China (pronounced Chiner)

We spent the majority of our time this month working with an organization that already has connections and inroads into China.  We were at a University participating in a cultural exchange.  In the mornings we had two hours of class (very in formal mostly field trips) about Chinese culture.  This included a trip to a Tea House to learn the traditional art of tea, we learned calligraphy, we learned Chinese History – it was fun.  In the afternoons we were available during English Corner for students to meet us, have conversations with us and practice their English.  As we met students (very easy) we made friends with them (very easy) and got to just hang out with them, go to lunch with them, and speak into their lives.

Everywhere we went in China we were celebrities.  People wanted to take their pictures with us and students at one school we visited even wanted our autographs.  I was very astounded by how similar, and yet also how different, Chinese students are from their American counterparts.  It is very apparent to this World Racer that they have been raised in a communist country.  Critical thinking is not a stressed skill, most information is taken in and assimilated without a whole lot of questioning.  Most of their understanding of the world comes from a single perspective.  They have been raised in protective families living in a bubble of a country.  At the same time, these students aged 18-20 are experiencing some the same realizations that myself and my friends experienced only a few years ago; realizations that are continuing to flesh out.  They’re wondering if there isn’t something more in their lives, if growing up, going to school and getting a job isn’t what it’s all about.

In China I saw my heart go out for a ministry and a people more than I have in a very long time.  This month helped serve as a reminder that my year will consist of becoming very involved in ministry environments each month and allowing those experiences to help shape my World Race experience.  Much of what has been going on inside of me this past month still feels very much in process.  I think there is a temptation on the Race to end each month with a pretty bow and saw, “Ta-da! Here’s what God taught me this month!”  That didn’t happen in China and I’m glad it didn’t.

That being said I’ve been learning a lot about silence and patience.  In the Philippines God confirmed and reassured me in the knowledge that he has a plan and a purpose for me for which I am uniquely gifted.  In China he began teaching me how to wield some of those gifts in the proper timing.  I’m spending some time studying Jesus the man, Jesus the teacher.  It’s really fun and it is a season to which I see no end presently.  This could be where I study for the remainder of the Race.  Still the magnitude of looming change in my life makes me venture to guess that that won’t be so.

And now I will tell you all that I know about what will be happening in Kenya:

We leave tomorrow from Hong Kong (where we are presently) to fly to Nairobi.  There we will spend three days in debrief before being dispatched to our various ministry locations.  My team, Quake, and team Dunamis will be in Lodwar living with an unreached tribe, receiving traditional African names and living with families.  Our entire squad was told to be prepared to be without electricity for the month.  I’ll allow you to draw your own conclusions about what that means for blogging.  I’m excited to see God continue to work and I am thanking him continually for all of you.