(Display Name not set)November 2004 Archives

"Look unto me and be ye saved,
all ye ends of the earth: for I am God and there is no other." (Isaiah 45:22)

There are so many people!
It is so odd to say this, when I am living on a tiny island called "Kinmen" (of which most people have never heard of) but.... this semester I am teaching classes on the other side of the island. It's so strange to see new places, people and schools. I thought I knew Kinmen, but there is so much more! There are so many children here, and each one has that same need for God's love. I am so glad I am not the only one with this message!

The other night, I took a walk out to the beach, and in the distance I could see Xiamen, in China. It's so humbling to think of all of the people in that land.....far beyond the number of people in Kinmen! I think of Jesus' compassion and special love for every individual... It's amazing to think of the depth of God's love.

I've been thinking of this song on the way to school this week:

If we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made;
If every pen on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry!
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
To stretch from sky to sky!

Lucas Stewart, Kinmen

God has answered many requests over these last few months, but in this update I would like to just share this one.

From the very beginning I had been consistently attending a weekly prayer group at the college (the only one on the island). Usually there are about 6 or 7 of us including a retired missionary couple and the president of the University. One of the big prayer requests was for the president’s wife. She had been deathly ill for quite some time, and was even in a coma. The prayer group has faithfully lifted her up every week in prayer (I believe), and the Kinmen group prayed for her too. Many times I wondered if our prayers were really going to heal her, and I was afraid that many of the Kinmenese Christians would not take it well if she died. Regardless to say, I lacked faith.

Just one hour ago, I was at prayer group and Tina (the president’s wife) was there. Sure she’s not 100%, but God worked a miracle to bring her out of that coma and to actually give her enough strength and stamina to come tonight.

After tonight, the election, and throughout the 7 to 8 months that I have lived here, God has proved over and over again that he is faithful, and that I need to always go to him in “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” -Phil. 4:6.

Drew Stewart
(Mt.11:28-30; Phil.1:21)

You know your not in America when...

China can be seen with the naked eye
Juinor High school uniforms bear a striking resemblance to blue pajamas
The words "I'm full" mean absolutly nothing
Musical entertainment comes from the garbage truck
There's a room labeled "The rabbit room" at your school
20 year old's wear fuzzy bear shirts.
Old men drink out of juice boxes
You look at the food and it looks back at you
The elementery school's "Alpha male" wears high checkered shorts
Pizzas are delivered by moped
There's only one pizza store in town
Mopeds are more common than cars
Shoes are purple with pink polka dots
Evening gowns are worn while riding mopheds
Raw meat is hanging out for sale in the market
...right next to the bowls of freshly caught fish
Rapid waving of arms is a form of excercise
All but one of the Americans in your town voted for Bush :)
"How are you" can be interpreted as " Look! I know english"
You're surrounded by water
Ordering food takes all the brain cells in your head
Music is practiced day and night in back of your house
You get the urge to pull every sheet of kleenex out of the kleenex box
Everyday is an adventure
Your hard day can quickly be remedied by a smile from a 6th grader
Loneliness turns out to be a friend, drawing you closer to God than you ever thought possible
Prayer becomes the most vital weapon you have
A group of non-Christians come to Bible study, sing 'God is good' and memorize scripture
You realize missionaries are just weak average people...'cause uh..:D
You're more grateful for America, friends, and family than ever before
Sometimes you stop and think "Whoa, am I really here???"!
The importance of the body of Christ is driven home!
The majority of your friends have black hair :)

You know your not in America when...

At any given moment you find yourself surrounded by kids and all five senses are employed in an attempt at survival as they hang on you, play with you, poke you, climb you, shout at you (in Chinese, Taiwanese and English) and you find yourself loving every minute of it!!

Thought of the day: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 2 Cor. 2:9

Question of the day: What does "wo bu je dao" mean?

Kinmen team

"Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He will stand before kings, he will not stand before mean (average) men." Prov. 22:29.

I was reminded of this last night as I sat behind the President of the local college's seat at a college event. I was wearing a VIP pass someone had given me. I'd gone to the event to cheer on some friends of mine who attend the college (some TA's from the summer), and then somehow ended up on the VIP platform talking with a couple of the college teachers, who also happen to be personal friends of mine.

I wonder sometimes why God puts us in the places that He does. Honestly, it's a struggle for me- I'm sometimes even annoyed- when it seems like I'm always finding myself in the limelight. Why can't I just be normal?! Oh, wait- I am.

That might sound funny to you- trying to be content living at what seems like the "top." But God is really hitting me about being content with where He has me. Whether you're at the "top," or the bottom, God has that purpose for you being there.

God is reminding me that light is obvious. You can't help but see it. He said, "Let your light SHINE!" (Mat.5:16). "Don't be afraid to let people see it! It's for My glory. That's why you're living, right, Ginger? "

So, God- set me on a hill if you want, and SHINE I will!

"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and of love, and of discipline." 11 Tim.1:7 NAS

Thanks for your prayers.

From the island,

Ginger

"Not merely in the words you say,
Not merely in your deeds confessed,
But in the most unconcious way
Is Christ expressed.

And from your eyes He beckons me,
And from your heart His love is shed
'Til I lose sight of you...
And see Christ the Lord instead."

A little girl touches the cross I wear around my neck, looks into my eyes and asks me in Chinese, "Are you a Christian?" I tell her I am and that Jesus loves her. There is so much more that I want to say, but I cannot say it in her language and she doesn't understand mine.

A teacher friend tells us she was a Christian when she was a child because she thinks she needs a religion. However when she started college she began to feel that Buddhism made more sense. She now believes in reincarnation, and that she was a Westerner (American) in another life. Yet she says there are still questions that Buddhism does not answer and she is still searching.

A Junior High student from our rather difficult Monday evening class for potential drop-outs challenges me as I struggle to teach him a list of vocabulary words. His English is poor, and his attention span like that of a little child. He laughs, pretends to fall asleep, jumps up to run around, and shouts bad words and rude phrases in Chinese by turns. But looking into his eyes I see a hunger, an emptiness, a longing for something...affection? Love? Fulfillment? I KNOW I have the Answer, but the language barrier and behavioral issues are a major hindrance from verbally sharing with this desperate boy.

Another junior high friend who has been attending our English Bible study fails to appear one Sunday. His buddy, who also attends, tells us it is because his parents no longer allow him to come to church. Our team is heartbroken, but prays earnestly that the Lord will keep alive in his mind the Bible verses he has heard and memorized in the few weeks he attended.

Day after day we are faced with situations and circumstances that hinder us from sharing Christ in an outspoken way with those around us. Whether it is the language barrier, religion, or other things, we are often frustrated in our attempts to verbally share the Gospel. After all, that is the real reason we are here...right?? As I begin to be discouraged and feel that all is in vain, the Holy Spirit reminds me that a cup of cold water given in His name will be counted as a service to Him, and can be used by Him to draw others to His kingdom. A game of UNO, a walk around the track in company with my friends, a meal eaten together, a caring smile, a patient ,gentle attitude,, a word of praise...all of these things, when done in His name, are expressions of His love. It brings encouragement to my heart to know that all He desires is that we genuinely love Him, and then love others with His love. I pray that as we live and work here in Kinmen His love will flow through us so that our friends and aquaintances here may see Him shining in us. We don't always have the words to say, but Jesus can take our actions and attitudes and manifest Himself and His endless love through us. Pray for us as we seek to be His hands, His feet, His heart full of love to those we meet everyday.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me."
Matthew 25:40

Rebekah Gilley
Kinmen Island