Popcorn Strings

Tonight we had a student over named Winnie, and we ate pesto for supper together, which she had never had and liked, and then we all strung popcorn strings to put on our Christmas tree! Today we put up our tree, and decorated it with lights, and tonight we added the strings, not only of popcorn, but also of Chinese red dates. Looks festive and rustic. As we strung popcorn and red dates on strings, it gave us plenty of time to just be with Winnie and get to know her and kind of quiz her on how much she knows about the history and meaning behind Christmas. She seemed to know a little bit, but to feel kind of self-conscious about not knowing more. Next week, we are having her over to prepare a special Guangdong-style chicken soup (people from China's southern Guangdong province just love homemade, slow-cooker style soups), and then we will watch and discuss The Nativity Story, the film. I am unsure as to her level of interest, it is just one of those things that we are going to do and see how it works out. Once again, we would love to ask you to join us in prayer that she will have an open heart easily touched by the Spirit of God and person of Jesus. Also, pray that if there is a person that she could possibly bring who will be open to the story, pray that she will be prompted to invite that person to come with her here!

Paula: shopping then tortilla making

One of our most interesting contacts is Paula, a reserved, but once you get to know her, quite talkative girl from another town here in Zhejiang province. Her father is a farmer and her mother is a travelling folk opera performer. Paula says that as she was growing up, her parents were both quite preoccupied with their jobs, and therefore she kind of raised herself, with some help from her grandma, of course! Anyway, Paula is interesting because she is descriptive, and willing to tell us some stuff about herself, her feelings, and her experience of growing up in China. This month we hung out with her some, first we took her shopping one day, she helped us manage Phoebe a bit while we grocery shopped, and we talked some while Pheebs played in a little indoor playground in our favorite shopping center, and then we all ate noodles together. Another day Paula came over, and she helped me make tortillas and fajitas. She is comfortable in a kitchen, a trait less common among young Chinese students. She liked seeing how Mexican food was made. Our prayer with her that day was "Dear God, thanks for Mexican food!" Can I get an Amen? Then Paula washed the dishes! I told her not to repeatedly, but she just kept washing. I see some of Jesus in her already, and I am praying for the Lord to prepare her heart so that she can be receptive as we share His story with her. Please pray with us.

Lecture American Family / Chinese Family

Each year the foreign teachers are required to give a lecture. We never know to expect hundreds of students or eight students. I give the same speech every year: American Family / Chinese Family. I show some pictures and tell some family stories.


This year seemed quite productive. More than 100 students came to listen. There was a representative from the English office taking role, thus the great attendance. Caleb’s classmate GuoGuo and her parents came to listen, because they saw the speech advertised by the cafeteria. Caleb came along and was well behaved. Caleb even sang the books of the New Testament song for the crowd. One young man named Dan had many questions about the church and Bible study practices in our family. After the speech we walked together and exchanged phone numbers.


Hi Dan. This is Joshua. Thank you for your questions about the church and the Bible. We can study more Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3:05 if you have time.
Dan: Hi Joshua. Thank you for sending this text to me. I am looking for my belief recently. So I am very glad to study more about Christian with you. I will bring my King James Bible. My time is ok. Could you tell me where we will meet?
Josh reply: Classroom A2 410. The Bible says (John 14) Jesus is the way, the truth, the life. On Tuesday we can study.


Dan has already graduated from GongDa, our neighbor university. He worked for that university for a year then quit his job to study English. Dan says, “I have found the best way to study English. Listen to English tapes and read classical English like Shakespeare. I watched a play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” One English corner instead of singing a silly song, Dan recited Robert Frost “The Road Not Taken.”


However, Dan has talked with Robert the local Bahai missionary. Presently Dan says his religion is to believe in truth, beauty, and kindness from the ideas of some German philosopher? Dan has a friend who challenged, “That is not a religion.” He gave Dan a King James Bible and stated “I read this and I became a Christian.”


Dan is a truth seeker. Pray that he will find Jesus the way, the truth, and the life.

I'm a Scaredy Cat

Lisa and I have been in China for over 7 years together. Before that Lisa was in China for a while by herself and I was in Peru for a short time. And before that we both served as student directors at UTC's Christian Student Center. So we've been doing ministry related work part-time or full-time for the last 12 years. And I'm still a scaredy cat about sharing my faith.

I became a Christian while at UTC and it was intimidating to talk about Jesus with other students. I don't think anybody ever gave me any guidance, mentoring, or teaching about it either. But every now and then I got over it and tried. There are so many things to be worried about aren't there? Whenever we move to a new city we're a little bit scared about who to share our faith with and how we should start. We get used to life and ministry in our old city, but when it's time to start over it can be scary. I'm getting older, so talking to young students can be tough sometimes. And talking to an adult freaks me out, too. It's intimidating to talk to adults who have their own set ideas and ask tougher questions.

Once I get used to a new city, new people, and have a few "successes" talking to people it all gets easier. But starting is always hard. It's hard to start sharing my faith in a new place and it's hard to talk about it with new people. Even after 12 years it's hard. The only thing that I've found easy is to talk to total strangers about faith. That's pretty easy because there's almost no risk involved. It's much easier for me to fly to Nicaragua and have a Bible study in Spanish with a total stranger than it is to find creative ways to love and share faith with my next door neighbor. I think that's as true for full-time missionaries as it is for anybody else. The only way I can overcome my nervousness, fear, and scaredy cat tendencies are with prayer, accountability from my friends, and an extra portion of courage from God's Spirit.

So to all those Christians out there who are a little bit intimidated about sharing Jesus with others: I feel ya'.

And to all my friends and neighbors who I haven't gotten the courage to talk to about Jesus yet: Sorry about that. Be patient. I'm a scaredy cat.

A very special Sunday

As the Davis's already posted, Jane (Chong Chong's mamma) was baptized recently.  It was a very special Sunday.  Everyone shared their favorite Bible verse with Jane.  It was great.  It was special to see so many people sharing in God's word.

 Li Wen and her cousin Li Hong.

Margaret, Jane, and Bonnie

 Jane's husband was there too (sitting behind Jane)

Elaine's husband Li, and Margaret's husband Sun were there too.

I

The kids had front row seating for all the action!

We were sad that the Rays and Pryors were leaving but it was a wonderfully uplifting Day.

Shane (Part 3)

Shane was baptized in the Hardin’s home during a Sunday worship. Every day the alarm on my phone rings at one o’clock and we pray for Shane. We have been praying this Power of One prayer for more than a year.

It is powerful to see God working through people. Two years ago, Shane was part of a student worship with Jeff, Cathy, and Tanner and we saw Next get baptized. The next year he was part of the student study with the Clarks and Davises and we were stopped by the school. Shane, Benjamin, Luke, and I would eat lunches together. Shane has been attending the Hardin’s worship and has been encouraged by Elaine and Margaret and new friends Clint and LingLing and Taffy. Shane now studies with Jon, Shelly, James and others on Tuesday nights. When I think of Shane’s road to become a Christian, I see God using perseverance, people, and prayer.

Now Shane and I are doing 40 days of prayer with Jesus. We read a Bible verse of Jesus’ prayer and then write our own prayer to God. Shane and I email and text prayers every day.
Thank you God for Shane, a new brother in Christ.

Jane

Jane (ChongChongMaMa) was baptized in Elaine’s home during a Sunday worship. What a wonderful celebration! Jane’s husband, Margaret’s family, and Elaine’s family were all there to see Jane become a new Christian. I think there were 35 people all together.


It is powerful to see God working through people. Margaret shared about her friendship with Jane and the conversations leading up to Jane’s decision to obey the gospel. In addition Grace is Jane’s college classmate. Jane has come to many Friday night studies in Grace’s home.
(From May 2010) ChongChong’s whole family, father, mother, and younger sister GuoGuo, came two weeks. And one week ChongChong’s Christian grandma came. At the end of our study we all take a turn to say a short prayer. ChongChong’s grandma said we should stand up. ChongChong MaMa began crying as she prayed (she often cries during the last prayer) asking for forgiveness for times she had not treated her mother-in-law fairly over the years. ChongChong’s grandma began singing a song of encouragement to her daughter-in-law. Grace also knew the song and she joined in. When we had finished praying ChongChong’s grandma said we have to recite the Lord’s Prayer to finish.


Jane and her family have also served our family many times. When Caleb got strep throat a year ago ChongChong’s family helped us in the hospital three days in a row. They let us borrow a crib for our baby Joy. Joy wears clothes from Jane’s two daughters all the time.


Thank you God for Jane, a new sister in Christ.