Hey Berean, how is everything back at home, hope all is going well. In recent news, I was able to share the gospel with Zheng Wen last week, it was probably our sixth or seventh time meeting up and I felt it was the right opportunity to share. I treated him out to dinner and he started asking me a lot of personal questions, which was really good because we got to know each other on a deeper more personal basis during our meal. While we were walking back home, he asked me what I wanted to do when I got back to the States, I asked him the same question in return and he replied with a sigh, “sell clothes I guess” in mandarin. I figured it was a good opportunity to share so I just talked with him a little about it. In sum, he agrees with the gospel and sees how it could be true, but I guess he just hasn’t fully accepted what God has done for him and doesn’t yet completely believe that he is a sinner. Please pray on his behalf, that God would cause him to search for truth and the meaning of life, and ultimately find it in Christ. Please also pray that as I continue to meet up with him that I continue to be a good witness and try to live like Christ; that I would be humble in speech and action and that I would also show genuine love and concern for Zheng Wen. Carmelon, is opening up to me as well. Just a few weeks ago, our meetings were really strict and straight forward, he simply saw me as an individual that gives free English lessons and therefore sought to use that for his advantage. I know this could be a bad thing but sometimes I just feel burnt out and dismayed when I hang out with Carmelon, especially when he treats me like an asset instead of a friend. But thank God! just last week, I was really touched when he decided to show his appreciation for me by taking care of the bill before we were done eating, we ended up not talking about English at all but just about fun things and what we liked to do during our spare time. I thought it was very beneficial because all the previous times I just end up teaching English and then leaving right after that. But it was good that we had that day to simply talk and chill like friends. Please pray to God for more opportunities and days like the one stated above, that it would be fruitful in building friendship and later open a channel for me to share. It would be nice if you could also pray for me in this regard, that if Carmelon does decide that he just wants to learn English from me and nothing else for the time being, that I would do it with a grateful heart and just be patient with him. I think often times, especially when I go in very anxious for an opportunity to share, I end up getting very dismayed when I do not get the chance to. But please pray for me, that I would just trust in God, that he has a time and place for me to share, and that it would bear fruit if he wills it to when I eventually do. I also had a chance to meet up with one of the guys I met from the NRB that one day we went for Becky’s bday. After meeting with Wang, I felt like he forced himself to meet up with me and that learning English was not even a priority for him. When I asked to meet again on a different occasion, he hesitated and just said he would call me if he had the extra time. I think I will just see what happens with Wang from NRB, I really do not want him to feel forced to learn English from me or anything like that, so just pray for him that if not me, that one day another Christian would be given the chance to share with him. See some of you soon, thanks again for all the prayers. My asthma is doing well, and my mom is doing a lot better. Her health should be closer to normal in mid-April, thanks again for all the prayers regarding her. Much love.
I can’t believe February is already gone. I didn’t realize how fast time flew by until I started writing this update. This month, I’ve been learning what it means to be faithful and patient. Because many of the students were away for the holiday, there were no opportunities to meet new people. Furthermore, work at the Hakwon was up in the air for some of us, and so I personally had to learn to be patient. I didn’t realize how hard it was to be still and quiet with him. I really believe that he was causing me to draw near to him, to come before him, and depend on him. One day, I felt a bit discouraged and useless, so I came before him and asked him to in courage me because I felt like a useless human being. Ha ha. I believe that he is a very humorous God because after I prayed that, he not only encouraged me but humbled me. After praying that thought, I had an opportunity to meet with Rita one on one. It was such a good time of fellowship. I was really encouraged by her because although life is frustrating, tiring, and unpredictable for her, she tries her hardest to fight against the current and beats herself to be faithful to him. Above all, I was humbled by how she recognizes and takes the time to appreciate the unexpected blessings that he gives her. I was truly challenged by that because I realized that being the pessimist that I am, I focus on the negative and overlook the good things that God blesses me with. Ha ha. I don’t think Rita realizes how much he uses her. Seriously, it has been good meeting up with her at least once a week to hang out and to share about our lives. Also, he gave me an opportunity to meet with Celine (from our very first English camp) and her boyfriend Thomas. It was a very interesting meeting. We talked about how Christians have total dependence on him, and she said that she and her bf had a hard time understanding that because they want to be independent and be able to take care of themselves. In the end, there was a mutual understanding that she didn’t see the need for him. She said that she liked how her life is, and although she sees that he may be real, she doesn’t want to have the need for him because that makes her feel vulnerable and dependent. Although I was a bit discouraged, I still had hope for her because she still wanted to know him more. And she expressed that she might check out a house in the Philippines (where she is working as a translator). Please pray for her and bf that they will realize that they are in seen and that they need him. So although I waver, he continues to be faith full and gracious to me with unexpected blessings and opportunities. Please continue to pray that I will be more faith full and patient. And above all, please pray that I will have a hart of thanks for ALL that he does.
It’s already been two months since we’ve gotten here and I can honestly say that I feel like I have been here forever. Although this month flew by without having really done too much, I feel like we’re able to see a whole new side of big China, through the celebration of the New Year, and were able to really see more of a holistic picture of His desire for this country. The month of February was filled with many blessings, trials, and revelations as I have learned more about HIS faithfulness and grace through daily life here. As we have become more accustomed to life in Beijing, comfort has definitely become part of the struggle, as well as making good use of our free time, so that it is pleasing to Him. I feel that for myself, the month of February was pivotal in learning the truths of genuine faith and answered prayers. As we go into the month of March, I really hope that He will continue to open my eyes to the field out here and grant me genuine compassion as we start meeting up consistently with students. I want to be faithful with everything He has given me; especially the girls that He gives me an opportunity to meet up with.
Please pray for:
1) Focus coupled with the right attitude/heart, so that I may not forget why I am here and would take up every opportunity that I receive, remembering that it’s a blessing from Him and proof of HIS constant faithfulness. Also that I would really humble myself at the foot of the Christ daily, and understand who I am in respect to Him. I am excited to see what He has in store for us for the next 5 months, and to really want to continue to grow a heart of compassion for the ppl here. Also that I may be able to cultivate a heart for His people everywhere, not just here, and that that heart would transfer over when I return back to the States.
2) For the girls I am meeting up with: Kina, and Summer have asked me to meet up with them consistently to talk, and share. Please pray to Him that these conversations will lead to a discussion of deeper issues, and hopefully a sharing of the message. After Joy comes back from India, she has also expressed that she would like to meet up. She has asked good questions about the book, and has told me that she has been reading. Please pray that He would really open the eyes of her heart to see her sinfulness, and see her need for Christ.
3) Praise Him for His faithfulness to my family, and with us beginning work out here. Please pray that we will be faithfulness with what we have received and that we would not complain but be diligent workers and a light at our work.
Thank you everyone for your love and support! Please continue to “pray” for us, as you guys are a crucial part of our work out here!
Hello family. I think like others have mentioned since mid January till this week, all students were back in their hometowns, so besides those that lived in the city, everyone was gone. Other than starting up learning the language again, this month I had an opportunity to receive sports “minestrone” training from a couple of workers here. We have been trying to meet twice a week going through some of the activities, like values-based-games that have opened up opportunities here to go to local schools. It’s been interesting to learn this different approach to work here, so if you could pray for the workers here involved in this type of work.
Also I was able to have dinner with Daniel one on one and just catch up with how he was doing. I found out he made some friends at his government church and one of his younger friends introduced him to a church. So he told me he would go check it out. The rest of the guys I will be meeting with starting with this coming week so please pray for them as well.
Prayers
- Please continue to pray for my family. My little brother is back home now, so please pray for both my brothers’ salvation (Ed & Danny).
- Pray for Daniel & Trog. They both are growing, I think Daniel is more disciplined than Trog, so please pray specifically that their love for God would just grow deeper.
- Pray for my meetings with Mario and Stanley. Pray that God would soften their hearts to really be humbled to the manual. We will be studying so please pray for me to have wisdom not from myself but from God.
- Pray also for Tim & the bad boys. Recently Tim asked to meet with me consistently to practice his English because he is job hunting and has time. Please pray for opportunities as we meet one on one to really dive into deep things.
- Pray for my language partner, Alex’s former partner, Leo, we started meeting again. His wife is a Christian, and he has been exposed to God, but still can’t commit because of the costs. Pray that I would be a good witness and that as we meet our times would grow into deeper things.
- Please pray for our team unity in everything we do.
Hello Berean. I can’t believe that we’ve already been out here for 2 months. Time seriously feels like it’s flying by. Sometimes I feel that I personally haven’t done much out here. But when I sit down and think about it, God has a time and place for everything; I just need to be on my knees and ready like Isaiah for opportunities that God gives me when they come.
Cool and Peter have started school again. It’s a bit harder now to meet up with them to play basketball since they are focused on school 7 days a week. The other day we were able to play basketball and have dinner with Cool and his friend. So far, our conversations have pretty much been limited to basketball and asking them about school. Please pray to God that our conversation would be deeper and have more meaning.
A few weeks ago, Gale (a student from a previous summer camp) stayed over at our place for a couple of nights. We stayed up late one night watching TV and he asked me what I thought the meaning of life was. This sparked a series of other conversations and caused him to open up and share with us his past and the things that he’s been through. Because of his past, it’s caused him to think about the meaning of life and why he lives. I really feel that he’s searching and that he has a longing to find the answer. “Coincidentally”, I was in the middle of reading “Don’t Waste Your Life” by Piper. I showed him the book and he seemed to show a lot of interest in it. I gave the book to him right before he left and he took it with thanksgiving. I followed up with him a few days later with an email and he responded. Here is a part of what it said: “Actually I have already begun that book today while I was taking my class today. Something good is that one of my friends even asked to borrow it while I told him that I will after I finish it. That must be the magic of “gospel” right? I`m sure I will tell you if there is somewhere I can`t understand.” I hope you’re all encouraged as much as I am. Please be on your knees for him. He’s studying in Japan to learn Japanese. Please pray that God would continue to guide Gale to Himself and that he would find the answers that he seeks in His manual.
Thank you guys for your prayers for my parents. I spoke to them the other day and was able to ask my dad if he was still reading the Bible. He said he was and that he was reading Ecclesiastes. I wasn’t able to talk to him too much about it on Skype but it seemed that he was focusing on Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 and 9:9 on the enjoyment of life. Please pray that God would give him a full understanding of His Word and that he would not focus on the portions that he likes.
For me, please pray that I would remain focused. Already, I feel that I am becoming comfortable and losing focus on why I am here. Please also pray that I would be more passionate for Him and have a continual hunger for His Word.
