Invisible; Forty Four (Mark)

Invisible – that is how we have been on the blogosphere  in the last couple of weeks. We have failed to blog much lately. We are very busy on this end. I am inspired as I watch my wife blog on the couch next to me, twenty nine floors (yes, still a 33^rd floor apartment) above the streets of northern Beijing. Today we talked with our son James back in the States. He is just beginning his Fall break from school in his junior year. Where has all the time gone?

Forty four – that is the paltry number of days my bride and I have logged in this great and ancient nation since our arrival. Cheryl and I have now been six weeks in Beijing.  Much is coming easier; other things are more difficult. For example, we can navigate the subway system and use simple Mandarin (Chinese) phrases as we walk, travel, shop, and interact with Chinese. But little things are getting on my nerves. They are revealing my biases, prejudice, pettiness, lack of love, and sinfulness. The problem is not others, it is me. Period. Language learning will stir up almost every grain of pride in your soul. And my response to another culture reminds me that I need that Gospel of Jesus which can redeem those from all cultures. But I need the Gospel and its power – and badly. That is a clear takeaway through the first si shi si tian (44 days) in Beijing.

We are also getting to know our fellow students at our language school and those involved with Beijing Baptist Church. Both are a real joy. At school I have met others from England, Japan, Australia, France, Russia, China, Germany, Libya, and Guinea-Bissau. In fact, this week I lunch with Mateo (sp?) from Libya and a friend “P” from the States. Mateo must return to Libya every several months and speak to a judge about his immigration status. He mentioned that some of his money in his account has been confiscated by his government. At the beginning of our 11 RMB meal together ($1.80/person for curried chicken over rice) my friend P gave thanks for our food. I have never prayed with a Muslim before that moment. Please pray for him…

At our church (BBC) we have members and attenders from England, Scotland, Australia, France, India, Philippines, Cameroon, Ghana, South Korea, Hungary, Singapore, South Africa, and the U.S. There might be more, but that is all I can remember now. I know this – they are a joy to lead and pastor. I think this is known as “on the job training.” We may all speak English, but we are culturally quite different. That is actually a celebration point. Where Paul writes to the Ephesians in Ephesians 2 that “For he (i.e. Christ) himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility….that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility (Eph. 2:14-16).” We are just learning that this type of spiritual unity between those from different cultures requires love, time, prayer, communication, and faith. But it is mainly a work of the Spirit.