Sometimes the most unexpected things are the biggest blessings of all.
We’ve been in our ministry site for two weeks now, and only have six days left. We’ve been able to build good friendships with two local men, and have really enjoyed conversing with them and see their curiosity about Jesus grow.
But with only six days left of ministry, and twelve days left total on the Race, it’s been getting more difficult to not be distracted by thoughts of home. I’d love to say that all of these thoughts were positive. That the distraction was at least a pleasant one, filled with daydreams of family, friends, good food, and refreshing sleep. But instead, I realized that I was struggling with the concern of returning to America and possibly to our previous lifestyle. From the outside, this looks like a good thing. We had stable jobs, a beautiful apartment, an encouraging church and small group, and good friends. Our spiritual lives, however, were lacking. We weren’t seeking God first and our lives were not centered around Him. I was growing worried that I would sink back to that level again after the race, that I would grow complacent.
This is a new fear for me. God saw it and nipped it right in the bud.
Yesterday three of us helped one of our new friends, a restaurant owner, with laying concrete for an outside patio. In the midst of our work, an American man stops by and asks if the hotel (part of the establishment) is open yet. Our friend said no, that he still needed to complete some things in the rooms, and the American moved on. No one thought much of this interaction and the incident dropped from our minds.
Then today, while going for a stroll with Dave, we pass the American man. He stops us, introduces himself, and we come to learn that he knows our contact, Eugene. We ask to meet him for dinner and he agrees.
Dinner was amazing. My spirit is more refreshed than it’s been in a long while, and it’s all due to the conversation we had with this American man, Alonzo.
Alonzo has dedicated the past 20 years of his life to spreading the gospel in China, and more specifically, in the Tibetan regions of China. He had never been to the country before when he heard God telling him that this was the region where he was to minister. Doors that had been opened were closed, and the door to China swung wide open. So Alonzo went.
Truthfully, I think the most inspirational part of his testimony (the limited bit he was able to share vaguely) was his honesty. When asked for life advice, he stated, “If you’re convinced that you’re supposed to come to a place like this, then come. But if you’re not convinced, don’t come, because you won’t make it. Life is hard here and if you’re not convinced this is what you’re supposed to be doing, they’ll chew you up and spit you out.”
He went on to share a story that proved his point.
“While traveling from a visit to the States back to China, I had three check-in bags. The current limit was two, and I was at the check-in country trying to convince the worker to let me take three. She was a Chinese woman, and she noted that I had been in her country for a long time. ‘You must really love China.’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. I later asked God to forgive me for that giant lie because I don’t love China. I’m not here because the country is great, I’m here because it’s not.”
Alonzo is amazing to me. His obedience is simply stunning. I have so much respect for Alonzo despite barely knowing him. He is seeking after God’s heart and following Him though the going is very difficult and he sees little difference in the people around him. His work is not tangible and that can be disheartening. But Alonzo knows that he is where God wants him to be, that he is doing the Lord’s work, and that it’s worth everything in the end.
I may not end up overseas. God may plant me right back where I started; back in the same town, the same job, the same general routine. But if God puts me back, I know it’s because He has beautiful things in mind. He is going to use me in a place I'm not sure I want to be in order to help make it a place where He is known. I only hope I have half the faith and obedience as Alonzo!
