Service with a Smile

When our family lived in Jingzhou, Lisa and some of the other Christians were really involved with the kids at a local orphanage. After our move to Shaoxing, we looked around for other similar service opportunities, but nothing ever worked out. We feel certain that sacrificial love (especially to those who need it most) is an important part of being disciples of Christ. We've fallen short of our goal of finding a consistent way to serve, but this last semester the students in our weekly meeting all joined together to serve in at least one way.

Over the course of two weeks we read and talked in groups about how God views us, how he loves us, and how valuable that makes us all. The next week we challenged the groups to come up with some real ways to serve, love, or encourage some people. If every person is really made and loved by God, then we should all put that truth into action. There were suggestions to give nice water bottles to the older people whose job it is to walk around cleaning the city (in the heat, cold, and rain), financially support some poor children in western China, and encourage some sad classmates. Finally, the idea to give water and water bottles to the cleaners won out.

Within a couple of weeks some people had gone to buy water and water bottles together. Lots of people also gave money to pay for the project. Then we split up into groups of two or three to go out and give out the water bottles. There were only about 20 of us, but some groups gave gifts to and thanked 2 or 3 cleaners. I love the image of 20 Christians and non-Christians going out from this place and spreading across the city to show a little bit of love to those cleaners who are usually taken for granted. The next week people shared stories about how it went. People were giggling and smiling as they told about how surprised and thankful people were. In some cases, big crowds of cleaners gathered around just to see and hear what was happening.

This was a small and simple project, but I think it was meaningful for a few reasons. First, it reinforced through real action the truth that all of us are made and loved by God. Even the lowest in society who are often ignored are valuable to God. Second, it showed that being a disciple of Jesus is more than just coming to meetings and talking about the Bible. It means going out to do what Jesus wants done. And third, it was a little taste of the Kingdom of God. No matter how many of us there were, whether or not we're all Christians, and regardless of how it affected us - as a group we went out and made the city a slightly better place. We spread God's love around by loving the unloved. We took the good things that most of us experience and shared them with people around us. And last of all, it showed these young students that they have the power within them to change the world. They are important and powerful individuals. As a group, they can be used by God to go bring light into some slightly dark places. The students thought up the idea on their own and went to bless the cleaners on their own. God worked through them and hopefully, those students know that He can and will KEEP working through them!

Sister Shirley

We have a new sister! You probably remember Shirley from an earlier post where Dale talked about taking food to eat and studying with Shirley each week. Well, they kept that up for six or seven weeks, ending with Shirley's decision to join the big family! Shirley came to our last weekly meeting of the semester and joined the Family as six or seven brothers and sisters from campus witnessed the event. Shirley already believed and had some experience going to local Christian groups, so Dale just came along to give some love, encouragement, training, and answers to a few questions. Shirley is excited about starting her new life and is eager to see the changes that God will make within her. She's also asking lots of questions already and is "feasting" on God's Word and spending time praying each day. At the same time, it's very hard for Shirley to go to meetings and go out with people because she has to walk with a cane. Shirley will also face problems this summer when she goes home to be with her family. Her mother is a fairly devoted Buddhist and her father is an adamant atheist. He even threw away a Bible that she had taken home last summer. Please pray for Shirley's continued growth, especially in the midst of these many adversities!

Abortion in China: Hoping to make a difference

For my [Jason's] newspaper class I ask the students to prepare PowerPoint presentations on significant news topics that they're interested in. Typical topics include pollution, food safety, 富二代 (which basically means "rich kids gone bad"), celebrity scandal, and so on...

Then, after all of the students have given their presentations, it is my turn. My topic (this time and every time) is abortion.

I define the terms "pro-choice" and "pro-life" and state the typical arguments from each side, then describe (with words and pictures) the various methods of abortion. The photos I include are intentionally graphic, and quite frankly, unsettling. Although the students (mostly girls, by the way) have been indoctrinated with propaganda supporting abortion and inundated with advertising stressing the ease, availability, and comfort of abortion, they seem to have never encountered any of this basic information and have certainly been protected from seeing any pictures revealing the horror actually involved.

To conclude, I reiterate my position (pro-life, of course) and explain the importance of prevention -- by abstinence (now) and birth control (later). I also mention giving the baby up for adoption, if need be.

Each time I give this presentation, it is an emotionally powerful event -- for me and them -- and at the end I'm always praying that maybe what I've said and shown will have an impact. But I've never quite had a way to measure that impact -- until now.

This semester, on our final exam, I asked the students "What is something that you learned, that you especially remember, or that you particularly enjoyed in this class? And why is this important to you?"

Over half of the students mentioned the abortion ppt as being the most significant lesson learned.

Here are some of their responses:
"I think your lecture is good... It really changes my thought, and will never have the abortion."

"If I don't learn this class, I won't know how bad it is. It is very important to me in my life. If I want to have a abortion in the future, when I remember this class, I won't choose this way."

"Because as a girl, I think we should know such kind of information."

"In China, abortion is so popular, they think the fetus are not the 'real' baby, they have no life, so they do abortion without thinking. I really do not like this concept."

"It's a serious topic that informs me of the significance of abstinence. And also we should change our attitude towards having abortion."

"Firstly, I learned how dangerous abortion is... [this] can help our girls to grow up and get a correct value to life."

"Learn about abortion, makes me know that fetus is a real life. We girls can not do abortion, there are other choices instead of abortion, such as adoption. Girls should protect themselves."

"...because I start to know that abortion can be murder because the fetus is really a life, and the mother can also be in danger."

"Abortion is very bad and we should avoid it. Because to some extent is murder."

"...and abortion is equal to kill a living person, which is so cruel."

"Fetus is a life, we should cherish them."

"Having an abortion is not a good thing, it will influence our psychological and physical health. For me, I won't choose abortion if I'm pregnant."

"Abortion is a kind of irresponsibility to the life. I wouldn't do it in my life."

"...if you are pregnant, you should choose better way, but not abortion."


These are the heartfelt responses of impressionable college-age girls who have come of age in a largely atheistic country that promotes strict population control (sometimes going so far as to "force" abortion, even on married women) and in a rapidly changing society that is, in many ways, increasingly morally bankrupt and by all means "lost."

Knowing this... Well, you can imagine my joy and sense of hope as I read these comments.
And please understand, I do not want to take credit for any good that comes from this. I am honestly humbled and just very thankful to have an opportunity to directly impact the lives of at least a few young Chinese.

I ask you... Please pray for these students -- and for us -- that we all may have the wisdom to know and the dedication to do what is right in the sight of God.

Up date since the break-in

I have written about the break-in and all, but some people have asked several questions, so I thought I would update on how things are now.

No, the police have not caught the guys.  We really don't expect them to, and we do not expect to get any of our things back.

The first night or so, the kids were a little more scared than usual.  It took a little longer to get them settled for bed.  For about two days, Eryn did not want to go to her room at night, by herself.  I think it was hardest on her, since we know they came through her room.

We have an alarm on the balcony door now.  It makes a loud noise if the door is opened.  And Jon has fixed the lock on the door, so that it now locks.  We knew the lock on that door was broken, but we figured it did not matter on the fourth floor.

At night, we no longer leave any cell phone,  computer, or wallet in the living room.

The kids are fine now.  Jon and I still have some trouble.

Since that night we have been sleeping with our bedroom door open.  Luckily it has been cool and we have not been running the air conditioner (we usually shut the door when we run the heat or AC).  We still wake up often during the night.  Some nights I think I hear something.  One night we woke up, because we heard our up- stairs neighbors walking around.

I have often heard or read that after someone has had a break-in, they feel violated, and not safe.

At first it just seemed surreal.  But when we went out, I noticed people looking at us (they always look at us here, we are just used to it).  I started wondering if random people were looking at me weird because they had my computer and had seen my pictures.  I know it is silly.  I suspected everyone of being a possible thief.  I did not like thinking that way.  It is much better now.

On a much happier note, Jon is finished with his classes for this semester.  His schedule for next year looks really good again.

One week from today, we will be on a plane headed to the U.S.  We are excited about seeing everyone!

This year we have been blessed to get to know and worship with some students from the US.  Clint Boyd from Tennessee is one of these students.  Clint is a student at MTSU who is here in Hangzhou learning Chinese.  Last year in the U.S. he met Linli. Linli is from Hangzhou. They got engaged and when he was given the opportunity to come and study in China, he took it.

Clint and Linli got married on May 20th.

This wedding was a big deal for everyone in our group.  Eryn was asked to be the flower girl.  

She was pretty nervous, but she did fine. 

Josh helped perform the wedding ceremony. 

Clint and Linli wanted to have a Christian ceremony. They wanted their wedding to be a testimony to their commitment to each other, but most importantly to Christ.

The day of the wedding was quite cool (which was good) but it also rained on and off for most of the day.  Right before the ceremony, there was a break in the rain.  Once the wedding ceremony was finished, the rain began again.

Eryn dropping flowers down the aisle.

 

The bridal party.  See anyone you know?  Jacob Walling was a groomsman, as was Shane.

The wedding was really very nice.  We are so happy for Clint and Linli!

White Horse Mountain

PECK, PECK, CLANK, PECK, PECK, CLANK. Each morning at 7 am the sound of backhoes, jack hammers, and dump trucks wakes us up. They are tearing down White Horse Mountain, rock by rock, to build a new apartment complex just behind our house. Up the valley there is a cemetery. With White Horse Mountain being torn down now the spirits of the dead are free to roam in our complex. A few people in our neighborhood were discussing, “What can we set up in our house to protect us from the spirits of the dead?” Two promises from the Word of God assure me as we are shaken awake each morning to face a spiritually confused neighborhood.

Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Psalm 91:9-11 If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

Friday Night Children and Ladies Bible Study

The Friday night ladies group is rolling again. We have prayed about it and understood that for the neighborhood group to grow and continue for a long time we need to have a children’s class. Grace has graciously opened her home for the ladies group and her basement for the children’s class. The basement walls and floor are covered with smooth white tile, so it resembled an empty fish tank when we started. GaoYan ordered some little tables and chairs and Grace covered the floor with interlocking foam mats. SaSha, from our student studies, helped stick colorful alphabet stickers on the wall. For me it is kind of like the ultimate children’s Bible class challenge. I have little experience teaching children, yet another area where my Chinese is weak, and ages range from one to eight. However, we have good help. Grace watches her one year old son and XiLe (one year old) MaMa encourages the older kids to sit down and listen. For Creation we used a box and cut a circle hole in one side. We used a flashlight to shine into the hole, “Let there be light.” In the box a zip lock bag of toilet paper was the sky and a zip lock bag of water for day two. And so on, the kids learned the order of God creating our world. The second week Jane and her two girls, ChongChong and GuoGuo, ordered a nice big cardboard Noah’s Ark. The third week was Moses and crossing the sea. CoCo MaMa brought the bed sheets to ripple resembling the walls of water, one pink and one a green flower print. We are encouraged by our neighbor’s excitement to contribute to the study. Upstairs they are studying lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, treasures in heaven and do not worry. Linda taught a lesson on the beatitudes. XiLe MaMa leads a few songs to begin each week. GaoYan said she only feared for my life in the basement one night. That was the night we were crossing the sea. A new boy named Promise and his MaMa came for the first time. GaoYan noticed how Promise’s MaMa teaches and disciplines her three year old son in the neighborhood and invited them to the study. Also, Jane’s husband has come two times. Pray for better organization of the children so they can understand God’s message from the Bible. Pray that God will use our group to change lives and change families.

Xu Shan Rong

We would like to introduce to you our friend, Xu Shan Rong. Mr. Xu is a beggar that we met back when we first moved to Shaoxing. There are a number of beggars who are "regulars" we see around town -- some seem genuine, others seem a bit "fake" (it's not uncommon for someone who is basically healthy and relatively "well-off" to dress down and "pretend" to be a beggar in order to make some easy money) -- Mr. Xu is one of those who, at the very least, has an obviously legitimate physical ailment (severe burns on the face and hands -- to the point that he has lost most of his fingers) and who strikes us as a nice and truly needy person. For example, the first time we gave him something (some food, as I recall) he immediately handed it over to his two children -- which might seem like a small thing, until you realize that some people actually do the opposite: they use their children to beg for them and force the kids to hand over whatever they collect. Mr. Xu always shows a great deal of love and care toward his wife and kids and is genuinely thankful whenever we give something to them. Also, he is willing to really talk to us and, as far as we know, to tell the truth. Again, this seems small until you start to realize just how many so-called beggars repeat the same story, or even the same words over and over, without being willing to honestly engage someone who is trying to help them. In another striking example of Mr. Xu's kindness and humanity, one day, when Jason was buying some pineapple-on-a-stick for Phoebe to eat, Mr. Xu came up and paid for the fruit himself. We were really touched by such a sweet gesture of kindness, and the saleswoman and onlookers were indeed shocked by this unusual reversal of giving. We ask you to please pray for Mr. Xu and his family: that they will have sufficient food and shelter, that the two little ones can stay in school, and that God's will can be worked out in their lives. We hope to continue being able to connect with and be a blessing to them -- as they, too, have been to us. Our friend Xu Shan Rong with his two boys. His wife is barely visible on the far left.

New Brother -- Wang Hao

Wang Hao reads his "Confession of Faith"

May 31st, 2012, Wang Hao was baptized.
We rejoice in his salvation!

Wang Hao is a very mature, thoughtful, and dedicated young brother who has spent about half a year coming to know, believe in, and now commit his life to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Before his baptism, he read to us the two-page "Confession of Faith" that he had carefully prepared and shared some thoughts from his heart. Then he was immersed into Christ, into a new life, and into the family of God.

His earthly family, unfortunately, has not fully understood nor supported his conversion -- He needs our prayers of support as he begins life anew -- And especially as he tries to balance a deep commitment to God with a necessary and loving respect for his parents.

He told us, this evening, that he was deeply disappointed and hurt by his parents' (and his girlfriend's) reaction when he told them he would be baptized. He admitted that it was a real test of faith -- Would he obey God or obey men? -- Was his faith strong enough to go through with his decision, even though his loved ones opposed him?
We could see in his expression that it was a crisis, and we even offered to postpone the baptism. But, he insisted that he "must follow God" and simply asked for biblical advice in dealing with his family and friends.
After reading a few scriptures and giving him some practical advice and examples, a calm and enthusiastic smile appeared on his face, and he (and we) knew that he was completely ready and fully committed to being a Christian -- no matter what.

In the water, moments before his new birth!