news http://www.send.org Copyright 2012 SEND. All rights reserved <![CDATA[Spring Festival]]> January 23 marked the start of chunjie or Spring Festival for our Chinese friends. This is the equivalent of Christmas to us and runs for 1-2 weeks. The atmosphere here is really very festive as all around we can see red lanterns and bright lights. Most shops are packed with people buying all sorts of things to bring to their loved ones back home. They would clean their houses and for those who have money will buy new furniture and clothes. They believe this act will bring good luck to them and drive out evil spirits. On the eve of the 22nd , each family will gather together for a big meal and then children/students or those who aren’t yet working are given hongbao or red envelope which contains money.

The biggest problem facing them right now is how to get home as most train stations, bus stations and even airports are packed with people all wanting to go home to be with their family. There were reports that some people even spent more than 30 hours in the train station only to be told that all tickets were sold out. This is really sad as most of these people have not seen their families back home in the village for more than a year.

Please help me remember them especially the ones who may not be able to come home at all, that the Father will comfort them and continue to open their hearts. For those who have gone home or are traveling, that His traveling mercies be upon them and that they will be able to enjoy their time with their family.

]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST <![CDATA[It's What God Can Do]]> Abby* is a young woman I've had the privilege of befriending. The Lord has truly been moving in her heart and even her father's heart. More than a week ago she had an interview at a big company and she was really disappointed at what happened. Just a few minutes before the interview her shoe broke, her make up was smeared because she fell asleep while she was waiting, and the big boss who interviewed her only asked a few questions. She felt that he wasn’t interested at all. She cried and cried and was so certain that she failed. I tried to encourage her and told her that if this is the Lord's will He will give it to her to prove that it is not by her own ability  but for her to experience first hand that nothing is too difficult for the Father.

Well, just today she told me that she can’t believe that she got the internship! She said “now I really feel it’s not what I can get, it’s what He can do! Amazing God!”  She even called her Dad and told him that she got the job because of God. Her father told her he has always believed there are gods. He saw a news story about people finding hell and heaven, and he believes it is true. He promised her that he will go to church with her this Sunday. Praise the Lord! I am so happy for how the Lord is working in their lives. Please continue to pray that Abby's faith will continue to grow as she experiences what an amazing God she serves and that her father will also come to know Him.

*for security we do not use real names

]]> Thu, 8 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST <![CDATA[Perseverance Pays Off]]> Let me tell you about Rock. I was on my 12th short-term teaching trip to China this summer. Rock was a learner from 2001, and I have been praying for Rock’s salvation for 10 years. He has become a friend of my family, and was our tour guide in 2005. Last summer my son spent two weeks in China and Rock again was his guide. Each year I have seen him and shared my life and faith, including some difficulties my son was having, and the amazing transformation that had happened since Rock had last seen him.

I had spoken before of my faith that God would act in my son’s life. For the first time ever Rock said to me, “I want to go to church this Sunday.” Then on Sunday morning he called to say he had a hangover from celebrating his nephew’s acceptance to pilot’s school, and he could not join me. I was very disappointed but as I waited in line for the church service, a young man came to me and said, “Remember me? I am Ronny, Rock’s nephew. He brought me to class a couple of times.” I did remember Ronny but was amazed that he remembered me. Ronny attended the service with me and said he would return. Since English is required in pilot training, he wanted to take advantage of the English services and the English talk times afterward.

The next week Rock finally joined me. He was quite interested and said he would return with his nephew. I have been taught the value of persistence in prayer!

-China Team

]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST <![CDATA[What is Jesus? Where is that?]]>

I answered the first by pointing out that I did not like the demand for individual rights in western culture over the understanding of our role in the whole group. The first question I answered by saying, “It may surprise you, but I hate religion.” She said, “Why? I believe in God and I think that is good.” I went on to explain that religion is man-made but what we need is a personal relationship with God through his son Jesus. At that point it was like I was looking into a row of teen faces all carved out of stone. One person said, “What’s Jesus?” Another said, “Where is that?” Finally, one student volunteered that “maybe it has something to do with Christmas.”

It sent me back to my own experience as a sixth grader building a model of a Mexican town plaza when the Holy Spirit spoke into my heart and said, “There are all those people in Mexico and they don’t know Jesus like you do.” As I go to China every year I’m confronted with people who don’t know if Jesus is what or where. They have NEVER heard His name.

China team

]]> Wed, 5 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST <![CDATA[On a Journey to Jesus]]> M was a student in 2006 and since then a number of us have kept in touch with her every year we’ve been back. She has also had concentrated time with a team from a Christian college in the USA, and she befriended a Chinese/American college intern back in 2009. Last summer, on our last night, M pulled together several girls from past classes and met with three of us teachers for dinner. The conversation around the dinner table turned to spiritual topics and was rather heavy. Walking back to the subway, M was with me and for the first time told me that her grandmother was Catholic. 

When I returned from China, M wrote: “For me, I would like to talk with old people like my grandma, as I could see part of the picture of history from their words and memory. I believe some part of people who believe in religion in China do not really love God that much. The reason may be complicated, but I think environment and history are the most influential reasons. People here put asking more from God to be the first place, instead of loving him truly. Their reason or purpose of believing is different from people like you and your husband. For my grandma, her belief had already turned to be part of her life. I do not talk about too much with her on her belief now, cause when I talked with her, she always would like to ‘force’ me to believe which made me do not feel so comfortable.  It was new for me to hear from you and your husband in the restaurant that your love to God is more than to each other and it is Him who helped you two to keep walking on your way of marriage when facing problem in life! I knew a little bit of Christianity from friends or teachers, but it is the first time to know the importance or the place of God in your heart.”

Our first weekend in town this summer we met several hours with M. She had written in May that she couldn’t see us then but could we meet in July and  ‘talk about the Lord?’ We found that her job situation working as translator for a foreign foundation was very stressful and this was pushing her to the Lord. She felt God was ‘there’ in her life and she had begun to read the Bible seriously. She told us of various times she felt that ‘God showed up to help her in her time of great need.’ We talked and she talked, and as we parted, my husband asked her, “M, I believe you understand these things. Is there anything keeping you from trusting Jesus right now?” Her response was, “Yes, my rational thinking.” 

The last afternoon in town, M came by the hotel to talk. She’d been traveling all month and had just tendered her resignation to the job. She arrived with a shoulder bag and immediately pulled out a bilingual Bible and a notebook. “OK,” she said. “I’ve finished reading Matthew and I have some questions.” She turned in her notebook to a full page of references and questions and she and I worked through them one by one. We discussed Hebrew and Greek culture, the world where Jesus lived, why the Pharisees didn’t like him and what he came to do. How the Jews rejected Him and why he offered grace to the whole world through his death on the cross. It was a deep and far reaching discussion. When we finished the last reference she folded her notebook and Bible and sat back. I knew she was not ready to be pushed so I just let her sit. There were tears in her eyes and she was very quiet. We parted with a firm hug and a promise to keep talking on email.

M is on a journey and I have no doubt that her destination will be the Lord, but I can’t rush her. Like so many young Chinese we meet, she has had “some not so good experiences with Christians” and we want to show her Jesus, not Christianity or religion. All in God’s time, and hers. 

China Team

]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST <![CDATA[First Time to Church, Ever!]]> For many Chinese in cities, an invitation to church, especially an English service, is readily accepted because they have never been to a church and are curious. Often they don’t even know that there ARE churches in their city. Here are the reports of several professors and students who visited church for the first time this summer at the invitation of their summer school teacher.

“It was amazing last Sunday I went to church. It reminded me of my grandma, who took me to church sometimes when I was really a little girl. It seemed that I saw her, the old lady, put money into the box in church. She passed away fifteen years ago. The chants, so warm and so familiar, wet my eyes. I learnt this: Cast your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (1Peter, 5:7)  I felt very released. He knew I was anxious so he let me go to church and release myself. Then I felt very peaceful and confident after the pray. It was amazing. Let me say, your encouragement made me walk into church again. Thank you, Teacher.”

“Hi! Today is like a dream. It's been a long day. I woke up in the morning with splitting head ache, I thought I couldn't make it. But I still went to the church, like fulfilled a promise. It's a great place, I've never been to such a place like this, got special feelings. Firstly, the pastor greeted everyone, then all the people were standing up to sang songs about praising the God. One was my favorite, "You are My All in All," by the way what does this one lyric line mean: "Worthy is Your Name?" 

“Because I'm a newcomer, so I got a CD of the English Fellowship and a pamphlet on this church. Today's sermon was about "The Work of The Holy Spirit", talking on Conviction, Gifting, Transforming, and so on. Honestly, I'm not quite sure about the understanding of the entire content, but it's an amazing experience indeed. I really love the choir songs, relieved me, purified my soul, to be in there like be in a big family.”

“I have never felt peace like this. People were so kind to us. Is this because they are Christians? What is it that makes them so different?”]]> Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:26:00 EST <![CDATA[On a Journey]]> If you want a seat, you need to come at least a half hour early and stand in line. With more than 1500 attending the English service, seats are at a premium. The line winds around the shady side of the huge building, and where it hits the sunshine there are big umbrellas to shade those waiting. The atmosphere in line is chatty and relaxed with many still eating breakfast or sipping drinks.

We arrive with our friends and connect with English speaking friends from another part of town and another university. Introductions are made, and there’s some “Do you know X or Y?” passed between our friends, the English professors, and our acquaintance, a man who started one of the largest English programs in China.

Our friends have never been to a church in their life.

The line begins to move and quickly hundreds of people climb the wide staircase into the church, holding to the right while equal hundreds flow down the left out of the most recent Chinese service. Sunday is a busy day here.

The auditorium is instantly filled to capacity, most with young adults. There are more standing along the walls, and in the back. We start with a series of worship songs, some in Chinese and some in English, some familiar, and some brand new. There’s a guitar and a violin, drums, several leaders and a row of young singers as the backup. The worship time is rousing and our friend’s little son claps along.

When it’s time for the message, the auditorium quiets and the speaker, a tall Chinese man of about 45, dives into John 15:1-8. He speaks in extremely clear and quite simple English, using power point to show verses and to give simple outlines and application questions. We’ve heard this man several times now and his clarity is incredible. The little son has gotten restless and his mother takes him to the narthex, but the dad sits glued to the words of the speaker.

At exactly one hour, the service comes to a close with a final song, and then a bright welcome song. Volunteers hand out CDs and information pamphlets to visitors, probably 10% of the crowd. In addition to our friends, I count at least 25 of our program students who have also come for the first time. Many had no idea there were churches in China.

After the service we connect with mom and little son and head to lunch at a nearby restaurant. On the way we catch up with the pastor who spoke and introduce ourselves and our friends. He warmly greets our friends and invites them to come back. He tells us that he is actually from the West Indies and it was his great-grandparents who emigrated away from China.

Lunch is a delightful time of relaxed food, peppered with questions. What is the difference between Catholic and Christian? Why didn’t the leaders wear robes? Why is it so informal and relaxed? We have no idea if our friends will go again without us, but they now know what a church is like.

“We really enjoyed it,” they tell us. “You can feel a different spirit there.” Baby steps on a long journey.

Arriving back at the hotel a former student comes by to talk. She’s been reading Matthew and has a whole page of references and questions. I take the questions one by one and explain the context, the culture, and what is going on in the verse. She takes copious notes. This young woman is much further on her journey and in fact, she might have arrived already at belief and doesn’t know it. As she leaves, we promise to continue to answer questions on email.

In just a few minutes yet another young woman will drop by. She has been in the Kingdom for several years and is truly a sister. We’ll talk and deliver what is left of some books and materials that she gave us for anyone who showed interest. There aren’t many left – that’s a very good sign.

Then another guy will come by to get the printer we’ve used from the university. He is our IT fixit go-to guru who is never more than a text away. He doesn’t even know there IS a journey, but we sure love him like a son.

Next year. Next time.

-an English Teacher

]]> Tue, 9 Aug 2011 08:26:00 EST <![CDATA[A New Sister]]> The first time we met her, several years ago, we really couldn’t understand a thing she said. She’s full of life and an eager learner but her English was atrocious. Last year she arrived as a student with a little better communication skills. This summer she is an administrative assistant for us instead of a student and most of the time we understand each other.

Before we started the program, our dean told us he had an assistant for us. He described her as “the girl whose hands wave all the time” and we knew immediately it was T. Daily she works with us making sure everything is smooth. Air conditioners working, copies made, lunch delivered, taxis and guides for field trips, and more. She can’t escape any of us.

This is her third year. The first year her teacher covered her with love. The second year, she had a husband/wife teaching team who are always adored by their students. They are “older” but that never seems to matter to their students.

On Sunday T went to services with a group of the teachers and students. She’s been asking questions constantly, talking to different ones of the team, obviously seeking truth. She listened intently to the message and as a group of us met for lunch, she sat across from R, a former student who followed the Lord four years ago. T peppered R with questions. They found they are graduates of the same college in the university and exchanged phone numbers and email addresses to keep in touch.

Leaving lunch, she journeyed back to the university with another of the teachers and somewhere on the way, she stepped over the line into eternal life. Her teacher called us when they got to the hotel and she came up to the team room. There were several of us sitting around on computers, including her new lunch friend, R, our former student.

In a somewhat halting way, she explained what she had done today, and we all rejoiced with her. R and my husband walked her slowly through some verses. One by one team members arrived and she told them. Her last year teachers arrived last and showed her the pictures they have of her class from 2010. The man said, “Each day, T, I take this paper out and pray for each of you, one by one.”

For each one, it is a journey of a thousand steps, with many, many different guides along the way. And when they finally step over the line, it is still just the beginning of the journey.

-An English Teacher

]]> Thu, 4 Aug 2011 04:08:00 EST <![CDATA[Summer English Camp Begins]]> The first week is always incredibly busy as the team works hard to get over jet lag, learn their way around the city, bond as a team, and get ready to start classes. We worked on training up through midday Saturday, and then Sunday got supplies together and organized for the first day.

Today classes began. It is now 4:30 PM and the classroom building is beginning to quiet down. There is a collective sigh of relief that we’re off and running.

By 8:30 this morning, the auditorium was packed with Chinese learners, about half teachers and half students. After the obligatory opening ceremonies where we and the Chinese administrators give flowery speeches, we hold the first plenary session. I was in the back as we started singing songs, everyone on their feet. Our lead administrator leaned over and said, “This is what they come for – they never get to do anything like this in their schooling!” As foreigners, we can kick back and create very entertaining sessions that the Chinese teachers are not able to do because their educational system is much more formal. And furthermore, this is “summer English camp” and not the regular term.

After the plenary that our team runs, we have “interviews” -- AKA assessments. We have all the foreign teachers in the back at desks and one by one the learners come and sit down and go through an assessment. It went quite smoothly and only took about an hour, but it’s crazy to organize because at this point the students are convinced they don’t understand what we are saying. One of our Chinese professor friends who speaks excellent English, came this morning and was a huge help in organizing them in Chinese. Then, when we finish, we dash upstairs to the teachers’ room, grab some lunch, and sort all the results, organize them into classes. Then we had our prof write up the class list in Chinese – something no one on our team is capable of doing -- to give to the lead administrator to organize the students into at 1 PM.

By the time we finished the afternoon plenary and sent them all out to their classes, the team leaders breathe a huge sigh of relief. Now we can focus on supporting our team of teachers, instead of teaching them.

After a day like this, I feel like comfort food. I think I want IKEA meatballs for supper! Pretty sad when IKEA meatballs sound wonderful.

-a worker in China

]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:04:00 EST <![CDATA[Language Study Leads to Gospel Opportunity]]> Praise the Lord for giving me several opportunities to talk about life and the hope that we have with my teacher. It all started last month when I learned the word hope or xiwang in Chinese. We talked about it and then in my broken Chinese I used it in a sentence.  And then I asked if she had ever been in a hopeless situation or felt hopeless? She said she has never been but was quick to cite examples of how her friends felt hopeless.

I also shared my own story when my family lost everything from the lahar flow (mudflow) that half buried our house in 1995 but I didn’t lose hope. At first I was hesitant to share about the Father (considering the fact that it is forbidden here especially at school and also that she is an employee of the school) but then again, I didn’t want to get the credit for being strong because it was only God’s sustaining grace that carried me through. I was able to quote from the Bible and share.

The following day I learned another word libai which is worship in Chinese. This gave me an opportunity to connect this with my previous conversation with her. I also found out that her aunt who already passed away was like minded (a believer) and that she has a friend at school that is also like minded.

Just the other day we talked about good habit or hao xiguan and so I was able to share with her verses from Proverbs. Clearly these opportunities are the works of the Father and I am just blessed to be part of it.

This semester will end next week and I may not see her again as she is only a part time teacher but I know that the Father’s Word is powerful and will accomplish and succeed in the purpose for which it was sent. Truly our labor is not in vain. Please pray that the Father will open her heart and make the seeds grow.

–A worker in China

]]> Wed, 6 Jul 2011 09:12:00 EST <![CDATA[Salt and light]]>  
It was wonderful to see God demonstrate His faithfulness to us while stretching our own faith. We taught the idiom “play it by ear” early on and that’s exactly what we had to do ourselves. As we started the teaching course, no one knew where we’d be meeting the next day. Can I say that I am very thankful that I was not responsible for those decisions? Every day we petitioned our Father to intervene. And every day we were allowed just one more day in our beloved building. One day at a time -- to remind us all who was in charge of the program. The whole situation gave us opportunity to live as salt and life, and "something to write home about” to use another good idiom.]]> Thu, 4 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST <![CDATA[A Hungry Heart]]>
We had a program assistant, a young woman with an MBA from England who was our left and right hand for any need that might arise. A mere text on my phone got air conditioning turned on, lunch delivered, copies made, video projectors serviced – in short, my wish was her command. She spent a LOT of time with our team. She saw us in all circumstances for four weeks and she had lots of time to observe our reactions. At the end of last week she said we were “nice guests” to put up with the way we were being pushed around the campus.

Towards the end of our time, because the team leader wasn’t moving much, he returned to the main hall where K hangs out when we’re not making her run all over town. As soon as he sat down, she came and plopped down across the table from him.

“Do you believe in God?” she asked him.

“What do you mean by that?” he replied.

“I mean, do you believe he ex…he exists?” she asked, stumbling a little over the word.

“Why do you ask?” he pushed back.

“Because I really want to believe in someone who can show me the right way to go.”

The conversation continued for more than an hour and ranged from Genesis to Jesus. A hungry heart looking for answers who has rubbed shoulders with people who didn’t complain when they got pushed around. And a man who couldn’t walk much but had time to sit and listen and answer all her questions.
-Short-term English teacher]]> Tue, 12 Oct 2010 04:20:00 EST <![CDATA[Discovering God's Work in China]]> --Short-term English Teacher]]> Tue, 5 Oct 2010 04:20:00 EST <![CDATA[A Surprising Response]]>
Guess who showed up on Sunday morning? Even more surprising, Fan brought his wife. After the service we talked about the message and why Jesus died for us. Again, we were surprised by his probing questions, clearly indicating that he was thinking about what we shared.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to attend worship the next Sunday, however we gave him Gospels of Mark and John and a book. We pray that the seeds planted in Fan and Q's lives will someday blossom into genuine faith in Christ.
-Short-term English Teacher]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST <![CDATA[Story of Sacrifice Leads to the Gospel]]>
The next day before class, the early birds asked me who died for me! I was able to tell them that it was Jesus. Then it was time for class to begin.

At the break time, I had just come from the restroom, and I was thinking that several of the teachers hadn’t been part of the early morning conversation. Then God opened the door! A group of teachers who hadn’t heard the earlier conversation asked me who died for me. I told them, “Jesus,” and that led to a long conversation about churches, personal needs, and personal beliefs. Three teachers were intently questioning and listening. We had an extra-long break, but what an exciting answer to prayer!
-Short-term English Teacher]]> Sat, 7 Aug 2010 09:35:00 EST <![CDATA[Student Sends Letter About Salvation]]>
"Dear B ~ how are you doin?

Missing you already for sure~

I have a good news to you: Alpha course is over and now I trust in God~
I start reading Bible and the book that my teacher gave me. It's called "the purpose chosen life."

Makes me feel good ~ you know, God loves us~!

I can't wait to share with you about this~and really thank you for your help. I'm not sure if I could trust God without your help~friend~

I think the English program helps me a lot not only using English but make me change inside~

I'm really look forward to seeing you next summer, the sooner the better~

your friend,

Jon"

Praise God for another changed life!]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:40:00 EST