A New Season

In the past few weeks, Hua Qiao and the city of Changchun have experienced several changes.  Two weeks ago, we experienced the first snow in our new home.  While sitting in the window sill of my 6th floor apartment having a good heart to heart talk, Abram and i sat and watched as drifts of tiny white specks quietly blotted out the landscape below us.  It was a beautiful and tranquil scene as we sat and watched the face of our campus change during the midnight hours.  We had just come from fellowship with our team and a sobering conversation with some other teammates.  Many topics were brought up in that conversation, and the desire to see the change of the spiritual face of this campus was part of that.

I can't explain to you how exciting this month has been so far.  Less than two weeks ago, a student who was earnestly seeking Him by reading the Word and engaging in many amazing conversations with myself and the rest of the team made the commitment that would change the dwelling place of his soul for eternity.  A couple individuals had spent much time pouring out into his life and sharing the power and amazing love of His Son.  After being given the proper 'resources,' this student (i'll call him Phil for reference sake) devoured the book reading for at least an hour a day, chapter by chapter.  We would meet with him in the dining hall to answer the many brilliant questions he would ask.  I can't express the joy it brought me to be able to share with someone who was so hungry.  After several weeks of earnestly seeking, he finally gave up control and committed his life to the only One who could really control it.  It was amazing.  "This is the happiest time in my life.  I won't let anybody go to hell.  I will tell everybody about Jesus."  A couple of days later, he had come across the Great Commission and had it written down and stored in his pocket as well as memorized.  In Chinese society, money and success is everything.  One of my friends here shared with me how his father had raised him teaching him that money is his god.  Phil now doesn't really see the significance of money anymore, rather that it should be given away.  It is completely encouraging and exciting to see the growth and Spirit's work in this new brother.  I look forward to introducing you to him someday.

This last Monday i was supposed to meet this new member of the family at the dining hall again.  Phil had just finished Matthew and was beginning to read Luke and Joshua.  As i was going up to meet him i was greeted by a student i had never met before.  He opened the door for this unfamiliar cripple on crutches and introduced himself.  After we had talked for a short while he asked if i had plans to eat with anyone.  I explained that i was meeting a friend and he politely said goodbye.  After meeting up with Phil we walked over to the line to order food.  Suddenly the new friend i had met (let's call him "Ted") was back.  He somehow knew Phil and wanted to know if he could eat with us.  As we were sitting down at our table i took out my 'Book' from my back pocket and set it on the table so i could sit comfortably.  Before we even have time to bless the food he picks up the Book, "is this a Bible?!"  He explains that he has been wanting to know much more about this Book and the faith it talks about.  All of a sudden i find i'm not so hungry and i begin to just share what seems like "fire shut up in my bones."  As i begin going through His redemptive story Ted repeats much of it back to me; some from what i said, and some from a Chinese book on the history of Christianity.  He shares how he has been discontent and realizing that the pleasures he had been seeking were only temporary and stated that he had been searching for something more meaningful, his purpose in life.  As i share more and more i feel like i can't contain it anymore and that tears are ready to start flowing.  "[Ted], i think i have your answer."  As i try to write this i realize that words simply can't convey the deep joy that i found that night.  It was simply a miracle how it all worked out.  And that's not the end.  As we were getting up to leave after talking for an hour and a half, a sister and a friend walk up and asked if they could answer some of his questions in Chinese.  They talked for another hour and a half.  Two days later i run into Ted again.  Phil is there with him.  They decide to join Abram and i for dinner and another wonderful conversation ensues.  It kills me to not be able to share each word spoken, but for sake of brevity and a poor memory, i will say that it was nothing short of another miracle, and Ted was the one that pointed it out.  Today we were able to put in his hands the resources he needs to be able to find out for himself how much he is loved.  I received this text shortly thereafter: "Yes, let there be light when we lose faith and fall into darkness, hope i would have the feeling of everlasting joy as i read the holy bible.  God bless us."

Ted has been on my heart and mind as have many of my other students and friends.  Please continue to lift them up and ask that His Spirit would move through here and radically rock the lives of students, teachers, administration, and staff on this campus.  I also ask that that you would lift up our teams as well.   That we would unconditionally love in the capacity that He loves us and that He would impart wisdom and protection on us.  I gave a lesson this week on "purpose."  I was honestly a little scared about the whole thing, but i want the fear of God to determine my behavior, not man.  The souls of these kids could depend on it.

I heard a message by Francis Chan last week that greatly convicted me.  He began talking about the pain that Paul had for his fellow Jews that they would know their Savior.  How i want to ache for this lost world as he did.  That not only my eyes, but that the eyes of the entire Body would be opened to see what is really at stake.  I'm tired of taking things lightly.  I'm tired of thinking only of myself.  Am i gonna be caught off guard when Jesus comes back?  Or is he going to find me working hard and running this race as it was meant to be run?  He paid too great a price for me to give anything less...

"I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart, for i could wish that i myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to my flesh..." 
Romans 9: 2-3

Hua Qiao, as seen from my apartment window

Updates:

1. New link added.  My teammate Abram updates a blog as well.  If you would like to view his blog click on the link on the right hand side that says "abram's blog."
2. I am hoping to upload some of the photos from my Hong Kong trip as well as some more pictures taking from my apartment window.  I hope this does not qualify me as a peeping tom.
3. I am trying to send out another newsletter, but i do not think it will make it before the holidays.  Please forgive me if this is an issue.

Sour Milk

After 3+ weeks I'm finally back and trying to think of everything that has happened during that time and even where to begin.  I am sorry for not doing my part on keeping regular updates.  There has been a lot going on, but it really doesn't excuse the fact that i haven't updated those who made great sacrifices to send me here.  The following is a very condensed version of what has happened since waking up in that hospital bed to over 3 weeks post op.

After waking up that Thursday afternoon in Canossa Hospital in Hong Kong, I felt kind of different.  Obviously the effect of the anesthetic was part of that, but i had a sense of carelessness with everything going on.  The doctor said it was a complete rupture or avulsion and that it would take about 8 months until i could start playing sports again.  Since he wanted to see me a week after the surgery i found a place to stay with another foreign teacher who was working in Hong Kong.  The room was in a shared building in a village in a much more rural part of Hong Kong known as the New Territories.  As i walked into that place i could feel the humidity and heat begin to have its effect on my already warm body.  And it was there that i would spend the next 5 nights not once leaving the building, save for taking the garbage out on the last night.   My computer had no access to internet and my room contained an A/C and a bed.  It was there that everything hit me.  I was alone in a foreign place, with a an injury i had not yet adjusted to,  unfamiliar with the kind stranger who was allowing me to live there, and having to depend on everybody else.  My pride was at an all time low and i had no idea how i was going to make it through one day much less a week.  The only one i had to turn to was Him, and though i tried to be good and read the Word and other stuff, i was really quite apathetic to everything going on.

I don't share these things so that you would pity me or feel bad, but that you can see the raw me.  My purpose before all of this was to shift the focus to Him and that this would be a totally different way to handle a new injury.  However, i think some of that was really my pride.  A self-righteousness that i prided myself in.  I will talk more about this later on.   Thankfully i was not alone in Hong Kong.  I had a great team leader who travelled with me until after my surgery and then the wonderful women of the organization's Hong Kong office who helped me greatly and gave so much of themselves.  Also, the gentleman i stayed with was very generous and i enjoyed the time that i was able to spend with him.

As if it couldn't come soon enough the time did pass and it wasn't as bad as i initially thought it was.  I saw the doctor, boarded the plane and took off for my much missed home in Changchun.  I was picked up at the airport by some much missed faces and i was finally in my own rock hard bed that i missed all too much.

The next night i spent time physically on my knees, which was a first since i had been injured.  As if my eyes had been opened, i suddenly realized that i had missed something.  Somehow in everything i lost sight of my Rock and my Redeemer.  I had been so caught up in myself that i had neglected the One who was there for me the whole time.  There was a humbling experience when i came back where i couldn't even share with a student about a simple passage he had been reading.  After that i felt completely and utterly stripped of everything i had labeled myself as.  Not just the pride in taking care of myself, but even the pride i had in my own walk.  I felt as if he stripped me bare before Him and i was forced to lean on Him for support and guidance.  One of my buddies that i greatly respect here said, "i used to feed people food, but i am now being fed milk." I couldn't agree more.  I felt as if that was exactly where i was.  I came to feed and to give of myself, but now i am the one requiring help.  To be honest, i don't think i have ever gone through anything more painful and challenging in my life.  It is not the physical pain, but the pain of my pride being reduced to next to nothing.  It hurts and there really is no other way around it.  He has been teaching me so much through it all and though i stumble and fall often, He is there to pick me up.  I love the verse in 2 Timothy 2:13 where Paul says "It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."  I am so thankful for Jesus and for His great love for me.  I know i have so much more to lose, and He may decide to take it, but whatever the case, may the name of the Lord be praised!

I wish i could just stop there, but there are a lot of other things that have been happening.  Six days after coming back i began teaching my classes again and seeing the students that i missed so much.  While i was away my beloved friends and teammates covered my classes for me and gave of themselves so selflessly.  I am so thankful for their help and patience in all of this.  Most of those classes i had seen only once because of holidays and my untimely injury.  But i covered 6 of my 8 classes that week and then finished my first full week this past week.  I also decided to make the move up to the 6th floor.  There are no leaks (yet), it is much much warmer, and i have a beautiful view of the campus.  I also figured it would help condition my arms and right leg so i could make up for what was lacking in my left.  I have had the opportunity to eat with many of my students both in the dining hall and off campus.  I am so thankful to finally begin creating those relationships and do what i planned on coming here to do (He seemed to have other plans).  The need is great here, but i am so humbled, blessed, and thankful i can be a part of it.  Please continue to lift up Hua Qiao and our teams.  He is moving and going before us.  He has a heart for His people here in China and i want to do everything i can to make sure they know it!

Thank you for those who have kept in contact with me and encouraged me through all of this.  Thank you to those who have remembered me in their quiet times and petitioned that He would move mightily.  Thank you to those who have been faithful in giving of themselves financially and providing me a way to get here.  I ask that He would shower you with blessings for your faithfulness and support.  I am thankful to be part of the Body and i hope that you can share in this joy as well.