There Is None Like Him
Cheng Lee Heen Jun’s (郑李显珍) Escape From Vietnam: A Mother's Song of Survival and Salvation Across Oceans and Generations
This story was originally told in Chinese under the title “One Way Ticket” 单程票 and published in along with an English version in 2016 in the Sunset Church publication, Yut Hong Fellowship: Celebrating our 25th Anniversary (1991-2016) (1) For our Pearl Dive readers, the English version has been slightly revised with added photos, updates and accurate Scriptural quotes by Elgin Quan. The author has maintained a warm friendship with Ms. Cheng Lee Heen Jun.
In the fall of 2015, Cheng Lee Heen Jun came to attend our Cantonese senior fellowship (益康团契) at Sunset Church. Having just moved into the San Francisco Sunset neighborhood, her children had grown and she sought fellowship with other Chinese seniors. Little would we know, drawing from her conversations, she would candidly disclose her harrowing escape from an unforgettable and remarkable experience. This is her story:
Rescued from high seas, rolling waves, interned from camp to camp, God rescues Cheng Lee Heen Jun in series of high drama, her story was published in a book called There is None Like You 谁能像祢 (2) in 2016.
Born in in the countryside, Guangxi, Heen Jun’s father died young. Abandoned by her mother, she was handed over from one caretaker to another. Abused and neglected, in 1950 she escaped to Vietnam.
In Vietnam, times were hard. War was looming. Saigon would soon fall. Abandoned and alone in Vietnam, at age 18, Heen Jun met and married an overseas Chinese man. Tragically her husband died suddenly. By then she had already given birth to six children -- four sons, two daughters. With the fall of Saigon (April 1975) many overseas Chinese had no choice but to return home.
Without a husband, Heen Jun was defenseless and helpless. Anti-Chinese sentiments forced Heen Jun to flee, but not without much difficulty. Quickly, she with her children, sold all their belongings and used the money to buy her one way ticket with her six children, -- a train destined for Hong Kong.
A few days before boarding the train to leave Vietnam, she was robbed. Her purse and repatriation certificate were stolen along with her train tickets. Fortunately, some good hearted colleagues of her husband, secretly helped her sneak in through a side door. All six children and Heen Jun were squeezed into a tiny space on the train.
Penniless, and without any kind of documents, not knowing whether her children would be taken away from her drew Heen Jun into deep depression with thoughts of suicide. She could not live without her children. All Heen Jun could do was to cry out. Looking up to the sky, she cried “Have mercy. Be not far from me, for trouble is upon me, no one to help.”
Finally, reaching their destination, from Zhangzhou to Guangzhou, they were sent to a shelter for Overseas Chinese. The sanitary conditions there were so poor, they almost died from weakness and disease.
I was always pressured to give up my children, to turn them over to care of an orphanage. However I was adamant and always refused.
Hearing of a boat they decided to smuggle to Hong Kong. Three days drifting on the Li River, with 300 people on a boat that should only carry 150 people, with no storms or rain, miraculously all 300 people arrived safely. Luckily, during President Carter’s administration (1976-1981) after the fall of Saigon, US navy ships were sent to rescue Vietnam refugees stranded at sea.
Housed for eight months, at the refugee camp, the days were still bitter.
“We were always hungry. My daughter who was 13 began working in factory. Second daughter, 9 years old, surprised me by finding some factory discarded half dead chicken. She boiled it and sold it on the market. It gave me comfort knowing that my children had begun to think of ways to defend and support the family.”
One night Heen Jun suddenly had a dream. In her dream, they were going to the United States! But before that, we had to make a trip to Manila. After acquiring her third one way ticket, the family arrived in the Philippines. It was hot and my children were all crying. A Catholic priest came found us in a refugee camp located in the mountains and brought us to a church. It was the first time, I saw Jesus on the cross. Looking at Jesus, my son said “Jesus is not crying on the cross.” I said, yes, “He is watching over you!” My children stopped crying. At that time, unbeknownst to me, Jesus had entered our lives.
In 1981, under the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) a program for refugees, safeguarding the rights and well being of those forced to flee conflict and persecution, Heen Jun’s family of seven qualified to enter the United States. Helped by the UN Refugee Agency, her family purchased yet her fourth one way ticket. In the summer of 1983, the family arrived in Miami, FL. She began working in a restaurant while the children went to school.
One day a person lent Heen Jun a tape. It was about an ungrateful person. The story of the ten lepers in Luke 17. Only one came back to thank God. I asked myself am I that ungrateful person? I was so affected by that story, that I listened to it over and over again. Looking back, I remember I was that helpless person, with six children, alone, travelling that difficult road. After arriving in the United States, I wondered, “Is there really a God looking after me? “
From that day on, Heen Jun began to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior. At the restaurant, during the break, other workers would play mahjong and have happy talk, but Heen Jun went to the back room and sang worship songs and praised God “Holy Jesus, we rely on you for our help. We will be able to win!” I sang and I cried.
A second dream came to Heen Jun during a vision of a bottomless pit. The kindly face of the Lord appeared to me. “I was so scared. I suddenly saw a very tall, man dressed in white. He reached out His hand. I know He is Jesus.”
Not knowing about my dream, I told Pastor Zhang I wanted to go to San Francisco. The next day, he received a long distance call that there were Catholic sisters in San Francisco who can receive a family like yours. He helped me buy my fifth and last one way ticket. Arriving in SF, I did not hesitate and took my children to church to be baptized in July 7, 1986.
Now, there is no more bottomless pit. Leaving behind tragedy after tragedy, God has brought us out of our difficulties. My children are all University graduates, nurse, accountants. All have good jobs and married and all in ministry, serving in Indonesia and Africa. With thirteen grandchildren, I cannot be ungrateful. God gave me many one way tickets so I could walk all the way with the Lord. “With each ticket, with each journey, He led me through.”
“I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to our servant. for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.” - Gen 32:10
Now I am a family who crossed the Pacific to the United States. I have bought several one way tickets, but the most important ticket of all was the ticket that brought me out of my darkness, my bottomless pit, to find the camp whose home is Jesus Christ.
How can I not be happy singing Hallelujah?
I am grateful to Yut Hong Seniors Fellowship, 益康团契 Sunset Church San Francisco. When no one loved me, I was adopted into the fellowship of God’s family. Like a large family, Yut Hong members loved her. “They met every week, ask about me, and welcome me warmly into their fellowship”.
Coming to Yut Hong fellowship, Heen Jun has found that no matter how much tragedy each person may face, the seniors still stay together. In the same way Heen Jun remained faithful and steadfast, never leaving her six children. “I never abandoned my children. Because I never abandoned my children, my children know that their mother loves them. Today, through their mother’s love, they came to know the love that Jesus has for them.”
Who is this God who rescues me from the depths of the sea, howl of the winds, a helpless refugee goaded from camp to camp? Jesus Christ. The one and only who rescues and saves. The one and only who redeems and restores. Who is like Him? There is only one true God. There is no one like Him.
God, you have taught me from my youth; to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
Now I am old and gray, do not forsake me, God. That I may proclaim your might to all generations yet to come. Your power and justice, God, to the highest heaven. You have done great things. O God, Who is this God? Who is your equal?” - Ps.71:17-19
After settling in San Francisco, Cheng Lee Heen Jun’s oldest son has become a pastor and is now shepherding a church in the Bay Area.
Highlights:
Journey of Survival and Faith: Cheng Lee Heen Jun fled Vietnam with her six children, enduring robbery, poverty, and harsh refugee camp conditions. Despite immense challenges, she remained determined to protect her family, eventually resettling in the United States.
Encounter with Christ: Heen Jun’s faith grew through dreams and Christian support, leading her to accept Jesus Christ and find hope amid struggles.
Legacy of Redemption: In San Francisco, Heen Jun’s children thrived, pursued ministry, and served others. She credits God’s steadfast love and faithfulness for her family’s transformation and blessings.
Elgin Quan is a writer, journalist, family historian, pianist and AACHI Pearl Diver. She contributes to Medium online publications and currently oversees spiritual development of Chinese speaking seniors at Sunset Church in San Francisco. Elgin has served as a lecturer for BWGI and facilitator for Head to Heart ministry. She received an M.A. in spiritual formation and discipleship from Western Seminary. She is the blest wife of one, mother of two, grandmother to three and loves children, little people who are spontaneous, joyful, playful.
Yut Hong Fellowship: Celebrating our 25th Anniversary. 益康團契: 慶祝廿五週年 (1991 - 2016) (San Francisco: Sunset Church, 2016)
Lai Bwe Yuoong, There is None Like Him, 谁能像祢.1st edition (Selangor, Malaysia: Presson Publishing, 2011) [second edition, 2016].
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