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.