One Dedicated Couple

Although we ministered to the Chinese people in Puerto La Cruz, one couple in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, has been very influential to our mission team. They are Pastor Semson Nip and his wife Ana.

Pastor Semson is the chairman of the Association of Chinese Churches in Venezuela. He was born in Hong Kong and came to Venezuela over 30 years. He met his wife Ana in Hong Kong when she, a Venezuela born Chinese, came to Hong Kong. Love at first sight is the perfect description of their relationship. At the ages of 20 and 18, they got married in Hong Kong and settled down in Venezuela. Pastor Semson was a business man before becoming a full time minister. He was successful but he gave it up for God. He is the pastor of Lord's Grace Church in Caracas. He has a big heart for ministry, so he encourages his church members to help other less developed Chinese churches in Venezuela through local missions. He was instrumental in the establishment of Iglesia Evangelica China La Cruz.

I have great respect for them because of their dedication to the Lord. Ana has kidney problem for over 10 years but she asked God to give her more time on earth finish her service to Him. Two years ago, she started dialysis three times a week. Ana has been a great partner to Pastor Semson in ministry. She translates for Pastor Semson and leads singing in the worship service. In addition, she uses emails to encourage sisters to study the Bible. She has been suffering much physical pain due to her illness. The day when we took the picture, she was suffering anemia. She has many scars in her arms and thighs because the doctors had to find a new area to insert the tube for dialysis when an old one was infected.

She never complains about her suffering but gives 100% in ministry when she is feeling well. Pastor Semson keeps loving Ana by taking care of her. He willingly drives Ana to a faraway hospital for dialysis three times a week. He has to spend at least half-day in the hospital. He sleeps in the hospital when Ana has to spend overnight in the hospital when the doctors have to perform procedures to take care of Ana's infection.

While they had many problems to deal with, they still invited the mission team to stay at their home. Pastor Semson and Ana have every right to complain and quit ministry but they press on. They spare no effort in helping brothers and sisters and reaching out to the lost. They find the joy of serving God stronger than the pain and inconvenience caused by illness.

I pray that Ana will be able to have kidney transplant in the near future, so that she will have more energy and time to serve God. I pray that other pastors and church leaders in Venezuela will be able to provide more support to Pastor Semson.