Written 3/20/11
WOW….month 9… has been FULL…and I call it the ninja month. I
always liked 1930’s gangster movies, and fighting video games, and movies about
women who go against the social norm.
always liked 1930’s gangster movies, and fighting video games, and movies about
women who go against the social norm.
I would say this month has been like living in a movie of all
of those combined, only in Chinese, with lots of noodles involved, less
bloodshed, and more God.
of those combined, only in Chinese, with lots of noodles involved, less
bloodshed, and more God.
Here’s a recap of some the weeks events:
I met with Cindy. I showed her some new ways in playing the
piano. I shared with her how I view the playing and singing of music. It’s a
part of me. And it frees me. It doesn’t restrict me. I explained how it should
do the same for her. She should feel free to worship God while she plays, and
play as if He’s the only one in the room. We got to talk for a couple hours too,
and I was able to encourage her in her faith.
piano. I shared with her how I view the playing and singing of music. It’s a
part of me. And it frees me. It doesn’t restrict me. I explained how it should
do the same for her. She should feel free to worship God while she plays, and
play as if He’s the only one in the room. We got to talk for a couple hours too,
and I was able to encourage her in her faith.
For the Wednesday church service, I was able to share my
testimony bout how God made himself real in my life. It was a privilege.
testimony bout how God made himself real in my life. It was a privilege.
We also went to about 4 English Corners this week. And we
were able to talk to several students, who were eager to practice their
English, especially with a foreigner. We invited at least 100 people to our
weekly Sunday party.
were able to talk to several students, who were eager to practice their
English, especially with a foreigner. We invited at least 100 people to our
weekly Sunday party.
One of the English corners was about an hour more up north.
Amanda and I went, but we had a wonderful escort. Evan. We met him at an
English corner last week. He is not a Christian, but he loves being with the
people at church. He says that he feels very loved, and happy. He also is
searching for truth, for something more than what he knows. I was able to talk
to him the entire hour ride up to the English Corner, and pick his brain a bit,
as well as share some things that Jesus said. Told him to consider those things
in his search, and to go ahead and study Jesus’ life more thoroughly.
Amanda and I went, but we had a wonderful escort. Evan. We met him at an
English corner last week. He is not a Christian, but he loves being with the
people at church. He says that he feels very loved, and happy. He also is
searching for truth, for something more than what he knows. I was able to talk
to him the entire hour ride up to the English Corner, and pick his brain a bit,
as well as share some things that Jesus said. Told him to consider those things
in his search, and to go ahead and study Jesus’ life more thoroughly.
He is an extremely funny and sweet kid. He made sure that we
arrived to each of our destinations safely and with laughter. One of our
destinations coming back home was the Golden Arches. (pic). He’s left Saturday
to go work as an intern at a company in Beijing for a month. He will be missed.
And in my prayers.
arrived to each of our destinations safely and with laughter. One of our
destinations coming back home was the Golden Arches. (pic). He’s left Saturday
to go work as an intern at a company in Beijing for a month. He will be missed.
And in my prayers.
Our main goal for last week was to put together a carnival
for the children. We all brainstormed, came up with ideas, and games and then
went out to buy all the supplies we needed to make the games, and the prizes to
give the children.
for the children. We all brainstormed, came up with ideas, and games and then
went out to buy all the supplies we needed to make the games, and the prizes to
give the children.
This was the first carnival outreach that Jake and Steph
have done.
have done.
We handed out about 1000 flyers at a nearby school, we
prepared a skit based on the prodigal son, and we created the games.
prepared a skit based on the prodigal son, and we created the games.
Saturday, Carnival day, came, and there were at least 150
children and parents that stopped by and played at the carnival! It was tons of
fun!
children and parents that stopped by and played at the carnival! It was tons of
fun!
We handed out about 200 baggies that had a church
invitation, and a business card with the address, to everyone that came. The
kids also used those baggies to hold their candy and prizes.
invitation, and a business card with the address, to everyone that came. The
kids also used those baggies to hold their candy and prizes.
Jake decided to take it to the next level, and put up the
church banner (pic).
church banner (pic).
You have to understand, that this is pretty unheard of in
China, and it’s a huge risk that the church is taking in being so public, and
handing out the church address to everyone. Police can come in any time, shut
it all down, throw people out, and send others out the country.
China, and it’s a huge risk that the church is taking in being so public, and
handing out the church address to everyone. Police can come in any time, shut
it all down, throw people out, and send others out the country.
But Jake, Steph, and the wonderful people at the church are
willing to take that risk in order to reach a large group of people so that a
handful can be funneled through, who really love Jesus.
willing to take that risk in order to reach a large group of people so that a
handful can be funneled through, who really love Jesus.
There was a cop who came by earlier during the week as we
walked out the church to go hand out flyers. Thomas did a wonderful job talking
to him, as the rest of us prayed for the Holy Spirit to give him the words.
Essentially the cop was curious as to who lived in the apartment, and then
wanted to give Thomas a fine because he lives there with another guy, and two
girls and they are all single…this makes ABSOLUTELY no sense at all since there
is no law against it…but Jake thinks it’s because the cop saw foreigners come
out the apartment, and so the cop assumed we have money.
walked out the church to go hand out flyers. Thomas did a wonderful job talking
to him, as the rest of us prayed for the Holy Spirit to give him the words.
Essentially the cop was curious as to who lived in the apartment, and then
wanted to give Thomas a fine because he lives there with another guy, and two
girls and they are all single…this makes ABSOLUTELY no sense at all since there
is no law against it…but Jake thinks it’s because the cop saw foreigners come
out the apartment, and so the cop assumed we have money.
NO cops crashed our carnival. Thank God!
But there was lots of dancing, laughing, and fun! We were
like ninjas of joy, gangsters of grace, fighters of spiritual freedom, and we
def defied the social norm.
like ninjas of joy, gangsters of grace, fighters of spiritual freedom, and we
def defied the social norm.
God’s love publically invaded a city square in Harbin,
China.
China.
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
