“What good is it if you win one soul for Christ, but turn them against their family losing ten souls forever?” We heard this idea during our training before coming to China. I felt greatly honored to be welcomed by Shane’s family during the Spring Festival.
The bus ride was only two hours out of Hangzhou but to a very different small town countryside environment. The bus zoomed past a few red crosses, the sign of government registered Christian churches. Also I saw something new. Large old trees decorated with red paper and red ribbons tied to the leaves growing next to a small white temple. The white temple had a painting of a rocking horse and the monkey king maybe. Parents take their children to the trees on the first day of the new year Spring Festival to light firecrackers scaring away evil spirits and to pray for safety and maybe good scores in school.
“I didn’t go to worship at the tree this year. I told my parents I am not a kid anymore.” Shane drove the family mini mini-van closer to their home. Shane’s parents have not supported him in studying the Bible. They simply don’t know Jesus yet. I think the tensions arise instead from Shane becoming steadily more independent while his parents keep trying to hold on.
We arrived to a lunch with 15 grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. During the Spring Festival extended families spend more than a week visiting each family’s home. It was Shane’s family’s turn to host the meal. Their dialect was so strong I could understand very little when the family all spoke together. Mostly they let me be one of the family without being overly hospitable. I just smiled a lot.
After lunch Shane, his younger cousin, and I rode the mini mini-van to explore the town. A ferry boat took us across a river where we climbed South Tower surrounded by plum trees just starting to bloom. Shane walked us by his elementary school and middle school. We wandered the streets taking pictures. The younger cousin said, “This is a church.” Shane remembered, “I walked on this street every day going to school but never noticed this church.”
We stopped to read the chalkboard plastered on the wall. “Who is He?” “Is this a Bible scripture,” I asked. “No but you can plainly guess it is talking about Jesus. This is beautiful.” Shane answered.
Dinner that night was with 20 relatives. “We raised this pig just for the Spring Festival. Is it delicious? This chicken and duck we raised ourselves. You can’t get this fresh pig and fresh chicken in the city. The vegetables are from our field. Have an orange. They grow on the tree behind our house.”
I enjoyed three days and two nights in Shane’s hometown. By God’s grace I pray to encourage Shane to share Jesus with his large family.
Shane’s mom welcomed, “Next time you will bring your wife and children. We have lots of room and lots of good food.” Shane’s dad drove us to the town to catch the bus back to Hangzhou. Another lady rode with us into the town. “She is a Christian,” Shane said. “We are brother and sister,” the lady smiled to me. “You should teach Shane’s parents the Bible,” I said. “I can’t read the Bible” “You should tell them about Jesus,” I returned. “I tried and they will not listen,” slapping Shane’s dad on the shoulder. “Little by little they will believe. We will pray.” Shane and his dad kind of laughed a maybe laugh.
The bus ride was only two hours out of Hangzhou but to a very different small town countryside environment. The bus zoomed past a few red crosses, the sign of government registered Christian churches. Also I saw something new. Large old trees decorated with red paper and red ribbons tied to the leaves growing next to a small white temple. The white temple had a painting of a rocking horse and the monkey king maybe. Parents take their children to the trees on the first day of the new year Spring Festival to light firecrackers scaring away evil spirits and to pray for safety and maybe good scores in school.
“I didn’t go to worship at the tree this year. I told my parents I am not a kid anymore.” Shane drove the family mini mini-van closer to their home. Shane’s parents have not supported him in studying the Bible. They simply don’t know Jesus yet. I think the tensions arise instead from Shane becoming steadily more independent while his parents keep trying to hold on.
We arrived to a lunch with 15 grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. During the Spring Festival extended families spend more than a week visiting each family’s home. It was Shane’s family’s turn to host the meal. Their dialect was so strong I could understand very little when the family all spoke together. Mostly they let me be one of the family without being overly hospitable. I just smiled a lot.
After lunch Shane, his younger cousin, and I rode the mini mini-van to explore the town. A ferry boat took us across a river where we climbed South Tower surrounded by plum trees just starting to bloom. Shane walked us by his elementary school and middle school. We wandered the streets taking pictures. The younger cousin said, “This is a church.” Shane remembered, “I walked on this street every day going to school but never noticed this church.”
We stopped to read the chalkboard plastered on the wall. “Who is He?” “Is this a Bible scripture,” I asked. “No but you can plainly guess it is talking about Jesus. This is beautiful.” Shane answered.
Dinner that night was with 20 relatives. “We raised this pig just for the Spring Festival. Is it delicious? This chicken and duck we raised ourselves. You can’t get this fresh pig and fresh chicken in the city. The vegetables are from our field. Have an orange. They grow on the tree behind our house.”
I enjoyed three days and two nights in Shane’s hometown. By God’s grace I pray to encourage Shane to share Jesus with his large family.
Shane’s mom welcomed, “Next time you will bring your wife and children. We have lots of room and lots of good food.” Shane’s dad drove us to the town to catch the bus back to Hangzhou. Another lady rode with us into the town. “She is a Christian,” Shane said. “We are brother and sister,” the lady smiled to me. “You should teach Shane’s parents the Bible,” I said. “I can’t read the Bible” “You should tell them about Jesus,” I returned. “I tried and they will not listen,” slapping Shane’s dad on the shoulder. “Little by little they will believe. We will pray.” Shane and his dad kind of laughed a maybe laugh.
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ReplyDeleteHE answered our prayers for a wonderful weekend with Shane's family! So interesting to see so there are other "family members" in the area also working on Shane's family! Loved reading about your weekend! Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteSo proud of you for going, thanks for doing it. I can see Shane is growing, steadily, in his knowledge and faith. So glad it turned out so well.
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