my post-doctorate work in the National Taiwan University. I did not even check the background of my supervisor.
Later, a brother doing his post-doctorate in Israel told me, “Do you know that your supervisor is very renowned?” I said I did not know. I only knew a little bit about him. I went because of my consecration for Israel; whoever wanted me to go I would go. He said, “Your supervisor is a master in the field of nanotechnology!” As I learned about this, I felt “Wow!”
When I arrived in Israel, I discovered this master in nanotechnology is only two years older than me. He often protected me from unreasonable treatment from my colleagues. He really treasured me, and even became my good friend! I love this person!
During the three years in Israel, I really experienced the Lord’s provision. I do not have ambition for my career and do not want to become somebody. However, as the only source of income in the family, I need to consider employment and income. I tried to leave my anxieties to the Lord and not to think too much about them. When I started to pursue a PhD, my hope was that the degree would be useful to the Lord, without knowing how the Lord could use it. That’s why the Lord reminded me when I wanted to give up pursuing the PhD, “What about going to Israel?” Later I found out that my PhD degree, especially what I have learned in the process became the platform for my going to Israel. If I had given up pursuing my PhD and pursued a different specialty, my supervisor would not have recruited me within one hour. He said that every day he received one to two hundred emails applying for a position, why would he choose me?
For the full article (in Chinese only) please see: http://www.luke54.org/view/1060/6557.html#ixzz3rV0Un1ZT
http://www.luke54.org/view/1060/6591.html
From Luke.54.org
This is a record of an interview. The content is rich. We expect to publish them in a series of six articles. The interviewees are a Chinese couple who worked in Israel for three years. They will introduce about Christian life, work and study there. In order to cover Christians of Jewish descent who gathered together, there will be no mentioning of names and identity.
- Please introduce yourself, and why you had a chance to go to Israel. Why would you consider Israel?
Since then, there was a major change in my life. Prior to that consecration, my concept of Israel was just a place of conflicts. Thanks to the reminder of that sister, and after our consecration to God and to Israel, my life was changed. My thinking was linked to Israel.
I have made many other consecrations before and after, all of which I forget pretty fast - except the consecration for Israel– it did not go away, even the burden grew day by day. This consecration constrained me and preserved me. In my practical living, I was in a critical stage in my PhD research. I also became a new father. Adding to these was the responsibility to take care of my mother who suffered from psychiatric problems. There were a lot of difficulties in my studies, living and economic situation.
Such a difficult environment continued for about 4 years. Every time when I felt very weak and wanted to give up my PhD, there was a voice within reminding me, “What about your consecration for Israel?” Although I wanted to give up my “personal” pursuit of PhD, and wanted to try some political maneuvers so that my supervisor would let me graduate earlier, my consecration to the Lord and to Israel stopped me, preserved me and strengthened me.
It was the mercy of the Lord that I got my PhD in 2010. In 2011 my sister was willing to take care of our mother with psychiatric disease. As such myself, my wife and our three-year old daughter could go to Israel. My sister is a single-mother who just entered into the workplace. She was not prepared in many ways yet she was willing to support us to go to Israel. I believe the Lord has touched her and strengthened her.
The opportunity to go to Israel was also very special. In fact, in 2010 and 2011, two research units in the U.S. offered me post-doctorate positions. To me, going to the U.S. was an enjoyment and was very attractive. Going to Israel was a “challenge”. But the thinking of our Lord is different. Through one brother He reminded me “In the U.S. there is no lack, but Israel needs you!” Such words sounded an echo within me. Within 10 minutes after the brother spoke, I went online to search for schools and sent my CV. Within one hour I received one reply – my supervisor in the research team said that he wanted me to join! Actually, I would go regardless who wanted me to join! I was very busy at that time, settling my mother, handing over my post-doctorate work in the National Taiwan University. I did not even check the background of my supervisor.
Later, a brother doing his post-doctorate in Israel told me, “Do you know that your supervisor is very renowned?” I said I did not know. I only knew a little bit about him. I went because of my consecration for Israel; whoever wanted me to go I would go. He said, “Your supervisor is a master in the field of nanotechnology!” As I learned about this, I felt “Wow!”
When I arrived in Israel, I discovered this master in nanotechnology is only two years older than me. He often protected me from unreasonable treatment from my colleagues. He really treasured me, and even became my good friend! I love this person!
During the three years in Israel, I really experienced the Lord’s provision. I do not have ambition for my career and do not want to become somebody. However, as the only source of income in the family, I need to consider employment and income. I tried to leave my anxieties to the Lord and not to think too much about them. When I started to pursue a PhD, my hope was that the degree would be useful to the Lord, without knowing how the Lord could use it. That’s why the Lord reminded me when I wanted to give up pursuing the PhD, “What about going to Israel?” Later I found out that my PhD degree, especially what I have learned in the process became the platform for my going to Israel. If I had given up pursuing my PhD and pursued a different specialty, my supervisor would not have recruited me within one hour. He said that every day he received one to two hundred emails applying for a position, why would he choose me?
For the full article (in Chinese only) please see: http://www.luke54.org/view/1060/6557.html#ixzz3rV0Un1ZT
http://www.luke54.org/view/1060/6591.html
From Luke.54.org