“You gave them
what?!” … “We gave them Bibles!”
On Tuesday, we worked alongside of an organization
here that gets Bibles into the hands of Chinese tourists. Yes, we gave out Bibles to the Chinese!
We spent the morning packing up the Bibles at the warehouse
and learning about the organization.
Then in the evening we headed to the pier to hand out Chinese Bibles and
packets (which included some books and papers about the background of
Christianity in China, starting a house church, etc) to Chinese tourists coming
off of the boats.
[For those of you wondering about Bibles in China… they are allowed to
own a Bible in China it just has to be in their own language. Also, if a Chinese were to buy a Bible
in China they have to sign a sheet of paper that automatically puts them on a
government list. What this
organization works to do is to put Bibles into the hands of the Chinese without
them having to be put on a government record for owing a Bible. They are also allowed to take up to 3
Bibles through customs into China without getting into trouble.]
It was so neat to hold in my hands a Bible that was going to
cross over the border into China.
I also personally enjoyed being “one of those people” and getting right in their personal bubbles to
distribute the Bibles. I was let
down many times though as a lot of them just looked up at me and gave me a
strange look wondering, “why in the world are you sticking that thing in my face.”
Or perhaps the times when a woman came to grab a Bible from me and when her
husband noticed, he threw the Bible back and then proceeded to hit her and yell
at her for touching it. Another
time, a man grabbed a Bible and looked really interested in it. When his wife came back from the
bathroom and saw that he had a Bible in his hands, she screaaaamed at him and
smacked him until I couldn’t see them anymore. Those incidents really made my heart sink but also extremely
happy that at least someone who represented those families was curious about
the Christian faith. And I know the
Lord will use that and bless that.
Then there were those people whose faces just lit up so
bright when I handed them a Bible.
They thanked me so many times.
And even came back and thanked me again. It is those people who remind me of the Christian movement
in China and make me excited about what God is doing in China.
Pray for the Chinese who did take a Bible from us, and even the ones who didn’t take one but became curious soon after. There were a few that walked on but
came back to get a Bible soon after, which was really exciting to see. Even though there were many who passed
us by, there were many who grabbed a Bible too. It’s exciting what God is doing in China. And how He is using people in Thailand
to help bring His Word into the country. You can also be praying for this organization as the Chinese
New Year is soon approaching in January. They will be very busy in preparation, working to get Bibles
and packets together, as well as during that time when many Chinese will be in
the area with the opportunity to receive a Bible. Amen Jesus!
**If you would like
more information about this organization and what they do, such as how to help
support them and/or send a missions team to work with them (they would love it…
They also said that all you would need to do is get on the plane, they would
take care of the rest)… just email me and I can provide you with some
information. :]
