As we were briefed about China, we were told the “things” you hear about China are ALL true – SOMEWHERE. The Chinese assume many of the Americans that enter in are Christian – so there’s not much to hide. When people asked what we were doing, we would tell them “we are touring your country.” At first, I found thoughts flowing through my head – what do I say, what if I say the wrong thing, what if I get removed from the country… But then… my thoughts shifted…
We sung worship songs on the train, prayed for the people (many who might have never had their personal name lifted up before), and we prayed some more!! It was wonderful to go in as a tourist with the sole purpose of praying on a more intimate level for each person you come into contact with.
We met our host at a train station. He has a family who has been in the country for years. Our team sat down with him and asked what we are allowed to do and not to do during our ten days… In the area we are in, we were allowed to share about Christ on a one-on-one basis – yet found very few people who spoke English. This led us singing worship songs around the town and praying out loud. We would walk up to people and pray blessings over them…they wouldn’t know what we were saying, but the God who we serve speaks all languages and LISTENS!!
After the allotted time we could stay in a location was up, we ventured off to Beijing. We again were “Christian Tourist.” Staying at a hostel, the team of 26 pressed into the hostel workers, the travelers (I found the people staying in hostels to be on a search and open to conversations about the depths of God.), and other tourist to share the love of Christ.
There was so much freedom in being a “Christian Tourist!”
