The Greater Good

Thought we would share with you a quick story that illustrates how the work in Xiasha, both past and present, is alive and working for the greater good. Yang Yang is one of our students, and for the past several months, has told us about a group of Christ*ians that meet on our campus to study together. This past Thursday Yang Yang asked if we would be willing to come with him on Thursday night to the meeting. Once we got there and met everyone(about 17), they informed us that they meet 3 times a week to study the Bi*ble, pr*ay for each other and different things going on, and to sing. However this night they told us that they were going to be practicing for a skit/play that they were going to be performing in front of other chur*ches on Sunday. We quickly let them know that it was ok that we didn't understand what was being said, and they didn't have to translate, but that it was just a blessing to be there with them. And so they began jabbering away in Chinese, and getting people into place, while Callie & I sat in the back of the classroom watching and listening. Some students were making props and others were reading the Bib*le to make sure they were getting all of the details. One thing that we noticed though, was that each time they went to actually practice the play, there was nothing being spoken, but rather just acting. Later we would find come to find out they were doing what is called a "Dumb Show"(boy did I feel dumb). Now Ive read the story of The Prodigal Son a hundred times, and know it front to back and side to side. But after watching the Chinese act it out, and how they interpreted each scene, I have to say that I have never had a view like that of the parable until then. It was truly a blessing to be there and fellowship with them...

Now after that was over, Callie & I had intended on heading back home and grabbing dinner along the way. The group then asked if we wanted to join them for dinner. The next 20 or so minutes were some of the best times I have had in China to date. We walked and talked around our campus and sang songs in Chinese(Amazing Grace, Qing Qing Ting,etc), and just talked about the Kingdom and the work that is being done in Xiasha. They informed us that there is 18 University/colleges in Xiasha, and that as far as they know each school has a group that meets on Sundays to worship. And this next Sunday, all of the school groups were meeting together to perform skits/sing and worship together.

The students we met on Thursday have a passion for God & spreading the Good News, they also informed us that on weekends they GO FISHING, and will go from door to door asking the students if they would like to know more about being a Christ*ian.
Callie & I went into Thursday night thinking...Yeah we will go and maybe we can be an encouragement to them. It turns our that they were a HUGE encouragement to us, and just made 1 Corinthians 15:58 that much more clear.