Monday, July 26

Sunday July 25

Today was a transition day as we flew from Beijing to a city further west to begin our “official” ministry. Upon arrival, we met a group from McKinney Fellowship Bible for lunch. It was a great time of hearing how they have been working with youth in the earthquake zone as well as doing friendship evangelism through conversational English at a Western coffee house. We were encouraged and challenged by their stories and fellowship. In the afternoon, we visited the school that we will be teaching English at for the next four days in order to meet our local contacts and assess our classroom space. In the evening we met to plan for the next day as well as to have a devotional on five thresholds of conversion – the first being building trust. We finished with a time of prayer for our work. We all feel inadequate for our task but are trusting God – knowing that He loves to use weak vessels to achieve His purposes.

We were reminded today of how God is at work in all circumstances and there really are no “non-ministry” days. Even though today was supposedly a transition day and our “official” ministry in this new city had not begun, God blessed us with both a conversion and opportunities to plant seeds. The conversion was one of those rare instances where those who planted the seeds were also able to reap the harvest. A young lady that Dan & Sarah first talked to about Jesus several years ago during their ministry here, declared to Sarah today that she was ready to accept Christ! I’m sure Sarah will be providing more details, but as this is sure to be a highlight of our trip, I wanted you to be able to rejoice with us in what God has done.

Additionally, God provided opportunities for some of us to plant seeds today in something as simple as the plane ride from Beijing. I sat next to a 23 year old man who had just graduated from university and is starting his career as a designer of fighter planes for the government. We talked about many things including his family, his country, and his love of NBA basketball. He saw that I was reading Watchman Nee’s “The Normal Christian Life” and asked me about it. Through this I was able to find out that he has an Aunt who is a believer and has been trying to get him to consider Christianity. He said his grandmother is Buddhist and this has created many arguments between his Aunt and grandmother. He mentioned how large of a book the Bible was and said he has been too busy with his studies. I suggested that he might want to just read the book of John to find out more. Please pray that God would use this encounter to spur him to read the Bible and consider the claims of Christ.

Mike Busch

Saturday - July 24

At 4:30 this morning, when I couldn’t go back to sleep (my body still doesn’t know what time it is!), I began to pray for the people of China and the employees of our hotel. It made me sad to realize at the Temple of Heaven that China in her past had the knowledge of God, but they only had an Old Testament kind of knowledge and didn’t know Jesus. Today, the Chinese people have forgotten God. Because of the hardship of their lives, many have given up hope. I pray for this to change! They need Jesus! On the other hand, Americans have been blessed with wealth and comfort, but America has forgotten God, so we need Jesus too! Therefore, we are not much different.

Today, as we visited the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and went to a Christian-owned restaurant, I prayed for both of the countries. In China, I am encouraged that things are becoming more open and God is working.

Nguyen

Temple of Heaven

Today, we visited Tian Tan – the Temple (literally Altar) of Heaven. Ancient Chinese records declare a general knowledge of the Sovereign God (Shang Di) which parallels that of the Old Testament. Think pre-law, pre-Moses – walking away from the Tower of Babel, these people knew who God was and what he required of man. No temple was ever built for Shang Di, no image ever formed of Him. Once a year the emperor humbled himself before Him and asked for his mercy and favor. Pray that this original knowledge of God among the Chinese people would be rediscovered. We walked among many nationals who have no understanding of this place or its meaning.

-Sarah

Two quotes from the sacrificial rites that took place at Tian Tan are below.

At the beginning: “Of old in the beginning, there was the great chaos, without form and dark. The five planets had not begun to revolve, nor the two lights to shine. In the midst of it there existed neither form nor sound. You, O spiritual Sovereign, came forth in Your sovereignty, and first did separate the impure from the pure. You made heaven; You made earth; You made man. All things became alive with reproducing power.”

At the end: “The service of song is completed, but our poor sincerity cannot be expressed. Your sovereign goodness is infinite. As a potter, You have made all living things. Great and small are sheltered (by Your love). Imprinted on the heart of Your poor servant is the sense of Your goodness, so that my feeling cannot be fully displayed. With great kindness You do bear with us, and, notwithstanding our demerits, do grant us life and prosperity.”

“”

First Impressions

Ni Hao! Good morning from East Asia! Thank you for your prayers! We arrived safely with all of our luggage. God is faithful as we were able to breeze through customs. Already we are a bit overwhelmed as the sights, sounds, and smells of China’s culture have enveloped us. The people are friendly and very anxious to chat with Americans. Yesterday in the airport I had the opportunity to meet two families with children and they were very excited to practice their English and help me practice a couple of Chinese phrases…lots of shy smiles cross the language barrier. Again, thank you for parternering with us as you have sacrificed to send us…keep praying please.

With love, Susan for all!

On Their Way

The East Asia Team is on their way. They began their journey tonight as they passed through security and boarded their first of many flights. Please keep them in your prayers as the best is yet to come........

Mosquito bites

After traveling to an island earlier this week with our missionaries, Robert and Ruthie will be flying back to Manila today and then on to meet up with the team on Thursday. Please pray for their safe travel and that we will easily be able to find one another in the airport after we land.

They also shared that they have had a lot of mosquito bites and are praying none of these pests carry malaria. They are taking malaria medication, but they've been told the pills won't prevent malaria, only make the case lighter. Please pray that they will not contract malaria for the sake of their own health and for the Work to be done.