Ahhh, it’s so nice to be back online! I absolutely do not know how to sum up an entire month in one blog, but, I’ll give it a shot:
Some of the teams on my squad worked with specific ministries here in China- an orphanage, a Christian-owned coffeehouse, and others. My team had a more unique challenge: we were asked to prayer-walk through various Tibetan communities, and, if possible, develop contact with any Christians already living there.
At first, the lack of direction was intimidating, but as the month progressed we could see how God had perfectly arranged our travel plans and personal connections. A huge help in our ministry this month was the fact that Tiffany is of Taiwanese descent and could communicate when we couldn’t! Much of our time here was spent praying and praising (often silently) as we visited towns as “backpackers.” God would often send reassurance to us, helping us believe that our prayers were indeed powerful and effective. A few examples:
-On our first day in China, feeling completely overwhelmed and not knowing where to start our ministry, we were treated to a tour of the entire town by our delighted hotel concierge. At the end of our time together, he took us to the town’s Buddhist monastery and showed us around thoroughly.
-After touring going through the first monastery, God immediately and surprisingly provided another opportunity for us to pray through another monastery in a different community- this time guided by a monk! The monk led us through all of the 6 large monastic schools in the city as well as all of the temples. God, quite literally, opened doors for us to pray. (We were even able to enter places with signs stating “No Women Allowed”!) We learned so much from the monk about the Tibetan struggle, and were able to tell him about Jesus and pray openly for him and the spiritual freedom of the Tibetan people. We were also able to sing for him. (Worship has become an important part of our team’s ministry.) It was a powerful day.
-We spent 2 days on horseback in the Tibetan mountains. Overnight, we ate and slept with a nomadic family in their tent. One of our guides was interested in studying our (English) Bibles, so we left one of ours with him and pray that God continues to move in his heart.
-We’ve taken out the guitar and sang worship songs in some unlikely places- including inside a Tibetan bar and on the street outside of military lodging!
-Upon returning to our base city earlier than expected, we were able to spend time with one of the leaders from an underground church here (there are 5 underground churches that we know of in this large city) as well as visit and pray with the 14 students enrolled in the (secret) Bible school here. It was a humbling, and joyful, experience!
I’d like to encourage those of you who are financially supporting ministries involved with the underground church in China. Keep it up! Although God is gracious and has used my team here during this past month, I can see clearly that it is the native Chinese/Tibetans who can minister most effectively here. Westerners are viewed with extreme suspicion, by both authorities and average citizens. Learning the language as well as adapting to a culture that is astonishingly different than our own is also a complication for any Westerner hoping to minister here.
More important than financial support, I cannot tell you how many times we have been asked by members of the underground church to PRAY. It is the one thing they desire from the Western church. Specifically, our contacts here would like prayer that Jesus would continue to appear to the Tibetan people in visions and dreams and through miracles. So far, it is only through the supernatural revelations of Christ that a handful of Tibetans have turned to the one true God. Conversations and arguments are seemingly powerless, but the revealed love of Christ breaks every chain of oppression.
A final story: we learned that in the monastery where we were able to witness to and pray for the monk, a miracle happened a few months ago. Missionaries were prayer walking through the monastery (much like we were) and one was moved by the Holy Spirit to ask a monk about her hearing. (Yes, there are female monks.) She was profoundly deaf in one ear; and, without hesitation, the missionary asked to pray for her. She was healed on the spot in the name of Jesus. Shocked and filled with joy, she started yelling and a huge crowd gathered. The missionaries told all of them about the love of Christ. Then the spirit prompted the missionaries to leave quickly once they shared- which they did just in time before the authorities appeared.
The monastery is large, so, it is likely that “our” monk didn’t hear the story about the healing… yet. I am praying that God puts him in contact with someone who has. Additionally, the door is currently closed for one of our contacts here to minister in that town and I am asking that God opens the door for him to return.
I could write much more about this month; but, I will save what I have to say for when we see each other once again. Thank you for your powerfully effective prayers- they are more important than we can possibly know!
As for where I’m at now: this week, we arrived in Muizenburg, located outside of Cape Town. It is beautiful here, and I look forward to writing more about its amazing people and our various ministries this month. It looks like I’ll be working with kids once again, which makes me happy… as does being out of the cold Chinese weather! (It’s weird to see Christmas decorations out in a country that’s also celebrating the arrival of Spring, but, I’m not complaining…) Until next time, keep praying and remember to enjoy all the little blessings of every day life!
