Month 1 and done. Man, that was fast. So many cool things have happened in Beijing. For example, I almost pulled out 35,000 Yuan, which is over $5,800 USD, the first day in China because I was too impatient to look for the English-button at the ATM.
My team leader, Trey, was asked by Jeannine to be her boyfriend. Jeannine is a sweet, sweet fiery autistic girl. Little did we know that she was very serious and was upset when I tried breaking them up for him. I’m pretty sure they’re still dating though. Dustin’s fashion statements automatically made him the greatest tourist in Beijing history.
I lost my voice for 3 days because I was sick, which was incredibly challenging for me, and today we got to go to the Great Wall of China! It was amazing: everything I thought it would be and more. Literally. Such a long walk. We walked to the very top, which took two hours. Then all the way back down. Totaled about 6 miles of walking up and down stairs.
In retrospect, ministry this month has been very challenging. Everything in me wants to tell you about all of the Asian babies I got to hold and pray over; the orphans I got to play and laugh with; the sermons I preached at underground churches (the ones the Lord used to extend the family of God); the street evangelism that led to a man accepting the Gospel and rushing us to his home to tell the rest of his family; the backyard bible programs that we put on, where we got to tell thirty 7-year-olds that Jesus loves them very much and even if they don’t have parents anymore that they have a heavenly Father that loves them; or about the man who’s been unable to walk for 10 years that we were able to pray over and heal. You know, missionary things.
The truth is, none of these things happened. At least, not yet. Ministry looked a little different for my team this month. The ministry that we partnered with is Roundabout China. They’re a charitable donation organization. Think of them as the Good Will of China. And what they’re doing is incredible.
They’re a nonprofit organization that takes financial donations or material donations and uses the profit to pay for disadvantaged children who need life saving surgeries, beds to go in orphanages, supporting foster homes, and other charities. Believe it or not, Roundabout China supports over 48 other charities in China.
So where do we fit into all of this? We tested electronics to see if they were working properly so that the store could put them out for sale. We went to pick up donations of furniture countless times. Which was a good change of pace from sitting inside all day.
We sorted books and DVD’s into different categories, helped Roundabout develop better marketing strategies and moved tons of boxes of school uniforms that were donated. We painted the front of the store to give it a much needed face lift. We picked up fields of trash, scrubbed chairs to make them look more presentable, sanded tables, and delivered thousands of books to schools so that Roundabout could put on book fairs and put the profits toward someone in need. I was frustrated because all of this seemed to be getting in the way of the ministry that i wanted to do.
The truth is, this month wasn’t glamorous. But, nevertheless, we learned to love Jesus more by serving Roundabout in any way they needed.
This month I’m learning that true Christ-centered service is humbling yourself to a place where your joy isn’t rooted in the recognition that you receive from others seeing you serve but in the opportunity to love Christ through meeting the needs of those he puts in our paths.
In Christ,
Matt Herrington
World Racer
