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.”