All creation proves the realness of God! Even in China, driven by Communism and prosecuting the Christians to go underground, the symbol for salt is a church!
But abiding by the local authorities, we started out by climbing into a bit of a different role than we were used to being this year: Tourist! And what a better place than China to do this! Being true tourists, we tried to pack it all in – Forbidden city, Tian An Men square, The Great Wall of China – 6 towers up, 4142 steps. Note to self: Don’t run up the Great Wall when you are sick, it might result in your voice being gone for a whole week!
We were treated with a Chinese lunch and we proved that girls can polish a table.
Before
During
After
Even with transport, we had a few firsts and extremes; from taking a bullet train and reaching a speed of 297km/h, we got on another (much more crowded) train to get to the West of China, where our ministry points were. Oh man, what an experience a 14 hour, overnight standing “seat” is! Of course you’re going to sit down in the aisle between the seats and make yourself comfortable, but like every 2 minutes you have to get up, because there is a trolley coming past selling some random Chinese food and drinks. So we decided to sleep under the seats for the night – why torture yourself? The Chinese found this very strange, but we were comfortable (enough).
For the next 3 weeks, Southbound split up into 3 groups, based in different towns to reach out to the many different people groups in China. Can you imagine, there are 1.3 billion people in China! My group and I dropped all the other teams off and made our way to a town in the Tibetan mountains – stunningly beautiful! Surrounded by green fields, mountains, yacks, and, on the way back, even snow.
On our way there, we spent one night in a town that surprised us that China likes to dance! We walked around the towns square and joined in some Chinese folk line-dancing, after which we made our way to a break dancing group. It was so much fun! The next night we went back, with a little routine, JC’s crew badges and music from Tobymac. It was an incredible opportunity to spend time with some of the teenagers and just show them the love of Jesus.
We even had a random model photo shoot. And all we wanted to do was try on some funky dresses… =o)
The rest of our time in the mountains, we spent with a lovely family who own a restaurant. We helped out, learned to cook some western food, spread the gospel with everyone who came in to eat or drink something and read our bibles a lot! I had the incredible opportunity to share Christ with a girl that came in a few times, and on her last night, I gave my bible to her. What a privilege! I keep on praying that she will meet the Lord and His truth in those pages! One day we even went out into the forest to pick mushrooms and berries.
I must say that China was a culture shock! I don’t know if anything can really prepare you for all the spitting, “open air” social toilets (anywhere, on any street) or lack of cues. Still I loved China!
In Cambodia I realized the magnitude of my sin. If you think you’re good, you haven’t had a true revelation about your sinful nature before God. You can’t make a commitment to God without the knowledge of sin. Without repentance, there is no salvation. The lost can’t repent – turn from their sins – and trust in the Savior if they don’t know what sin is. But how does one share this with others? Well, that depends on the state of their hearts. For the humble heart, who understands the gospel of grace, recognize their sin and desperate need for a Savior, it’s different than the one who is proud and self-righteous. They don’t see their need for a Savior and need the law to show the righteous standard God requires. So check the soil. As James 4:6 says: “Law to the proud, Grace to the humble.” For the largest part of my life, I was that proud, self-righteous sinner. Because I didn’t have the knowledge of sin and it’s consequences, I professed Christ with my mouth, but many times my life didn’t show it. That’s why it was so easy for me to sin over and over again. You need to know what you’ve been set free from; otherwise you’ll easily fall back into that same sin. Romans 3:20-22. But when we die in Christ, we’re one with Him, we die to sin, because Jesus conquered sin and death. Romans 6:1-14 – I don’t have to sin anymore!! Walking in the Spirit is being in God’s will, not in the world. Through Christ, this is possible!
God also showed me that I don’t need to understand everything… I don’t need to understand something first before I can believe it – especially not when it’s concerning God or His will. Even when I don’t understand the work of the Holy Spirit, it doesn’t keep the Spirit from moving and working. Many times we just have to trust God and do what He says.
Of course you get to the point where you start wondering about next year. What and where, Lord? I decided that, instead of worrying about it, I’m just going to spend time in God’s Word. This brought me to Joshua 23 and 24. Israel was in a good place with the Lord during Joshua’s life, but he didn’t train anyone to lead them after he died. It’s so important to train others to follow-up, after you’ve gone. So, are you busy preparing others to lead, or are you the one being prepared to lead?
This didn’t really help to try and figure out what about next year? But you know what, the smaller details doesn’t matter. They shouldn’t make you lose focus – that God has a big and long-term plan for you to serve Him! It’s wasting time trying to figure it all out – all the time. Go! God sees your heart and He will continue to teach you as you go – you’re covered by His grace.
If you could see my journal about next year, you would have a nice little chuckle at the emotions I went through. Wondering about what is God’s will?? But the fact is, we know. We know exactly when we’re not in God’s will. Just make a decision and walk in it. If it’s the wrong one, you’ll know. And there is still time to change.
So, after many weeks of wondering if I should do another journey next year, and actually deciding that I’m not going to, because I’m just not up for it, I realized that kicking against God’s will, will never leave you having peace. Another year will require complete commitment and surrender and FAITH! But if there is one thing I learned this year, is that God is faithful. If He calls you, He will make a way, no matter how impossible it might seem.
With that said, after many struggles and reasoning with the Lord, I actually want to be obedient and lead a journey next year. I want to have an influence in people’s lives. I want to encourage them to seek the Lord and walk in the freedom there is in laying your life down and serving Christ. I want to disciple, encourage and support my team. I want to walk in God’s will – in His Spirit. In that decision, there is so much peace. The challenges are still there, especially financially, but God will provide. How? I have no idea yet! But do I trust Him? With everything in me! I don’t want to live my life any other way than in total dependency of Him!