Just a forewarning, this blog may be a little jumbled and
confusing because that’s how my head feels right now. I don’t know how to cover
over a month of experiences in several different places in one blog (which is
all I have time for due to internet difficulties on my computer…) But I’ll do
the best I can and please forgive my writing. You can read blogs from teams Libre and Aletheia or my
teammates to find out more about our time in China. In order to protect our
contacts and people we formed relationships with, I won’t mention any names of
cities or people. So don’t worry, I didn’t forget the names, it’s just better
for them that we don’t.
After a week of intense debrief in Hong Kong and our first
race day during the last week of October, we headed into China. We spent the
first week of our month in a huge city helping a couple from the US who does
permanent ministry here in China by doing any work for them we could. It was
amazing to hear their hearts for this country and the people who work for/ with
them. It was also very relaxing and a time to get caught up in personal time
with the Lord and really commit to things we learned during debrief. After week
one, we headed to another town for the next 2 weeks with Teams Libre and
Aletheia to participate in a cultural exchange program with a local university.
We took classes in Chinese culture in the morning to learn their culture and we
would spend the rest of the day helping English major students learn as much
about our culture as we could. They desperately wanted to improve their English
and were elated at the sight of any foreigner they saw to practice with. We
were able to form relationships with the students and invite them out for lunch
or out on the town to form more personal relationships and some even had the
opportunity to share the gospel. I met three young students, none of whom
believe or come from families that do, but it was so good to be able to start
spreading seeds in their lives and others that I met. I didn’t realize just how
closed off China is to the gospel until one of the last days when several
people told me they had never even heard the name Jesus and some the Bible. It
was heartbreaking to think of how many will never have the opportunity to even
hear about their Savior and how much He loves them. With some, the best we
could do was love them with His love and pray that He reveals more after we’ve
gone. Satan is doing a mighty work in the country of China by keeping so many
from ever knowing. Pray for revival and salvation of these people who so
desperately need to know of their Father. Pray also for the few believers we
met who worship in underground churches, that they would be shielded from
government eyes and have no fear of them.
The last week of November was spent reconvening with our
squad in Beijing for a few days to climb the Great Wall, shop at the Silk
Market, eat American food, and be tourists. We then headed back to Hong Kong
where we’ve spent the last couple days catching up with a month’s worth of
emails, etc and trying to prepare the best we can for Africa. We had squad
Thanksgiving yesterday (Saturday) complete with turkey, stuffing, mashed
potatoes, pie, and all which was an amazing blessing to all of us. Tonight we
will head to the airport for a 12 hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya where we will
have a few days of debrief with leaders before beginning our next ministry. Our
team will be with Team Dunamis in a tribal village that is considered an
unreached people group. Much of our month will most likely be spent doing lots
of preaching, pastor training, and just doing life their way by living with
families. We were told the chances for water or electricity are pretty slim so
I may not be posting another blog for a month, sorry! I am super excited and
also terrified of Africa now that I’ve heard what we’ll be doing (and possibly
eating) but I know God will stretch me in ways I never expected. Just please
pray that I let Him (I can be pretty stubborn!).
One last thing I can’t forget is to thank my supporters and
blog followers. It is so encouraging to check my account every month and know
that I don’t have to worry about raising more support and also to see the
comments on my blogs and know that everyone is praying. I appreciate that more
than you will ever know and it is a great reminder for me to pray for you all
as well.
Much
love!
