Good Emails

One of the things that I do early in the semester in order to start conversation with students and find people interested in "spiritual things" is tell my story in class. I have several pictures of my hometown, family, etc just like you'd expect. But beyond the usual, I also have some pictures that I use to tell the story of my conversion and some life changes that followed. There's a picture of road in the forest to show my search for direction, a picture of a kid looking bored in church, a picture of the UTC Christian Student Center, and of course a photo of Yosemite. The first time I did this I thought it might be a bit weird or abstract for my students, but it's turned out to be one of my students' favorite things and a really, REALLY great way to discover who I should be talking to and hanging out with. I didn't grow up hearing lots of testimonies, but I've discovered that testimonies (or stories if you prefer) are one of the best ways to get the MESSAGE across to people.

After I tell my story I then tell all the students that their homework is to email me about one thing in my story that interests them or they relate to. They should also ask me one question about my story. Some people ask about my kids, Chinese food, and my hometown, but many ask deeper questions. So far this semester I've sent out abut 20 emails to people who asked deeper, or spiritual, questions. And I have a list of about 20 more. Here's one of my favorite emails from last week (don't worry, I don't know what a "tellurian" is either!):

Teacher Dale:

   I’d like to share my feelings about your story because I really learn a lot from it.

      To tell the truth, I caught the happiness and the harmony when you showed us your family photos. There are your wife, your children, and your other families. These photos left me a deep impression, especially the photo which contains you and your wife. I still remember the big smile on both of your faces.

     You told us that there must be a creator who creates the valley which showed on the photo. I would like to share the same feeling with you. Once I read a story, it told me how the tellurian was invested and how complex and difficulty to invest a tellurian, so people praised the man who designed and developed it, and they considered the man as a talent. Then I suddenly realized that the one who designed and developed the earth must be a real creator. The earth can’t be born and developing regularly without God.

     After the last class, one of my roommates told me that you will be best foreign teacher we ever met in the university, and I can’t agree more. You also told us that have lived in China for eight years. For me, eight years really is a long time. Living in a foreign country must bring you a lot of trouble. May I ask that do you ever regret to stay in China?

     As a university student in China, I wonder that how the students in America to spent their weekends or holiday?

Emails like this aren't 100% sure conversions or anything, but they lead to really good discussions, reveal that the Father is working in ways before I showed up, and He's using me to do some more good stuff. Please pray for the students who I'll be having conversations with as a result of these emails.

Back to Wuhan!

L-R: Sarah's husband, Sarah Tian (hostess), Cec, Jay, Pheebs, Todd, Lydia, and Lily Wu

Phoebe & Lydia

We recently spent a week in central China's Hubei province, where we lived for six years in the late 90's and early 2000's. We went to see some long-time disciples that we have remained close to over the years, and whom we wanted to just spend some time with and encourage. We were especially excited to see Todd Wu and his wife Lily because they now have a two-year-old girl, just like we do, and we hadn't had a chance to meet each other's kids until this opportunity! It was so much fun to get to see how much Lydia resembles her daddy, and to get to see Lydia and Phoebe play together. It was really too bad that we didn't get to spend even more time together because we Clarks were all down with a stomach virus for the better part of four days during the trip! But every chance we could, we got together and let the kids play, tried to visit, have a good time, and discuss Todd's ministry and provide a listening ear. We could tell that the time meant a lot to Todd, and it did to us as well. We told him, Lily, and Sarah that we are so thankful for the service to God they have done, and their faithfulness, and their great examples within their families and communities.

The greatest of these is love

L-R: Sarah Tian, Todd Wu, Cecely, Phoebe, Jason, Lily (Mrs. Wu) & Lydia Wu

While we were in Wuhan right after the Chinese New Year, we were able to spend quite a lot of time with our sister Sarah. We got sick with a bad stomach virus right after arriving in Wuhan, and Sarah was the first to offer help, bring rice porridge, which is the Chinese version of eating saltine crackers and drinking Gatorade. She tried each day to take great care of us, and when we all got well, we went to her home for dinner and dessert. We were able to meet her husband and her brother for the first time, and spend more time with Todd, Lily, and Lydia. We had a wonderful night, enjoying the happiness and joy of these friends that we baptized over 10 years ago! We were really touched by the fact that Sarah has First Corinthians chapter 13 at the entryway of her home! Her faith is such a foundation of her whole life, thank God.

New Semester Prayer Requests

It's been a long, cold winter break but it's finally over. Our new semester of teaching starts tomorrow and everybody in our family and in the Shaoxing team is ready to go! Last week we had a short time of talking + prayer about the new semester and we're excited about the opportunities we'll have with so many new students.

In addition, we're looking forward to building on the relationships that we built last semester as we watch God water the seeds we've planted! After a semester of getting setup in our new city, building relationships, and having some smaller Bible studies, we think this semester is really the time for us to hit the ground running.

We're aren't totally set on meetings/outreach/service projects/etc will be going on this semester, but we have several ideas. We know for sure though that we're going to try to work with the local student group more (remember the Christmas performance?) by partnering together on some things and hopefully starting some mentoring relationships with some of the leaders in that group. We'll let you know more about the specifics of our ministry this semester as we nail down our plans.

In the meantime, please be praying for these individuals that our family studied with several times last semester and hope to see grow this semester: Teeth, Emily, Roxy, Jenny, David, and Bridge. Also be praying for lots of good opportunities to reach new individuals and reach out into our community in new ways!

Next & Cecelia

Next organized a hotpot dinner meeting together with Cecelia, me, and Caleb.
My opinion of Shenzhen is a big city where young Chinese people go to become engrossed and enthralled in their career. Before the food arrived I read from Psalm 19. I wanted to remind Next and Cecelia it is God’s Word that revives our soul, makes us wise, and gives light to our eyes. God’s Word is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey.
Cecelia asked Next, “How do you feel about your faith after being a Christian for two years?” Cecelia was there on the day Next was baptized.
Next answered, “Sometimes I feel close to God, but sometimes I feel far away from God. Recently I have been working and trying to take tests to become a lawyer. So I don’t have time for Bible study and I feel far away from God.” Next travels about once a month with his company to many different cities in China. He says Hangzhou is the best city for him and wants to move back here as a lawyer. After all it is close to Wenzhou his home.
Cecelia says she has not studied the Bible since ZUST college days. There is still hope, however. The human resources manager in her company is a Christian. For Cecelia, Shenzhen is close to home.

Born Again At 65

The Davis family took a trip to Shenzhen to visit GaoYan’s Mom, Sister GaoLi, baby, and family in Shenzhen, the overnight city.
Each night GaoYan’s Mom dances with other ladies in the Shenzhen neighborhood. Just like dancing in our Hangzhou neighborhood she quickly has a social network that knows the story of most families in the complex.
SanMei also dances each evening and became friends with GaoYan’s Mom. SanMei believes in Jesus and wanted to get baptized. SanMei and her husband live in Shenzhen helping with grandchildren. They have three sons. SanMei lives with the youngest son and watches her six year old grandson. Her husband lives with the middle son, in fortunately a neighbor apartment complex, and helps with their two small children. Their oldest son and his wife live in America, Berkley just moved to Houston, and they love Jesus. The oldest son sent his parents a Bible and more Christian books. The son and daughter-in-law call their parents and tell them about Jesus.
I asked SanMei’s husband, “Have you believed in Jesus a long time?”
“Not long. When my son sent us this Bible I started to believe in Jesus.” The son had written (in Chinese), “We pray that you will be with God.” Dated sometime in 2009.
SanMei says, “Our daughter-in-law is also wonderful.”
GaoYan’s Mom and I had some great Bible studies with SanMei and her husband. He would read a scripture out loud, I would try to explain a little bit with my bad Chinese, then GaoYan’s Mom would clarify better her understanding of the scripture. SanMei would then get excited and talk more about the scripture with GaoYan’s Mom, meanwhile her husband would re-read the scripture by himself thinking through to understand more fully.
SanMei said, “My husband can read many more characters now after my son sent this large print Bible.”
We baptized SanMei and her husband on a Friday in their bathtub. Both of them were so excited. After being baptized SanMei sat in the water wiping her head and both arms, “Now I am clean inside and outside.”
The following Sunday we met together to share their first Lord’s Supper. The oldest son and wife happened to call from America just before we got started. SanMei and her husband told them the whole story of meeting GaoYan’s Mom and then studying the Bible with us and how they got baptized. The son and wife asked to talk with the American, “Thank you for teaching my parents the Bible and helping them get baptized. We told them, after they believed in Jesus they need to get baptized, but we did not know how they could do it.”
I said, “Thank you for telling your parents about Jesus. I study the Bible with some friends for more than two years before they believe in Jesus and get baptized. Seeing your parents’ faith has really refreshed me.”
SanMei’s husband showed me his bus/subway card that certified he was 65 and could ride for free. Born again at 65 with faith like a child. Luke 18:17 “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”