June 2004
Fuyang, Anhui
Peoples Republic of China
Nimen hao!
It is difficult for Billy and me to believe that our first year
at Fuyang Teachers College is almost over. It has been a fascinating
school year as we have learned and are still learning to function
in our new environment. Billy and I know that it is God’s
guidance that has brought us this far in our China journey as
we continue to discover God’s purpose for our lives.
On May 5, 2004, we went bicycling with two students through the
countryside out from the city of Fuyang. As we were riding home,
I saw an old church building in the distance. Billy found a path
through the wheat field to the church. As we were looking around
the building, a woman passing by asked if we wanted to go inside.
Of course! She went to get someone with a key. Mr. Xie Zhenyun
came to unlock the door, greeting us with “Hallelujah.”
We could not find out how old the building was or its history;
only that Mr. Xie had borrowed money to restore the building in
1998. As we left, Billy and I agreed that we would return to Xin
Ji (New Victory) Church for worship some Sunday.
On May 23, we were up at 5:00 a.m. and ready to roll by 6:45.
Our friend, Cao Shuai (Chasy), traveled with us on the 40-minute
bike ride to the little church. The beautiful green fields of
wheat we saw two weeks ago were now a golden amber and ready for
harvest. Farmers were already in the fields hard at work as we
passed. In some areas, roads were congested by combines on their
way to the next job. Threshed wheat was being winnowed on the
shoulders of the road by peasants tossing it into the air with
wooden scoops. |
