Ten Lessons from Nine Months

In approximately two weeks we return to Beijing and begin another chapter in our lives. We really enjoyed our first nine months in China's capital city yet I feel we were just getting our rhythm by the time we left for the summer. We had our routine down; we knew our way around the city; we began to grasp the language little by little; we developed our method for hospitality and ministry. We also watched our Father work in amazing ways - changing lives.

We have filled our summer with many family activities, travels to visit out of town supporters, and general life. We have reflected on what we have learned and tried to share our hearts and our Father's heart with others. Mark crystalized his thoughts into Ten Lessons we learned from our first nine months in Beijing. We shared these with a PowerPoint summary wherever we went. I list them here, slightly edited.

      1.      It’s never too late to go. We met two couples in their 70’s while we were in Beijing this past year. Bothers & sisters of every age can make a contribution to the Great Cause: children remind us the future, young adults have energy and idealism, and older saints can offer wisdom and balance.

      2.      Our Father has His people in every place. The scene in Revelation 5 became much more personal this year: “Worthy are you take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for G-- from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

      3.      We take it with us when we cross cultural boundaries – our sins, our idiosyncrasies, our weaknesses. A full scan through security at Greenville, Detroit, and Beijing could not eliminate the sins. We brought them with us to China. If the ring doesn’t change you in marriage, then neither does a change of address.

      4.      We need to leave our biases and prejudices at the gate. Living in another culture especially exposes our prideful bias against other people, countries, and cultures. Wisdom is needed to understand what is cultural, and what is distinctly Christian.

      5.      Just because we both speak English doesn’t mean we’ll understand each other well. Brits, Scots, Aussie’s, South Africans, Americans, New Zealanders, and most Canadians all speak English. But we employ English and many words differently.

      6.      Language is the non-negotiable bridge to another culture. You cannot successfully access it well without an increasing ability – however humble – with the native language. Are you interested in overseas work? Consider learning another language – now! Axiom: Anything worth doing well eventually is worth doing poorly initially.

      7.      The G0spel is good news for every person and nation in every corner of the globe. Others need the G0spel as much as we do here in the States.

      8.      Love is a most necessary ingredient in work across the world. If I cannot love others with Chr!st-like love, I will be ineffective in reaching them with the G0spel, encouraging them to grow, or engaging them in true community. Are you interested in overseas work? Pray for grace to grow in your practical love for all types of people.

      9.      It takes the whole body to support someone serving in another country. You either send or are sent. We could not have gone without the support of our body. They provided prayer, financial support, and counsel and friendship for our children. They provided maintenance for our residence in our absence. They spoke to other bodies on our behalf. They took us to the airport on our departure & greeted us on our arrival. It takes a family.

10.  You are never too young to think, dream, and prepare for cross-cultural work. BBC averaged 32 years of age, but we had many in their early 20’s. If you are 10, 15, 20, or 25 years of age you are not too young to pray, read, study, prepare, or plan for cross-cultural service.