An Opportunity Taken

On October 14th, we took two students to a nearby ancient village called AnChang. We looked around at the canals, bridges, boats, stumbled into the local temple, and ironically, that is where the real conversation started to happen. As we entered the temple, we saw where prayers are said in front of the incense vessel, and the students asked us about Christian prayer and how and when it takes place. Jason spent some time explaining to them. Each little place all around the temple gave us another chance to explain key differences and highlight why we believe what we believe.

We are thankful for each chance He gives us to bear witness to the truth of His freedom and His love, and thankful to serve a God to whom we can pray at any time, in any place.

Temple Teaching

The other day I was out playing at a local park with Seth and Caleb. We were walking by the river, climbing bridges, and playing lots of chase (which is difficult when you're beside a river). At one spot in the park there's a Buddhist temple facing the water. The walls were all painted yellow, dragons were hanging on the roof, bells were softly chiming, and it smelled like good Chinese incense. It seems pretty cool to all the senses, especially to a little kid.

Standing right inside the front doors was a giant Buddha idol. As we walked along and kept playing, Seth and I talked about what the people did in there and why we weren't going to waste our time going inside. I explained that they were praying, but not to God. They didn't know about Jesus and so they were praying to that big statue. I liberally quoted some from Isaiah about the ridiculousness of praying to idols of wood or stone - they use part of the wood to build furniture and they pray to the other part of the wood. Even 4 year old Seth understands that. While stressing what was right and who was (and wasn't) the true God, I made sure to share some bits of post-modern open-mindedness, too. Seth and I both figured that they just want somebody to help them, just like we want Jesus to help us. And most of those people are praying to idols because they don't know Jesus yet. Seth even knew that it's our job to tell those people about Jesus so that they can stop worshiping their wooden idols and worship the real God.

I was pretty pleased with the whole conversation and thought a lot about how that kind of conversation rarely takes place in the US (shortage of cool looking temples and all). I was even more excited yesterday when he spotted an idol in a different building and gave Lisa the whole lesson again.

One other tidbit - I've found a great daily prayer method that I'm compelled to share with everyone. It's from the British Jesuits at www.pray-as-you-go.org.

They have different mp3s for everyday and each one is about 10 minutes long. There's a time of music, Scripture reading, and some questions for reflection. And lots of silence/quiet music. It's just about perfect for me and I've been looking for a meaningful, convenient way to pray every morning. These mp3s are like good scaffolding that give you a good start and direction, but allow you to build on what they've got. I think it's a good idea to still have other times of prayer, but this is easy and good. They're also perfect for the drive to work or the walk to the local steamed bread stand for breakfast. Go check it and be sure to thank the Jesuits while you're there!

Holy, Holy, Holy

The girl on the left is named Ming-Ming. She says she is interested in reading and singing songs with us because it is holy. She says she likes the feeling of the sacred, and that we all need that in our lives. She says her grandma is a believer, and she has always admired that, and would like to know more. Ming-Ming is a sweet girl, outgoing and always smiling; we think she will become a good friend. She is also very willing to bring others over to see us: One day she brought the other girl in this picture, Yun-Yun, and a couple of times she has brought a guy named Justin, who says he is also interested in reading the Bible. We plan to spend more time with Ming-Ming and Justin over the next couple of days. They've volunteered to be tour guides when the Hardins come to visit Shaoxing for this National Day vacation. Pray that they will see the light of God shining in our lives and soon experience His saving grace firsthand.

The Babysitters' Club

These are the three freshmen girls that we have had over twice to train them to be Phoebe's little babysitter group. We met them outside one day while on a walk around campus, and they showed so much interest in Phoebe, getting down on her level and engaging her. She seemed to respond really well to them, and when we asked them their major, they said it was elementary education. So...we decided if they are good with kids and seem to love them, they might be uniquely suited to caring for Phoebe when we need a morning or evening out. When they come over they all have so much fun, and Pheebs does too. She even cried last time when they left! I really hope, too, that they will see the light that we enjoy from Jesus in our home. We've sung Christian kids' songs like "God Made the Round, Round Sun" and "Jesus Loves Me" with Phoebe while they're here, and we want to let them read little Bible story books and watch Bible cartoons with Pheebs while they stay with her. Pray for their good care of Phoebe and for open hearts to accept Jesus' love for the little (and not so little) children of the world.

Okra for Mid Autumn Festival? OK by me!

About a week after we got here, we were invited to a government-sponsored forum in honor of the Chinese Moon Festival holiday. It was a typical upscale Chinese conference and banquet in a nice hotel, with tea, fruit, speeches, then a reception in the banquet hall with nice dishes and lots of toasting. But there was a surprise: okra! This is the first time in our 10 years here that we have EVER seen okra in China, except the time i grew some on my own back porch in Jingzhou one year. To find some at this banquet was a big surprise, to say the least. It wasn't deep-fried, but it tasted great; they had stir-fried it with pork and red peppers. You never know what you are going to see next, huh? In the photo, the okra is that green stuff front and center, just in case you cannot recognize it if it isn't breaded. Ha ha.

Out of Season

II Tim 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.

In September GaoYan and I had hoped to build on to Sunday worship with Grace’s family and XingEr’s family. This month, however, we have been met with one conflict after another. XingEr and MaMa traveled back to the hometown for more than a month to get some rest and help with XingEr. Grace’s baby had a high fever one Sunday. The next Sunday their family traveled to their hometown for the nut picking festival.

It seems that it’s out of season.

To add to the confusion the Eighth National Paralympic Games just rolled into Hangzhou. ZUST has many students volunteering to help. My classes are moved from mid-week to the weekend. In addition to the seven day October holiday, I’m scheduled to work three weekends in October.

It seems that it’s out of season.

One morning making my dash to 8:00 o’clock class, I nearly crashed into an African student holding his open Bible sharing the Word of God with a Chinese student. As I swerved my bicycle I overheard “good for you” in African accent. Hundreds of students were streaming past on their way to class. I prayed for them as I locked my bike and ran up the stairs. No weekly time, no weekly place. “Praise the Lord!”

GaoYan and I have been preparing ourselves for out of season. GaoYan listens to the Bible on her MP3 player each night as she washes the dishes. My nightly reading to Caleb is from a children’s Bible, a version I understand better. Sharing God’s Word happens in playtime with Joy and other toddlers. Sharing God’s Word happens when parents and grandparents are picking up at the daycare. Sharing God’s Word happens with shared meals.

It’s OK to be out of season.

Galatians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Matt 5:13, 14 You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matt 28:19 Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations.

Shane

We have talked about Shane before.  He was a student at ZUST.  He started studying the Bible with Josh and came to believe.  He was ready to be baptized, but he told his parents about his decision and they were against it.  It was very disappointing that Shane decided not get baptized.

Thankfully God has continued to call him and he has continued to study and attend worship services.  Shane lives and works very close to our apartment.  He has been coming to our house on Sundays.  Shane is very serious and thoughtful.  He knows what he really needs to do.

At the beginning of the year (right when we came back from the US) he announced that his goal this year was to be baptized.  He is still fearful.  Then he said that he would set a date after the October holiday (next week).  He has set the date for October 16.
We are very excited about this!  Shane is a great guy!  He will be an even better Christian.  He will already lead singing, and is working with Jon to learn how to do other things in our service.  He is also interested in teaching.  He does talk to his friends about his beliefs.

Next week Shane will go back to his hometown for the National Day holiday. His parents just want what is best for Shane, and they do not see how in a country of atheists how being a Christian would be good for him.  Please pray for him.  Please pray to protect Shane and his conviction.  Pray that he can be a good influence on his family.