Note: The subject matter concerning various people involved in different ministries associated with China is sensitive and may jeopardize their efforts if made public. Because of this, some details and at times, entire testimonies, will remain undisclosed.
Our squad was scheduled to enter China two weeks ago. My team ran into some visa problems and thus had to stay back in Hong Kong while the rest of our squad went ahead into the mainland. But never once did we think it was an attack from the enemy preventing us from the work we were set out to do in China. Rather we firmly believed God had his hand in it, and had a reason for us to stay back in Hong Kong.
We soon ran into divine appointments everywhere we went, confirming that God had His plan for us here. The first Sunday, we found a church to go to which happened to be amazing. They had a team that had just come back from a missions trip in North Korea and we had the privilege of hearing their testimony. Afterwards there was a little fellowship where we saw a lady (get to that later).
Later that day, we packed our bags to relocate to Crossroads, the non-profit that we would be working with during our time in Hong Kong. It was dark by the time we arrived and a wonderful lady named Helen showed us where we would stay. The next morning, we were on our way to the grocery store when we ran into our new next door neighbor. It was the same lady from the church the other day! What are chances that we would happen to be neighbors with this lady and her family, on the complete other side of Hong Kong, of the millions of places where we could have ended up.
Of course this family invited us over for dinner and shared with us their INCREDIBLE testimony that brought tears to my eyes. How God had brought them along an amazing journey to this point in their lives, from the states to Hong Kong, and where they believe God is taking them eventually. The only disappointment is that I cannot share their story with all of you. Their direction in their lives is to enter China and North Korea someday, and when they do, they will undoubtedly be investigated with background checks. They have kindly asked that we do not share their testimony in any way that could put them at risk in the future. Of course this also means no pictures of them 🙁
Stories like this are abundant here. Stories like this overflow with inspiration. And it is just what we needed as a team. It is just what I needed. Stories like this are a reminder of why we came on the race. Fuel to keep us going. God has blessed us so much here in Hong Kong, He knows exactly what we need and I have no doubt in my mind that He had purpose for our time here in Hong Kong.
Tomorrow we enter China. For the safety of our ministry contacts none of us will be using the Internet until we fly out of Beijing on the 1st of January. New Years in Beijing, a layover in Seoul (my first time in Korea), and off to the Philippines!
Please continue to pray for our safety as we make our way into China, for Gods will to be done through our ministry, and for God to continue to pour down His Spirit upon us.
