Pastor Cao Sanqiang, born in 1959 in Changsha, Hunan Province, established a home church in his hometown in Shaoyang City, Changsha, in his early years, and later became a pastor for the “China Gospel Fellowship.”
In 2017, Pastor Cao and another Christian were intercepted by border guards upon their return to China from Wa State in Myanmar, using an informal entry method for convenience. He was subsequently criminally detained on suspicion of “illegally crossing the national border.” In July 2019, the Pu’er Intermediate People’s Court upheld his sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of 20,000 yuan in a second trial. He has been serving his sentence in the First Prison of Yunnan Province for over six years.
The trip to Thailand was arranged by Sister Li Jun from En Guang Church and Teacher Wei, a student of Cao’s, who took care of everything including booking the flight tickets.
On June 25, I learned online that the family visitation day at Kunming Second Prison was July 4. Without hesitation, I decided not to return to Changsha on July 2 (as per my round-trip ticket) but to go to Kunming to see my son. I told Li Jun, and she had her son help me change my flight ticket. It took several attempts to finally change it. I am grateful to Li Jun’s son.
July 2 Teacher Wei flew to Chiang Rai, Chen Lijun flew to Changsha, and I flew directly to Kunming.
During the half-month, the three of us were inseparable, loving and reluctant to part. As an elderly person slow in movement, Li Jun and Teacher Wei always waited for me, helped me, and brought me food and fruits. I thank them both. God blessed me, and I enjoyed His grace.
Glory to God.
I arrived in Kunming in the morning, and in the afternoon, Pastor Chen Ze from Dali came to visit Pastor Cao Sanqiang’s mother. Brother Xiao Min also came on the 6th to share with Mother Cao about Teacher Cao’s nurturing and service to God. They treated me to meals, and I enjoyed God’s grace wherever I was.
My daughter flew to Kunming late at night on July 3 to see her brother. We arrived at Kunming Second Prison by taxi on the morning of July 4, joining a long queue but feeling reassured. We were about to see our loved one.
My daughter and I waited at the visitation window and soon saw Sanqiang walking towards us. Sanqiang waved and said, “Mom, Mom, Sister! Mom, when did you come back from Thailand? …”
“I came back from Thailand the day before yesterday, on the 2nd…” I answered. It seemed he thought only his sister would visit him in July and that I was still in Thailand, so he was surprised to see me!
“In Thailand, I met several of your students. They all care about their Teacher Cao and asked about your health in prison. They all want to come to Kunming to see you, but I said no. Only Mom and your sister are allowed to visit. In Menglian, China, his wife and son, being Americans, came. They weren’t allowed to visit at that time and left for the U.S. in tears… During the pandemic, his two sons visited their father in Kunming Second Prison…” I told him about my conversations with his students in Thailand.
“Brother, how have you been lately? I have a lot to tell you…” I started to speak, but his sister interrupted.
I observed my son Sanqiang’s head, face, neck, arms, hands, and fingers. He wasn’t bald, having half-inch-long black hair, his face wasn’t emaciated, and his arms and hands were muscular.
“Sanqiang, your two sons sent long messages to grandma. They send their regards to Dad, missing him terribly, saying they love grandma and want to come to China to see Dad and grandma. Jie Min sent a text, missing you…”
Sanqiang’s sister was still speaking, and I interrupted again.
Sanqiang said, “Mom, I heard everything you said clearly. There are only four minutes left. Please convey my greetings to my American children, relatives, and brothers and sisters in Thailand, Canada, Singapore, and around the world. Tell them Cao Sanqiang misses them, thinks of them, …”
Sanqiang hadn’t finished speaking, and his sister and I still had things to say, when we heard a ding sound. The voice disappeared; the time was up, controlled automatically.
Sanqiang stood up, spread his hands, and placed them on the window glass. My left hand overlapped with his right hand, and his sister’s right hand overlapped with his left hand, symbolizing a handshake, a hug, a goodbye.
We lingered on the spot, looking at each other until the officer urged us to leave. We waved goodbye.
God is with Pastor Cao Sanqiang, keeping him healthy and firm in faith.
Thanks be to God! Glory to God!
July 8, 2023, Mother Cao in Kunming
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