(Minghui.org) My family visited Taiwan without me in 2014, and when they returned, their attitude towards Falun Gong had really changed. I'm sharing this to thank and encourage practitioners outside of China, especially those in Taiwan, who are telling people about the persecution at tourist sites.
I was once arrested in 2012, and my mother-in-law resented Falun Gong after I returned home. Although she approved of my conduct, she thought that only old people practiced Falun Gong, so she couldn't understand why a well-educated person in her 30s like me would believe in Falun Gong. She firmly believed that my mother (a practitioner) had influenced me. Thus, she always held a grudge against my mother.
My mother-in-law went on a tour to Taiwan in May 2014. Her attitude towards Falun Gong was different when she returned home. She said to my husband (a non-practitioner) and me, “We've been deceived. There are so many people practicing Falun Gong in Taiwan, from Taoyuan to Kaohsiung... I saw people practicing Falun Gong everywhere. I met a young Taiwanese woman there, and was impressed with the way she carried herself. She was confident and well-mannered. She practices Falun Gong, too.”
I told my mother-in-law, “And not just in Taiwan. Many people in more than 100 countries and regions practice Falun Gong, too. Only the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) banned the practice when they saw how popular it had become. The Party was alarmed and fabricated lies to deceive people.”
My mother-in-law nodded in agreement. Previously, she was skeptical when I told her such things. She now believes what I say after witnessing it with her own eyes.
When I saw how my mother-in-law changed, I realized that practitioners are one body.
A few months later, my father wanted to tour Taiwan with my mother. However, China's National Immigration Agency declined to issue my mother an entry permit to visit Taiwan, citing her refusal to give up practicing Falun Gong.
My father and husband decided to take our child on an eight-day tour in Taiwan in early November instead. After they returned home, my father praised the democracy and freedom in Taiwan as well as the qualities of the Taiwanese people. He loathed the CCP's one-party system and said to my mother, “You people (referring to practitioners) have freedom in Taiwan. They are able to promote the practice and do the exercises anywhere without being harassed.”
My husband had been supportive before, but now has a deeper understanding of Falun Gong and other issues after his personal encounters in Taiwan. He took quite a few photos of the Taiwanese practitioners during his visit.
My father mentioned that they saw a poster detailing live organ harvesting of practitioners at the tourist site. He was wondering if it was true, when my husband confirmed it.
I'm sharing the above to tell practitioners outside of China, including Taiwan, who are telling people about the persecution at tourist sites: Please don't be discouraged if you do not have a chance to get close to the Chinese tourists and tell them about the persecution, or if they do not respond. Your presence at the site, neatly dressed and smiling at them, is sending a strong signal to the Chinese visitors! Seeing so many people abroad practicing Falun Gong will astound them.
At the same time, I would like to remind practitioners at the tourist sites to pay attention to their demeanor: Your decent and generous behavior and your polite words and actions will leave a good impression and lay a foundation for them to be saved, even though you may not have the chance to encourage them to quit the CCP this time.
Once again, thank you, Taiwanese practitioners! I would like to tell the practitioners outside of China who are telling people about the persecution at tourist sites: “You've been working hard! Great job!”