Growing up Christian and returning back to LEC

One day, when driving to the bay area, my hubby and I began a deep discussion of what it was like to grow up Christian and the effect it has had on us then and now.  We compared our childhood, our experiences growing up with very different experiences, and how those times molded us to the Christians we are today.

I am born into a Christian family.  By 1982, my grandparents, my parents, most of my uncles, aunts, and cousins were Christians.  I have known no other religion, except for the few times I was exposed when my mom's family and some of my dad's family would hold their shaman gatherings.  Growing up, I was always surrounded by church activities, church going people, and my youth memories are filled with events with other fellow youths from other Lao Evangelical Church (LEC) churches.  Most Sunday mornings consist of an understanding that I had to get up, get ready and be at church by  9 a.m.  Our church had 3 main youth activities during the year (church camp, convention and a sport tournament).  There were always little things in between the three events, like leadership, fellowship with other LEC at different cities, and fellowship nights with the youth group.  Christmas and New Years Eve were always spent at church.  When the weather got warmer, Friday consist of practicing for the sports tournament.  Because we had "older" youth members, they planned wonderful fellowships for us to spend time and to grow in our faith together.  We were busy with church, but I like to believe that it was something we all looked forward to at the end of the school week.

My husband's story wasn't anything like mine.  He doesn't have an extended family, and only his parents and two other siblings (including their family) attend church on a regular basis (from when we first began dating).  He shared about his family "not fitting in" at churches they attended and never having the pressure to "have to" attend church.  His mom began attending the Salvation Army church, and she would always ask the kids to attend.  He did from time to time, but never consistently.  He never had the desire to follow Christ.  Sure, he prayed, but only when he was struggling.  

When we began dating, I took him to Capital Christian Center because at the time, that was where I attended.  An English speaking church made it easier for him to begin building his relationship with Christ.  He love the Pastor there, and the congregation is welcoming.  They have ushers and greeters; something I think he needed.  I love the church as well, but deep down it was never "home".  

So, after getting married, there was this tug in my heart to return to LEC.  Finally in November 2015, I began my first steps at returning back to LEC.  At first, it was hard for my husband, but it has definitely gotten easier.  He speaks Hmong well enough to get by, but definitely not enough to truly understand and comprehend sermons or hymns.  But, Pastor Fred and Rev Wang Lue has been very welcoming to my husband and it puts him at ease to join.  The younger fathers in the mens group there also helped a lot with making my husband feel like a part of a congregation.  He especially loves the youth group, who he feels he fits in with very well. For my husband, it's relatively new.  As for me, I have a history with LEC and grew up knowing the elders and the dynamics of the church.  It was much easier for me to walk in and feel welcome.  The women group there has been super supportive and very accepting.  They welcome me with smiles and warmth.  LEC is home. 

The Story of Noah

Most Sunday, the ladies at church do bible study for about an hour.  We were studying day 9 (Dabtsis Ua Rau Vajtswv Zoo Siab Luag-Ntxhi), and we studied Noah.  The whole time we are discussing this section, I can't help but feel that the "Noah" in my life was my little sister May.  As we continue to read and discuss the section, I began to more and more connect my little sister May with Noah.

May Lee "Hli" Moua

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.  (Genesis 6:8 NIV)  You see, about 10 years ago, my family stopped attending church.  Each one of us sort of fell wayward with our walk with Christ. Speaking for myself, I began internalizing my own faith.  I no longer had this desire to physically attend church.  I mean, I still prayed, I still sang worship songs, and I still considered myself Christian.  I just didn't attend church.  And, it took about two years for me to go back.  But, not to Lao Evangelical Church (LEC).  I attended Capital Christian Center.  It was what suited me for the time being; I was there, but not actively involved.   But May returned to LEC and she returned with a passion.  She held positions within the church and she put one hundred percent of her heart into God's work.

Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22 NIV)  We discussed when Noah was being ridicule by strangers and his own family for building God's ark.  Thoughts of when May was serving the Lord and the church, and all I cared about was that she was absent from my life and our family events came to mind.  When she was working and spreading God's love, all I saw was that I, and our family was not her priority, but rather her last priority.  I wonder how alone May must have felt, to have no support from the people who were suppose to be the closest to her.  Who would help her grow in her faith when we unknowingly only dragged down her own faith?  May not only continue doing God's work, but she buried herself more and more in it the more we (the family) pushed her to stop and "just spend some time with us". 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith (Hebrew 11:6, 7b NIV)  May continued building her faith without us.  She faithfully served with very little complaint.  She gave up a lot of worldly experiences/things and put her focus on building her faith.  She was building her home up in Heaven. She loved us, but loved her spiritual walk with God even more.  The perfect example of what Christians should be.  God wanted to wipe out the human race, but Noah was the saving grace (Genesis 6: 6-8 NIV)  In keeping her faith, May was my saving grace so that God did not abandon me or our family.  He shown favor to us because He still had that one person who faithfully followed Him.