My team and I have just finished our month in China. Before leaving Mongolia, our team was full of different feelings towards entering China. Excitement, fear, confusion, eagerness- and anything in between. The entire process leading up to entering China, and the whole month to follow was filled with the grace and provision of the Lord. After debrief, my team began our visa application process and received our visas in two days when we were expecting at least a week and a half wait to be approved! This process was daunting and I felt as if a huge weight was removed when he handed me seven passports back, all stamped with Chinese visas!
We headed into a train, a taxi, two buses, another taxi, and then officially arrived in China after one of the most exhausting travel weekends. We were immediately shown such great hospitality as our sweet airbnb host waited awake for us until we arrived at 4:00am, where she then greeted us with dumplings and tea! Our three weeks in China were filled with so many moments of hospitality and sweet relationships being built through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Lord is doing such cool things here, it excites me so much!! We spent days walking through markets, visiting the Great Wall, volunteering at an English workshop, trying new foods with new friends, playing hackysack with hostel workers, praying for people, praying with people, and making sure everyone knows how loved they are by the Lord. Honestly, our days looked pretty average day to day. We went about normal activities and daily errands, but what God does in the midst of the mundane amazes me. Being in China left me in awe of this burning desire that is created within us to be satisfied by God alone. Until then, we are all searching and searching, only to feel fulfilled for a moment and then return to searching.
I was unsure what to think before entering China, but I knew I needed to go. I see it clearly now, what the Lord had for me. I saw so much searching in China. I met some of the most beautiful girls and my heart breaks as they sure and compare themselves to the girls on TV. My heart breaks as they deny their beauty, cover their smile when they laugh, and say no to ice cream because they are worried about their weight (no to ice cream?!!!). I met some financially successful people who still say they are so far off from their goal. They were unfulfilled and longing. They are searching. Many people were quick to ask us about Jesus and our beliefs.
In a country where it is easy to avoid Jesus Christ and avoid any questions about Him, we were sought out for questions. Hostel workers would flip through our Bibles, ask if they could join us in reading it together, and even download it to their phone. Before we even mentioned much of our beliefs, people asked us if we knew Jesus, how we know Him, how we talk to Him. In a country where it will go unnoticed if you have no beliefs or opinions, I was not expecting to have nearly as many conversations as the Lord allowed us to have. I believe this all has to do with the need within each of us for something outside of ourselves to come and fill this huge longing. How cool that God created each person on this Earth, and as He did, He gave us a longing that only He can fill. And once He does, the things of the world- the beauty and wealth- all fade away. We no longer need to be filled with these, because we are filled, now and forever, with His unending love and grace. I am thankful that God did not make us to be satisfied by the world, because it makes His pursuit after our hearts hold so much beauty.
China stretched me far outside of my comfort zone, making boldness and growth a fun reality. China pushed me into dependence on the Lord alone. China encouraged me and I found a deep freedom in my relationship with the Lord, seeing what truly matters the most to me.
Thank you China, for three incredible weeks of growth, relationships and freedom in celebrating the Lord at work here. I wish I had more time to tell you how deeply loved you are by your Creator. You are loved, China. You are being pursued.
W squad is now in Kazakhstan debriefing our month together. Please pray for the seeds that were planted this past month. Pray for our friends we met and were able to share the gospel with, that they would be reminded of how loved they are and seek God first. Pray for us as we begin ministry in Kazakhstan this week!
Also, a huge thank you to everyone who has donated or purchased a Go Ring- I am officially fully funded!!!! This is such a relief and blessing from God, I am so thankful to have so much support coming from so many people.
