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An Elderly Woman's Adventure in Beijing

July 10, 2014 |   Personal account by a new Falun Gong practitioner from Xinjiang Autonomous Region, recorded by a fellow practitioner

(Minghui.org) After my daughter left home, I was depressed. But after I began talking with Falun Gong practitioners, I now understand that everything happens for a reason. I'm no longer filled with resentment; instead I've become optimistic and tolerant and my heart is peaceful.

My daughter moved to Beijing, so this May I flew from Xinjiang to Beijing because I missed her. I told her when I was coming, but when I arrived I couldn't find her because she had turned off her cell phone. I was very downhearted. There weren't any flights back to Xinjiang that night, so I had to find a place to stay and wait for morning.

It was quite late, nearly 10 p.m. After the four-hour flight I was hungry and thirsty. I went to a hostel looking for a room. The lady at the front desk called the police station as soon as she checked my ID. I couldn't hear what the police said, but she kept nodding. After she hung up, she said, “The police said, 'No one from Xinjiang is allowed to stay,' so we dare not accommodate you.”

I realized that people from Xinjiang were being turned away because of the recent terrorist attacks that took place there. People were frightened and were discriminating against travelers from Xinjiang.

I went to another hostel. The owner said he had one room left, but it didn't have a bathroom. I said it was fine, paid for the room, and was about to go in when the same thing happened. He checked my ID and immediately called the police. Then he told me, “We have no rooms left. You cannot stay here.”

My last hope was gone. I was so tired, I almost collapsed. At such a late hour in a strange place, would I have to sleep on the street?

I walked back outside and saw two men and a woman sitting by the curb. They were migrant workers from Henan Province. I asked them, “Can I stay in your room for a night?” They said, “No. We cannot take the responsibility if something bad happened to someone as old as you.” My heart sank.

I saw a small restaurant and decided to get something to eat. I went inside and bought a bowl of noodles. While I ate, I asked the owner, “When do you close?” He said, “10 o'clock. We're about to close.” I said, “Can you lend me an old jacket so I can sit by your restaurant for the night?” He refused.

I left the restaurant with my luggage, extremely depressed. I kept asking myself, “What to do? What should I do?” It suddenly occurred to me that Falun Gong practitioners told me that saying 'Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!' in a crisis may turn things around. I begged in my heart sincerely, “Master, please help me. I have no place to stay tonight.” I repeatedly said, “Falun Dafa is good!”

I walked about 20 meters from the restaurant and saw an old lady in her 80s. She was standing there with her hands clasped behind her back as if she were waiting for someone. I approached her and asked for help. I did not dare mention that I was from Xinjiang and that the police would not allow me to stay in hostels.

The old lady said, “It was you that I was waiting for. I'm alone. Stay with me then!” Grateful, I said, “Thank you so much. Thank you so much!”

I stayed that night at her home. The next day, to express my appreciation, I gave her 100 yuan but she wouldn't take it. She said that her son wasn't home that night. He would never have allowed her to have a stranger stay in their home overnight.

She said she was surprised herself, “I didn't even ask your name or where you came from before I showed you my home. For some reason I just felt I knew you.”

After I left her, I headed to the airport. A young man showed me the way and gave me his seat. A young woman led the way. Another woman helped me search for flights at the airport and gave me eggs to snack on. When I returned to Xinjiang, a college girl shared her taxi with me and helped me find local practitioners.

They all said the same thing, “Auntie, don't ask. Just follow me. We are going to the same place!”

After listening to my adventure, the practitioners back home were amazed and exclaimed, “Master was helping you!”