People Stories - Random Strangers

We met a lot of people when Ellen & Victor were here. The Hatfields have never been known to pass up a good, random conversation.

One of their first days here we were walking past the bakery where Mark buys his favorite buttery cookies. Mark & Victor had walked ahead of Ellen & me when Ellen & I heard “English…English…Do I hear English?” from a man riding a bike behind us. Ellen asked him what accent he would like to hear. He said “South Carolina.” “No way” she responded. So we stopped to chat with him. We learned that he had come to Beijing two months before to teach English to young children, like so many others. It turns out he is from Greer, SC and graduated from Riverside High School in 1998. We all were amazed how God put us together on that street in Beijing just across from NorthStar. He was flabbergasted. He said that his first month was very difficult getting adjusted and living here. We gave him one of our cards and invited him to BBC. We will see if he comes; he said he would like to.

Another night on the way home from visiting the Olympic venues, we noticed a young lady on the subway reading her Bible. Naturally Mark talked with her. In the conversation, Mark tried to ask what book of the Bible she was reading. She said a book written by Paul. It was either Galatians or Ephesians. When Mark told her what he does, she was very pleased. She said “Thank you for coming to China.” We tried to explain Mark leads an international body. She brightened as she told us that she is a Chr..... as are her husband and her parents.  As we parted ways, Ellen gave her a hug and we said we would remember her and her people. I encouraged her to persevere in the L. What a sweet meeting.