China Mission Update - August 10, 2013

Team Debrief. 
Mim performed "Who am I" (Casting Crowns) mime. She was deeply touched to perform it, and, people were touched to receive it. The group shared things for which they were thankful and gave gifts. We each received personalized chopsticks with the inscription (in Chinese) "God Loves You" with our name in English.

I was amazed, again, that the expression of God's love is expressed and received in the details, things like smiles, taking time for conversation, patience, kindness and tenderness in words and deed, that make people feel loved, safe, and secure, that someone is genuinely interested in them and looks out for them. Some of these details take planning, organization, and coordination, most, however, are spontaneous actions that come from the overflow of one's heart.

This reminds me of the movie, "Forest Gump," and the phrase: "stupid is as stupid does." Well, kindness is as kindness does. Jesus said it this way, a good tree bears good fruit.
In the end, it was the consistent expression of the "9 marks of excellence" (Galatians 5). Christ in us expressing himself through his love, joy, peace, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, patience, gentleness, and self-control in small and big ways, without prejudice, to the people he loves and died for. What a joy and privilege to be here and to serve God's people in China.

We leave today by bus for Xinyang. Internet may be spotty for hear on out. Camp is over. We have a few days of travel and sight-seeing.

I've included some musings for further follow-up when I get home. They are random thoughts, not necessarily coherent, but I include them anyway.

We love and miss all of you, and, look forward to seeing you soon. Love,


Jeff & Mim


Addendum:

Musings. What do I know about China? Very little, I think. Aside from demographics (land mass, population, geography, industry) and culture (language, food, customs) and history (emperor dynasties, wars, cultural revolution, communist ideology), I have only scratched the surface. 

Language. How does language affect thinking? Does language create paradigms and set limitations upon perception, expression, and conceptualization? Are all cultures confined by their language in their thinking as to what is true, good, excellent, praiseworthy, noble, etc.? What is our box? What is their box?

Communism. How is Chinese communism different from Marx's original manifesto? How are they different from Russia or other expressions of communism?` How does the gospel stand in relationship to capitalism or communism? Where are the intersections that hint of fruitful interlocution?

Morals. What is the national morality code? There are only 80 million communists out of 1.4 billion Chinese inhabitants. With the acquisition of technology, developed natural resources, and manpower, what keeps China from imperialistic war efforts? How does their morality, linked to sense of nuclear family, determine social policy regarding poverty, judicial systems, reproduction, human experimentation and medical research, environmental concerns?

One Child Policy. People living in the city are restricted to giving birth to only one child. Those in rural areas are allowed two children -- though this policy may also be changing to only one child. How is this controlled? Birth control? Abortion? Evidently, too, two people, who live in the city, who are the "one child" from their family of origin are allowed to have two children in the city. Is this linked to the child taking care of his parents in their old age? One professor commented that this policy has produced a generation of "little emperors," i.e., the parents cater to every whim of the child, and are fearful of any injury. The child does not learn to push through adversity. The one child policy states that if a couple has a girl, they may receive an exemption to have another child (must be a boy). Again, how is this controlled (abortion). A child from a one-child policy family receives certification and is granted special rights by the government (I don't know all of them -- e.g., subsidies and opportunities).

Nuclear Family. I've been told that there is very strong nuclear family cohesion. Families look out for each other. They live near each other, support each other financially, and protect each other. I think there is very little governmental support or welfare agencies. If you don't have a family, you are truly in a difficult place for lack of support.
Student Loans. The children are pressured to succeed at their exams, which determine the type of profession and university they may attend. Yet, the exam only qualifies the student. He or she still has to provide financial support for tuition. A successful student from a poor family is in a very difficult situation. The only option is student loans, e.g., Kevin. Bright students are accruing huge amounts of student loans to launch careers of great earning potential. What will happen if the Chinese economy fails these students' hopes and dreams? It will awaken smoldering resentment!

Rural Development. Many of the country villages have little infrastructure, like sewer, water, electricity. There is a push to provide such services in rural areas. This reminds me of the U.S. in the 1800's. People dug wells, used candles, burned wood, dug latrines. Yet, even in Roman times there were advances in sanitation and water supply.

A sports camp seems like an inconsequential "drop in the ocean" when compared to these larger issues, yet, kingdom values spread by transforming hearts and minds, one person at a time. What kind of lives did we just touch? Who are the next high-ranking government officials, doctors, researchers, heads of state, ambassadors, philosophers, teachers, athletes, workers, mothers & fathers, that will greatly influence the coming generations? 

China Mission Update - August 9, 2013

The last camp is finished. The morning was spent with a closing program, signing t- shirts, evaluations, slide show, and clean-up. I didn't realize how much this was a "camp in box" program. China Service Ventures provided almost everything: mats, pillows, mosquito netting, wash basins, water, soap, cleaning supplies, cooking pots & pans, trays, chopsticks, serving ladles, booklets, crafts, and pencils -- we supplied the sports equipment. The school provided the facility, beds, and cafeteria. The logistics of this camp were incredible for 61 kids and 21 counselors, but it all worked beautifully.

We are basically all cleaned up. There are a few storage issues, but tomorrow is dedicated to worship and a long debriefing and personal thank you.

We had dinner at a retreat place on the outskirts of town. While at dinner, I learned that one of our Chinese counselors is actually a member of the communist party (about a third of the counselors were Christian). There are 80 million Chinese members in the Communist Party. Evidently, if you want to work for the government, you must be a member of the Party. I quizzed him about some of the differences between current Chinese Communism and Marxism, but the language barrier was too great to thoroughly explore the topic. I will need a translator.

Later, we took our last walk through the town past the town square where they have cultural dancing every night, over the bridge filled with people seated and chatting away in small groups (a community night) and stopped by our favorite little grocer to purchase water.
Around 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, we will take a bus into Xinyang, check into a hotel for the evening, then on Sunday morning take the early fast train to Beijing. While in Beijing, Mim and ( will spend two extra nights taking one day to see the Great Wall of China and the other day to see the Forbidden City. We will check into a few markets, though I hope to do most of my shopping while in Lijiazhai and Xinyang (cheaper).

We still need your prayers. There still is one more day of opportunity for conversations and then travel mercies. Mim and I will be lugging back 4 suitcases, 3 of which are sporting equipment. We pray for space to put them on the buses and trains.

On a sad note, I dropped my iPad and the screen cracked -- bummer. But, I am mindful of the story of Jonah and the broom tree. Although I'm thankful for the technology, I'm more thankful for what The Lord is doing in the hearts of his people and want to be more sorrowful over those who don't know him than sorrowing over a cracked screen.

We love and miss you all. Looking forward to being home soon.

Jeff & MIm 

China Mission Update - August 8, 2013

HUGE last full day of camp. Lot's to tell. It was a very hot day -- 98 degrees plus 75%

humidity. No one was outside from 1p - 4p. The heat of the sun was merciless. All the

construction workers on the track & field on the school grounds all quit and sought

shade and tried to sleep, some sleeping on benches or in stairwells of the dorms.

We had sports in the morning -- tournaments in volleyball, soccer, and basketball. The

kids played hard. The boys played really hard and broke a light bulb in the cafeteria. It

was a great bonding moment as we all thought there would be hell to pay for the

damage. But there wasn't. It was a delight watching the girls giggle and laugh as they

played their first soccer game ever. By the end, everyone was happily exhausted. It

didn't take long to re-energize. We adjusted the schedule for a longer rest period

because of the sun, followed by a cultural discussion on music, t-shirt making craft, and

free time. Boundless energy, these middle schoolers have. We ran out of water by midmorning

and then again in early evening. We keep purchasing 8 or more large 10

gallon bottles of water (the kind that sit on the water coolers). They have water coolers,

but without the coolant, so they are more like water dispensers. Everyone remains

hydrated and are drinking like thirsty camels in the Sahara desert.

Last evening, we had guests from the community. They were checking us out. Word

spread quickly. Today our camp director, John Peterson, had official meetings with the

local school board and government officials for the JIgongshan District. They gave

glowing reports from their children. They absolutely love the sports camp and want to

pursue it again next year. In John's words, "We hit a huge homerun." So, the door is

WIDE open for next year. Want to go to China?

I just have to laugh with joy. John was initially so worried about introducing sports to the

camp. Mim, however, was confident that it would be a great hit. She was right. These

kids study almost 17 hours a day with no physical outlet to release stress. There is

something valuable gained through exercise and sports.

While walking back to our hotel room for the 1p rest period, I noticed a man digging

through the local garbage dump. The dump is like a little shack with a large opening

and window holes for ventilation. No one was on the streets. It was too hot. The street

vendors had finished their noon lunch crowds. All clientele had gone home to rest. The

kitchens all discarded their unused produce into the dump. So, there was this man

plucking out usable food items, mostly vegetables, which he peeled and carefully laid

into a reed basket. Who knows for what purpose? Maybe to feed his family. I thought

about the woman at the well in John 4, who also had gone to draw water when no one

was around. I gained a new understanding of the circumstances. Not being able to

converse in Chinese, I looked for his eyes and greeted him in Chinese and then English

and gave my best smile, hoping to communicate that I was glad to be with him in this

moment. He met by gaze and smiled back with a warm greeting. It was beautiful.

Today I was able to converse with a Chinese counselor and ask more indepth questions

about their national exam practice. All of their education is geared toward identifying the

brightest and the best minds and then funneling them, according to aptitude, into the

appropriate universities and colleges. Sounds great? If a student scores poorly on the

exam, the rest of their life is determined. It is like wearing a scarlet letter (remember the

story?). Certain scores qualify for certain professions. Hence, certain professions carry

with them the stigma of low exam scores, like businessman or English teacher. Suicide

is common among the youth (though not talked about or reported by the news

agencies) after exam dates. The student studies 14 hours a day, 7 days a week in

preparation for the exam. Even summer breaks from school are spent studying at

home. Consequently, few students are adept at social graces. Everyone is fighting for

position.

Later in the afternoon, we went with John into the city (about 40 miles to the north) to

visit university professors recruiting English as a Second Language teachers for their

schools. We got to look in one of the teacher's apartments. It was livable. (Even had

a western-style toilet! Hah!).

We returned and had our evening program that followed by a campfire. The sky was

clear, we could see the whole heavens filled with stars. It was enchanting. The kids

singing. The fire burning. The stars shining brilliantly in the night sky. We saw the "Big

Dipper" and felt the connection home. We walked the promenade home, the 1000 step

walk to the hotel from camp. I recorded the night sounds of crickets, bugs, and people

conversing by the riverside, all sitting as a community on the bridge. We go to our

room, turned on the air conditioning and then the power went out -- and remains out.

Oh well, last days in Lijiazhai, a small town nestled in a ravine running south to north,

funneling the evening breeze, will be memorable.

We are content. Only a half-day of camp tomorrow, then clean up and debrief and

evening meal. On Saturday, we travel to the Xinyang, spend the night, and then take

the fast train to Beijing. Almost home, but still available to every moment that The Lord

has for us. We are not done yet, and, there will be important conversations with staff

tomorrow. Perhaps, even opportunities to share our hope that we have in Christ with

these university students if asked.

Love you all.

Jeff & Mim

China Mission Update - August 7, 2013

Mid-point of the final camp. We went on a hike today in the Pudom Forest Reserve.

The same place we went last week. It was just as beautiful. A British gentleman

planted many trees indigenous to North America in the reserve in 1905. They look like

a type of cedar tree. They have grown now and tower over 100 feet tall and move with

the wind in their boughs.

I was asked to talk about peace tonight. Our camp's theme is the "9 Marks of

Excellence" (from Galatians 5). How do you talk about peace without mentioning God?

We had five men from the village tonight in our evening session, checking us out,

wanting to know what we are doing. I shared of a time that I was paralyzed by fear

when hiking the French Alps in my early 20's. I had climb a ridge made of shale rock in

a high alpen valley only to discover a 2000 foot precipice on top. The sheer magnitude

of the drop froze me. I literally could not move. I dared not move. I had put myself into

a dangerous situation foolishly and I knew it. I was unprepared for the challenge.

Through prayer and singing, I was able to calm my fear, and, with renewed peace was

able to descend the mountain.

I also talked of peace between people. On a camp retreat (i.e., a VDC weekend) the

leadership was in conflict with each other and could not resolve it. They asked me to

resolve it (as SD). We had a footwashing ceremony where everyone humbly washed

each other's feet (the kids will do this tomorrow). Soon hardened hearts became soft

again, people asked forgiveness of one another, and new unity and harmony was

restored amongst the team, and it became a great experience, and we finished strong.

I asked them to consider if they needed peace in their life and where they could find

such peace -- and left it at that. (If asked, the counselors have the right, under Chinese

law, to respond with direct answers related to their own experiences, i.e., a testimony).

It is upon my heart to share my experiences of faith with a few of our counselors who

are university students. With them I am under no prohibition from the state and can

talk more freely.

Please pray for opportunity, timing, and faithful witness to the hope that we share in our

Lord. Tomorrow is our last full day. We have sports tournaments in the morning. It will

be another hot day 98 degrees plus humidity. Another heat index of 110 degrees. The

kids are doing great. The are great singers, and it blesses my heart to hear them sing:

We are the light of the world. So, shine, shine wherever you are. We are the light of the

world.

Love you all! We will be home in a week.

Jeff & Mim

China Mission Update - August 6, 2013

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" -- 2

Corinthians 12:9

Today was a demanding day. The weather is normal: hot and humid. We are dealing

with Middle Schoolers (it seems that attention deficit issues are common across

cultures), and it was a sports day. A weariness has set in. It feels like we are all

running on fumes.

And then, wouldn't you know it, the most amazing thing happened today. One of the

cooks asked if we could pray for her friend, whose baby is sick with fever. The cook

knows we are Christians and considers us kind and compassionate. I don't think the

cook is a Christian, but she brought her friend anyway.

It was a tender moment. There were no dramatics, just a mother in need, a simple

prayer circle, asking The Lord to heal this woman's son, who was suffering with fever.

Three short prayers beseeching The Lord, quick hugs, tender looks, and smiles of

comfort and love. That was all. I wish I could report an instantaneous healing, but there

wasn't one. But who knows what will happen through the night. The Lord can do

whatever he wants, when he wants, how he wants. The moment had impact definitely

on us ... and perhaps on the cook and the mother.

Today was a gentle reminder of how The Lord uses our weakness for his purposes.

The community knows we are pouring ourselves into the lives of their children, and they

are appreciative. They know we are tired. I would like to think that they are seeing

something of our Lord working in us, even in our frailties.

The community knows weariness and tiredness. We've seen a lot of hardworking,

diligent farmers and construction workers. They are working by 6:00 a.m., but are also

sleeping by 1 p.m., during the hot part of the day, and they resume late afternoon to late

dinner. They work hard. It is their way of life and they wear it with a garment of grace.

Tomorrow we return to the Purdon Forest Preserve (where we were last week). It will

be nice challenging hike through a beautiful bamboo forest reserve. I look forward to it.

Please keep us in your prayers for health, energy, and stamina, that we might finish

strong!

Love and miss you all.

Jeff & Mim

China Mission Update - August 5, 2013

The final camp has begun -- 61 middle school children with 20 Chinese and American

Staff.

We are doing the same program components with minor adjustments for the ages of the

children, but, otherwise, it is essential the same camp as its predecessors. Everyone

knows their roles and assignments. Now, it is a question of energy and enthusiasm.

The American group is tired. Although temperatures seemed lower with the cloud

cover, the humidity was way up, so it seemed about the same. The heat index is over

106 for about the 25th straight day.

This camp is comprised primarily of students from the Lijiazhai Middle School, where we

are conducting the camp, so expectations are high, and, we need to make a good

impression for the continued future of the camp at this site.

Tomorrow is our big sports day: six rotations of sports. Because of the size of the

groups, we will split into two main groups: one inside sports (parachute, badminton,

jumprope) and the other outside sports (volleyball, soccer, pingpong). Each group will

rotate four times, one being a rest period. Each rotation lasts 20 minutes. In the

afternoon, we will flip the main groups so that the inside sports (in the morning) go

outside in the afternoon and vice a versa.

Mim is a great sports organizer and brings tons of enthusiasm and joy. We were

cautioned prior to the camps that the kids may not respond to sports, but this has not

been the case. The kids love the sports! And, yes, they are very good at ping pong --

but so is Mim.

Please pray for stamina and energy for the next few days.

Love,

Jeff & Mim

China Mission Update - August 4, 2013

Sabbath Day's Rest. 

Today was a good day. The weather was overcast and cooler. We

slept in until 7 a.m. and spent the morning reading the Psalms. I'm struck with how

Book III of the psalter is so appropriate for missions work.

One of the American girls lent us Brennan Manning's book, Abba's Child: The cry of the

heart for intimate belonging. I highly recommend it. We are only three chapters into the

book, and it is thought-provoking and inspiring.

We gathered with remnants of the team at the school. The others were in the city, in

Xinyang. We walked the streets of Lijiazhai. It is a small town and almost everyone

knows why we are here.

Our reasons for being here are to share the love of Jesus Christ mostly through deeds

of compassion and kindness through providing sports camps and activities (songs,

games, skits, etc.) for the children. According to the laws of the state, we are prohibited

to initiate conversations about the gospel to anyone under 18 years of age. We can

however, respond to a child's request for more information. We can engage students

18 and older.

The question is: engage them with what? The gospel is the good news of how God

loves his people and creation and has reconciled it to himself through his Son. We are

now invited into an incredible experience of love with our Creator that gives both

meaning and purpose to life. It's remarkable that we are accepted and loved as we are,

and, invited to love ourselves, others, and creation with the same love we have

experienced with our Heavenly Father. This experience is a life-changer.

We have met Chinese students who truly understand and love The Lord with heartfelt

joy and passion. They are truly thankful for all that God has done for them. My prayer is

that we Americans never grow complacent or lukewarm and lose this experience of first

love -- like we are seeing now before our eyes.

We ended today with worship and the word. I miss the sacrament of communion. Not

wanting to exclude or alienate those counselors who are not believers, we have chosen

to be gracious hosts. Yet, I keenly feel its absence. I was glad when one of the

American counselors read of the Last Supper and the Marriage Feast that is to come.

This area of China (Jigonshan-Xindian-Lijiazhai-Xinyang) was once a vibrant vineyard

of the Lord's planting, 100 years ago. Now the foxes have wrecked havoc. But, the

fields are still white unto harvest. Now we pray for willing workers to go into the fields.

It is a different time, culture, and government, but the need remains the same -- so does

the answer.

Tomorrow the last camp begins. Most of the kids will come from the very school that is

hosting us. We are expecting the largest camp yet -- over 50 kids with only 19 staff to

serve them. We are eager to begin.

You are constantly in our prayers.

Love and miss you all.

Jeff & Mim

China Mission Update - August 3, 2013

Brief History of Xinyang

The following is a summary of some articles that John Peterson (our camp director)

provided us to read regarding the history of missionary work in the Xingyang and

Jigoshan area.

The first Christian church in all of southern Henan Province was dedicated in 1906 in

Xinyang. It started with Daniel Nelson, who was born on a little farm in Norway in 1853

to a Christian family. At the age of 14, he became a sailor. During his 15 years at sea,

he was shipwrecked four times, the last occurred in a storm near China. He was

rescued by a Chinese fishing boat and towed to shore near Shanghai, and served two

years on an American warship in the China seas.

Upon returning home to Norway, he recommitted his life to Christ and married Anna

Sandvig on September 26, 1878. Soon after, he migrated to Eagle Grove, Iowa,

purchased 80 acres of farmland through working carpentry and on building the railroad.

While shingling his new house in Eagle Grove, Iowa, Daniel Nelson thought of the

Chinese living in mud huts and farming tiny rice fields, barely eking about an existence.

According to his account, he thought of what he had seen in China: people begging on

the streets, the sick and dying left unattended, baby girls tossed on garbage heaps to

dies because the parents wanted a boy, and, thought how blessed he was in America

on his farm. It was then that he heard a clarion call in his heart: "Go sell all these things

you have here. Take your family and come over to China to help."

For days he struggled with this inner sense of call and finally told his wife, who

supported him. He went to tell his pastor, who told him, he was too old to go to China.

He was 38 years old with four children. The pastor told him he was uneducated as a

pastor and what mission agency would take and send him? Daniel Nelson even went to

a church convention for pastors and pleaded with them to start a Lutheran mission in

China, pledging to provide his own support. No pastor supported him. He even

attended seminary for two years, but still no mission agency would take and send him.

While in Thor, Iowa, on a bench a the Lund Brothers Store, he told the local pastor of

his sense of call to China. Again, the pastor told him to forget it. Evidently, Nelson wept

openly and caught the attention of the store owners, who advised him that if it was

God's will for him to go to China, that God would provide for him and open the way.

Those two brothers helped Nelson auction off his farm and equipment, and, on

November 30, 1890, he and his family arrived in Shanghai with $500 dollars in their

pockets with no ordination, no mission agency endorsement, and no financial backing.

His first year in China was spent in Wuhan (formerly Hankow) learning Chinese. His

early efforts, while scouting the mission field, were met with stoning, bandits, illness,

and vermin-ridden inns and hovels as he traveled. But, he was convinced that he was

about his Father's business.

On March 17, 1895, he was ordained in Wuhan and accepted for support by the

Missionary Society of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He moved to Xinyang in 1901,

established a new mission there, and baptized his first converts on Christmas Day,

1902. He ministered in Xinyang for 25 years, bringing over 2000 souls into the Christian

faith. He died on February 8, 1926 by a stray bullet between warring troops of local

Chinese warlords.

I had walked life's way with an easy tread,

Had followed where pleasures and comforts led,

Until one day in a quiet place

I met the Master face to face.

With station and rank and wealth for my goal,

Much thought for my body, but none for my soul,

I had entered to win in life's mad race,

When I met the Master face to face.

I had built my castles and reared them high,

With their towers had pierced the blue of the sky;

I had sworn to rule with an iron mace,

When I met the Master face to face.

I met Him and knew Him and blushed to see

that his eyes, full of sorrow, were fixed on me;

And I faltered and fell at His feet that day,

While my castles melted and vanished away.

Melted and vancished, and in their place

Naught else did I see but the Master's face,

And I cried aloud, "Oh, make me meet

To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet!"

My thought is now for the souls of men;

I have lost my life--to find it again,

Ever since one day in a quiet place

I met the Master face to face.

China Mission Update - August 2, 2013

Youth Camp #2 (Days 4 & 5)

We finished camp today and said our goodbyes, both to the 29 students who attended

camp, and to the 6 Hong Kong Team, who return home tomorrow, and 4 Chinese

Counselors. Next week is our middle school camp, expected to be the largest, with

about 50 students served by a reduced Chinese - American staff.

What and who we are unable to share with the children, we are able to share with the

counselors, since they are above 18 years of age. Many of these counselors are the

ages of our children, Jonathan and Rebekah. In fact, some of the counselors remind

and their personalities remind us of our children. We have become surrogate parents in

many ways, giving blessing and words of affirmation where they have been few or

wanting in their lives.

These counselors are remarkable. Their hopes and aspirations, their ambition and

energy, their selfless service and enthusiasm has been an inspiration to us to live

likewise. Plus, there is the additional blessing of observing the joy of newly born

believers. There transformation and thankfulness is infectious and awe inspiring.

These rejuvenates us in remarkable ways, in mind, body, and spirit. Despite the

difficulties of adjusting to a new time zone (14 hours difference), climate (the heat and

humidity), culture and language, smells and food, schedule and pace of life, somehow

moments like tonight make it all worthwhile.

Such experiences remind me of the A. Paul's words in Phil 3:9-10: "I consider all things

as nothing compared to the indescribable joy of knowing C. and the power of his

resurrection.

Knowing that C. will return, I truly look forward to the day when we will all be one nation

and one people on earth. Though we share diversity in language, origin, and

appearance, we will all sing one song of unending praise. Soli Deo Gloria!

We love and miss you all. As we experience these things, we constantly think of you,

desiring to share with you our joy. We also rest in the comfort and secure knowledge of

your love and prayers.

Love,

Jeff & Mim