(Minghui.org) I am the husband of a Falun Gong practitioner. Although I do not practice Falun Gong, I have been harassed and taken away by the police since the communist party launched the persecution in 1999. I was even forced to wander the streets, homeless, for a long period of time.

Contrary to what you might be thinking, these tribulations have made me more mature, wiser, and calm. But it didn’t happen overnight. I would like to share some of what I’ve experienced that contributed to my transformation.

My wife has been arrested, imprisoned, and even sent to a forced labor camp. Life was a fearful struggle. Every day I made phone calls to her at home. If nobody picked up, I would have to nervously go home and pack up all the Falun Gong materials.

Once my wife was arrested when she talked about Falun Gong in public. Several hundred local practitioners went with me to the police department to ask that she be released.

Most of the protesters had never met me before. Many of them came to encourage and comfort me. I was very touched—Falun Gong practitioners are truly great; they came for my wife's sake in spite of the danger.

One practitioner said to me, “Although you are in a difficult situation, you will feel honored in the future.”

I said to myself, “You are just trying to comfort me. Right now I just want to kill myself. What honor? I am under such stress, what with our child, my work, our parents... How can I handle all this? I can’t sleep. When I face the police, I can’t even breathe.” It is really hard to describe the horror I faced.

I often prayed, promising to give up everything as long as my wife returned safely.

But she didn't.

The pains and difficulties forced me to become more mature and calm. A year later, she was released. After the pressure was gone, I fell ill. But there was no burden on my heart, and I was able to sleep soundly.

After I recovered a few months later, I decided to do something for the practitioners who had helped me. They often asked me to go with them to see lawyers or ask the police to released arrested practitioners. I never turned them down, not even on the eve of the Chinese New Year.

Several lawyers asked me why I was willing to do things for practitioners, even though I don't practice Falun Gong. “Aren’t you afraid?” they asked. I said, “I just want to help those who have helped me before. You defend practitioners, speak up for them, and visit them in places that are potentially dangerous. You give me hope. If you are not afraid, I have nothing to be afraid of. I am honored to assist you.”

They were touched by my words. “It would be great if there were such a husband or wife of a Falun Gong practitioner in each province. Our job would be much easier,” one of them said. They gave me a title: “The Nation's Number One Falun Gong Practitioner Relative.”

Since then, they always call me “Brother” and treat me with respect. I really felt honored. A well-known human rights lawyer heard about me and praised me highly.

Once I was chatting with an 80-year-old man at a tourist spot. He mentioned that people in his neighborhood were passing around a book called theNine Commentaries on the Communist Party and asked me if I had read it. I said, “Of course. It is great book.”

Several people nearby overheard us. One of them said to me, “That is a Falun Gong book. Young man, you shouldn't believe what it says.” When I asked why not, a fellow said, “You can’t criticize the communist party—it supports you financially. It’s just wrong to do that.”

I said, “Well, if I don't work, nobody will pay me. We deserve all that we have, because we've earned it. I don't know about you, but if I stay home for one day, I will get paid for one day less. So I don't think the Party supports me financially.”

The old gentleman helped me convince them. We echoed each other as we related the sordid history of the communist party. Most of the bystanders listened quietly and agreed. The fellow who’d said I was wrong had nothing more to say.

Before I left, I bought a bottle of water for the gentleman and thanked him. It was such a wonderful experience.

Once I went to another town with several practitioners. We wanted to secure the release of an arrested practitioner. On the way, I had a high fever and almost passed out. But I still insisted on going. When we got there, I felt better. The detention center was surrounded by police. A few of them approached us as our car stopped.

I got out of the car and told the practitioners to leave and let me deal with the police.

The police stopped me and asked me why I was there. When I told them, they took me to a police car and interrogated me. The air was heavy. One officer said that the practitioner I was trying to rescue was not detained there. I was pretty flustered. I could barely remain calm and tried to argue with him. That officer was tough. He said, “I am telling you that he is not detained in this facility. Just get out of here.”

I had to leave. The detention center was in a remote area with no public transportation. I had to walk a bit because I didn't want the practitioners to risk picking me up at the detention center. After a few minutes, I noticed that a car was slowly trailing me from a distance. I called the practitioners, telling them not to come pick me up.

It took me half an hour to get to a mall. I went inside and in and out of the stores and into a bathroom. Finally I got rid of the person following me. My clothes were soaked in sweat and my muscles were sore.

When I made it back home, my wife praised me for my efforts to help her fellow practitioners.

A practitioner thanked me after I did something for him. I said sincerely, “As long as you guys are safe, I am willing to endure all the hardships in the world. I truly think that way.”

I have had fears and pains in the last few years. Sometimes when I was in danger, I thought about quitting. But my overwhelming experience has been happiness.

I wanted to share what I’ve experienced so that more people, especially practitioners' family members, will stand up and help them. They really need our help. I don't know what kind of danger or difficulties are waiting for me in the future, but I will continue to help all I can.

If you are reading this, please don't ignore this issue anymore. Let's work together for the freedom of Falun Gong and for a bright future of our own.