"Ni Zai Wo De Xin"

Sunday, June 24th

    Unforgettable. That's the kind of weekend Sophia promised to give me...she took me to visit her home town, a rural and "backward" place (in her words), very different from Wuhan. Well, I had a good time with her, and shall blog more about it later, but this weekend truly was unforgettable for another reason. In fact, it turned out to be one of my most meaningful ones during my two years in China.

Sharon and I. Too bad 'bout the cross growing outta my head, but you know, it happens.

    So, a bit of background from previous blogs: I made a friend, Sharon, who was struggling with the "decision" of whether to come to f@ith. The way we met was unconventional...I took an unregistered taxi ride, and met a nice man who introduced me to his daughter, Sharon. The whole thing was random and a big chain of coincidences one after the other (If you want more background, check out my earlier blog: http://itriumphstill.blogspot.com/2011/11/only-can-you-save-me.html). We had the chance to talk on QQ (Chinese instant-messaging) a few times about Chr*stianity, and I had the chance to encourage her, sharing that it's not a choice to b*lieve in HIM, but a gift. We talked randomly in the months following, and over time, she revealed to me that she had become a Chr*stian, and that she was going to be b@ptized. Then, in the beginning of June, she sent me this text: 

"Yes! Actually, I wanna invite you to attend my b@ptism, because I think you played one of the key roles that helped me to be a Chr*stian :) "

    Walking through the grocery store, going up an escalator, I had to keep from crying right there in the middle of all those people, I was so touched at reading her text, and grateful to HIM for giving me a role in this girl coming to f@ith, a girl I hadn't even met. So of course I attended her "washing," immediately after coming back from Sophia's hometown. It was so great to finally meet Sharon, a sweet and friendly girl a little older than me, and to visit her ch*rch. Her group was bigger than ours, but similar in terms of security, how the group is run, etc. EXCEPT--the service was run entirely in Chinese, so I listened, picked up what I could (surprisingly a lot at times, and next to nothing at other times, depending on the context), and watched as Sharon and others became part of HIS family, covered with HIS love and forgiveness. It's common in this type of c*ngregations for members to share their "testimony" or story of how they came to f@ith, and after a bit of coaxing, Sharon stood up and began to speak. Of course, I didn't get all of it, but here's what I did pick up:

..."I didn't have f@ith...a friend of mine first dragged me to ch*rch many years ago, but I didn't understand it"

..."G*d surrounded me with Chr*stians who encouraged me little by little, including my best friend Hannah (another Chinese lady) who never gave up on me and constantly shared HIS Word with me..."

"...my dad met Julie, a foreigner, and she and I talked on the phone and added each other to QQ. One day, I was feeling really low, and I looked at Julie's QQ status, and saw that she had written something about her f@ith, in Chinese. I was really confused: 'A foreigner can write Chinese? This girl is Chr*stian?' So, I started talking to her about my struggle to come to f@ith, to accept HIM, and she shared a lot of the B*ble with me, and told me that if I already am wondering whether to "accept" J*sus, then HE already is in my heart, and I already am a Chr*stian..."

As she went on in her story, I again fought to hold back tears, that HE would use me in such a way...

Group of newly-w@shed at Sharon's ch*rch.

     After ch*rch, Sharon and I were picked up by...her dad!!! It was fun to see him, months after our introduction...so excited by Sharon's b@ptism and a reunion, I said yes to her dad's insistence that he treat me to dinner. Sitting outside, talking with Sharon by a DQ, and waiting for a couple friends to join us, she shared more about her journey to f@ith, showing me she already had gotten to know His Word quite well, and demonstrating a great love of our S@vior. Sharon's best friend and "Sister," Hannah, had told her that she was stubborn, and HE needed to put lots of people in her life for HIS Message to take root. She asked me "do you remember the conversation we had that day, online?" Of course I did. She shared her belief that HE sent me to China to encourage her when she really needed it, saying that she always remembered my telling her "maybe you already are a Chr*stian." We discussed the Parable of the Seed and the Sower, and she sweetly shared that she thinks G*d used me to pour the last bit of "water" on her f@ith. Touched, I told her that the complete, Real reason I came to China was for opportunities like that. She answered, "I am your fruit. You are the farmer." I told her that HE is the farmer, but we are blessed to play small roles along the way, and now she can pass the message on to others.

Sharon's washing--the first time I ever saw an immersion.

     The rest of the night was a blast--Sharon's dad took us to a delicious upscale restaurant, and we were joined by Lily and Esther, two friends I'd agreed to meet up with that night. The night of "coincidences" (HIS work and blessings) continued, as it turns out Esther and Sharon attend the same ch*rch! We had a great time talking, laughing, joking with her father, and eating a massive feast. Sharon's dad was really generous and we caught up as best as we could--Sharon often had to translate :) Lots of talk turned to sp*ritual life, with Sharon expressing her hopes to convince her best friend to turn to J*sus, and the importance of having HIM at the center of your life.

With my "black taxi buddy," a.k.a. my "Chinese dad" (his chosen nickname, hehe). Such a blessing to meet him and his daughter, at the very beginning and very end of my 2nd year in Wuhan!

As her dad drove us to my apartment, Sharon agreed to come to our final B*ble study the following night, and I insisted that she take a picture of her dad and I together. Afterward, he turned to me and said something I could understand: "Ni zai wo de xin." (你在我的心 = you are in my heart).Holding back tears once again, I told him he was also in my heart. I will never forget him, or his daughter, that G*d graciously put in my life. I will never forget the sequence of "coincidences" that HE put together to allow Sharon and I to meet, for me to encourage her in her f@ith, and for her to encourage me as I pr@yed to share the G*spel and its importance with others. When I first thought of coming to China, the thought terrified me, and I wondered whether I would even make a difference. Thanks to HIM and through HIM alone, I know I have been used in this way. Sharon is in my heart. Her father is in my heart. Most importantly, HE is in my heart. Thanks be to HIM, today and always!