Let me tell you about my new brother, John.
During our day on the college campus, helping to advertise for the English Corner, we had many opportunities to talk to the college students. My teammate Linsey was in conversation with a group of girls who asked her what all these Americans were doing in Harbin. She told them we were here to tell others about Jesus. They got excited and said, “We know a Jesus!” After a few minutes of working through the language barrier, it turned out they knew a believer in Jesus! And who should happen to walk up at that moment but the very man they were talking about! There are no coincidences in God’s Kingdom 🙂
This man, John, talked to Linsey for a few minutes before she took him over to me and Amanda and introduced us. We got to talk to him for several minutes. It turns out that his entire family are believers! They live in central China, and John’s grandmother came to the faith many years ago and witnessed to the entire family. She was the one who led John to Christ! How incredible is that! We had a sweet time talking to John, encouraging him and being encouraged by him. We asked him if there was anything he needed prayer about, and he said yes. He then shared with us that his desire after he finishes school is to be a missionary to Pakistan! We were blown away! We prayed right then and there for him, and it was so encouraging to me to be able to pray over a brother in Christ as he prepares to go to the mission field.
After we prayed, Amanda was drawn into another conversation, and I continued to talk with John. He found out that we were going to the Great Wall when we go back to Beijing, and he got very excited. Apparently the last time he was at the Wall, that’s where he received his calling from God to go to Pakistan! He looked into my eyes and said, “You must pray for the people of China when you walk on the Wall. Pray for my nation.” Of course I agreed. We exchanged email addresses, and he promised to pray every day for me, Amanda, and all of U Squad. I have committed to do the same for him. As he turned to leave, he pulled out his phone. Wound into the case (he actually had to pry the case apart!) was the cross shown below. He’s carried this cross around for quite awhile, and he said, “Maybe I think I should give to you.” I proudly wear this cross now, as a reminder to pray for my brother, and as a reminder that God’s Kingdom work is being done all over the world, even in the heart of China!
This cross says something to the effect of “Jesus will guard your heart.” The verse is Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Please be in prayer for my sweet brother as he prepares himself for God’s calling on his life. He does not have a strong community here in Harbin. He only knows two other Christians. Pray that he can get connected with a church here, so that he can be encouraged by a community of brothers and sisters.
