When people talk about going to China as a Christian we want to be able to say that we got to sneak in bibles or some sort of Christian material. As Christian we/I would love to be able to say “yeah, I got kicked out of China for sharing the gospel.” We have this desire to be used by God in this way. But sometimes that’s not the way God wants to use us.
So coming to you from China I didn’t get to do those “cool” things that I desire to be able to say I did. I don’t have any cool story about sneaking around China hiding from the government, or going to a secret, secret church. Nope, I didn’t get to do any of that. But I believe I got to do something better. I got to share with people the love of Christ by always smiling (which i always got questions about) having some interesting conversations about Marriage, boyfriends, standers, money, jobs, praying and just random things. I was also able to play and have fun in English classes for little kids on Saturdays. Helping out at a children’s church at house church, Sunday night bible study, Monday night bible study, going to schools to watch kids with special needs and teaching and interacting with all the kids there, to helping out with special Olympics and my favorite English corner.
The part of china I was in was very modern, it had Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Walmart, Papa John’s KFC, and Dairy Queen. So with a big city, it is easier to be more out spoken about God. Sure you have to be careful about what you say and to whom and make sure you protect your contact. But it was not as intense as I thought it was going to be.
Things about China that is interesting.
- They have real church’s… yeah that’s not a typo. They’re called Government church’s and from what we have understood from those we talked to about them they seem to be a good thing. I believe they might have some restrictions on certain topics.. like how God is above the government.
- Something the Chinese like to say is. “It is nice to have something to hope in.” They’re searching, they want something, they just don’t realize that it is Jesus they need…yet.
- They just want to make more and more money. I was told that I shouldn’t want to work with youth/kids in a church. That I should go for something that would make me more money. When I told him I didn’t desire to be rich, that it wouldn’t make me happy it blew his mind.
- They like to take pictures with you. Strangers on the street would ask you to take a picture with them. It was a little strange, but funny all the same.
- They have really, really, really good food. Eggplant for days!!!
- There is a group of mothers who are trying so hard, fighting for their kids who have autism to get the help they need, to give them a good, happy, and fun life. They’re trying so hard to make a difference in China with special needs. It reminded me how lucky we are in America.
We were only in China for two and a half weeks by the time we got to our location. With waiting in Hong Kong for Visas, and then traveling from Hong Kong to location and having debrief at the end of the month. It took up a lot of our month. But china was by far one of my favorite months, something I didn’t really think it would be.
Just a little peek into month 6 in China…
