People Stories - Pam & Frank, Leslie, Veronica

People Stories 

Pam & Frank

Amy’s parents, Pam & Frank, stayed with us four nights this past week. We had a great time with them, getting to know them, showing them around Beijing a little, talking about our kids, laughing about life. Their first day here Frank joked about the scene we must have been to onlookers. He said it looked like something out of a movie. They knew the language, but it was the foreigner showing them around town, guiding them through the subway, taking them to tourist sites. What’s wrong with this picture?

They spent several weeks in China to visit family and long-time friends, ending their trip with us in Beijing. While in the country, they took the opportunity to share the Truth with their family. According to Pam, four of their relatives came to believe in J. For example, she shared the Truth with a cousin, sowing seeds over many years, but earlier this year the cousin lost a close family member, thus opening the door to more discussion about eternity and the One who holds eternity in His hands. That cousin came to believe what Pam had told her and that J is real and can comfort in times of sorrow.

Over the course of several meals, we discussed so many topics, in addition to their growing up years. They were born just after the Great Famine in China but lived through the Cultural Revolution. For them, as for so many others, it was a very difficult time period. I encouraged them to write down their stories. Stories of hardship, but as we talked, we see how G worked through that, even though they didn’t know it then. G was working all the time. We have noticed, and they agreed, that many people their age display a blank or empty countenance. We see it on the subway, in the parks, around town. So many years gone, so much hope lost, so much faith in other people betrayed. Yet for Pam & Frank, G has given them a peace that passes all understanding. G has given them a hope beyond their experience. G has saved them and given them new life, not just outside their original country, but life in J. Pam, Frank & Amy are first-generation Xns, sharing the Truth with others whenever they can.

Yet at the same time, Frank carries a heavy burden. His parents in China are elderly and not well. He would like to find work where he can come visit them periodically to care for them and still provide for his immediate family. Remember him; he needs wisdom and opportunity.

Leslie

While Pam & Frank were here, they wanted to visit Tiananmen Square so we went one afternoon. We followed the crowd to where we thought we could reach the square. We learned later that the particular crowd we were in was actually the line to get through security to visit the Forbidden City. Since we didn’t have ID or time, we didn’t want that line. However, while there we met a young lady from Mexico, Leslie, who arrived here just three weeks ago. She will nanny six months for a Chinese family but has free time while the boy is away at school. She mentioned that language poses difficulty in the nanny job since the family doesn’t speak any English and she doesn’t speak any Chinese.  She reminded us of our own girls - young, enthusiastic, friendly. So we walked around the square with her, chatting, taking photos. We shared phone numbers and made contact. We hope we can see her again sometime.

Veronica

One day on the subway Mark met a man from the US named Dmitri. He was here looking for work, would soon return to the US, but hoped to come back to Beijing. His girlfriend was from Beijing. Through some personal contacts, Mark put him in touch with some business people and we also made contact with his girlfriend, Veronica. We ended having a delightful lunch with her and learned some of her story. She basically grew up in the US, played tennis, and attended a major university. While in college she came to know J and has since grown in her faith. She now attends a well-known body in NYC so we had a great time comparing notes and talking about the well-known leader/author. We hope to see Veronica again as she plans to relocate and work here. Remember her for wisdom and opportunity here.

We recognize G ordains every contact, every conversation. Remember us as we talk, chat, visit, contact, and share the Truth with seemingly perfect strangers yet people made in G's image.