Tonight I sit here overwhelmed. I’ve sat here for a couple hours now trying to come up with a blog that will move you and touch you the way I’ve been moved and touched today. But really, I can’t seem to do it. I’ve been typing……..then erasing……..then typing………then erasing. My prayer is that God would turn the emotions in my heart into something solid and real, so that I can give you all a clear picture that I so badly want to give. I’m adjusting to a new culture, seeing God in new ways, meeting new people, constantly investing in others, and feeling really overwhelmed with EVERYTHING in general……… 🙂
Today was our first day of ministry. Basically what we will be doing this month is investing into college students by forming friendships and sharing the gospel with them. Our hope and prayer is that they will begin to see God work through them, and then when we leave they can invest in others the way we invested in them. Paying it forward and creating a chain reaction is the goal. Ultimately my prayer is that each day I would wake up and instead of asking God how WE or I can change a life today, my prayer is that I ask God how he is already working and that I would have the eyes to see it. He doesn’t need my help, but if he can use me to bring another one of his precious children closer to him, then every doubt, fear, and ounce of exhaustion I’ve felt is one hundred percent worth it.
I sat and had lunch with a few college students today in a cute cafe. We talked about life, American TV shows, music, school, our families, and had fun normal conversation. They speak great English. In order for students to get into college here in China they must pass an English test. I saw God in the midst of our conversation…. the way we laughed and connected. It’s a really beautiful thing…….. connecting on a deep level with people the same age as you on the other side of the world….
Harrison (once of our college ministry partners this month) was showing us around campus today. As we we were walking I was asking him different questions and getting to know him better. I asked him a question that really touched me in a way that I wasn’t expecting. I asked him what he thinks of when he thinks of America. His response was “rich.” ouch. Strings a little…….. right?
Then I asked him what else he thought of when he thought of America. He said “freedom.”
What does that mean?? I wanted to know more.
He then said, “ You get to choose where you want to go to school. You get to choose what you want to study, and what you want to do when you graduate. We don’t get that here in China. I don’t get to choose my job. I don’t get to choose my school. I have to study for what is eventually going to make me money. I must provide for my family. I don’t get to do what I love. You get to chase your dreams.”
Yikes. ** Tears well up in eyes and pit forms in stomach**
Today Mary, Tracy, and Lilly met Jesus. Today when I asked them if they knew Jesus they said no. I asked them if they’ve ever prayed. They said no. After having conversation I asked them if I could pray over them. They looked confused, and didn’t understand what that meant. I explained that we could all hold hands, and then I would speak to the Lord about how thankful I was to have met them, and then ask Jesus to work in their hearts. They seemed down for it. So then I prayed. The spirit showed up. After our conversation before they were about to leave I gave them a hug and told them I’d be praying for them tonight. What Mary said next changed my heart forever.
She said, “Thank you. I will pray for you tonight too.”
Yikes.
Many of you have asked me how you can be in prayer for me and what I’m doing here. Tonight, ya’ll (my southern sqaud mates are rubbing off on me without me even realizing it) can be in prayer for my new friends in Christ…….. Harrison, Crystal, Jeremy, Luke, and Steven. Pray that God would continue to use these young people to rise up and be examples to their peers here in China. Pray that God’s name would become known in this place…..that hearts would be turned to Jesus, and changed and shaped forever. Pray that God would move mountains in this place to bring glory to his name. China is a place starving for Christ. It’s time to rise up and bring his name known to this nation.
Thanks for listening friends. I'm learning how powerful prayer is and it's time for us all to rise up in prayer together. Jesus tells us that when two or more are gathered in prayer he will show up. So let us pray.
Jet leg is still killing me. Time for bed. Back at it tomorrow.
