Dr. Krabbendam's visit

Recently Dr. Henry Krabbendam from Chattanooga TN visited Beijing. When Mark attended a conference in at our home body in November, he and Dr. Krabbendam reconnected and Dr. K (as many affectionately call him) mentioned that he has always wanted to visit Beijing. So of course, Mark said "Come on over." For over 35 years Dr. K has traveled to Uganda holding conferences and teaching sessions for Uganda youth and leaders so he has a real passion for ev and the True Message. At first we wondered how we could keep him busy, but the day after Dr. K arrived our Father quickly and fully made plans evident. Dr. K got to speak to many people while here, traveling all over the city to meet locals and even some former students from his college teaching days. He even squeezed in a trip to the Great Wall. At 81 years of age, he kept us on the go, inspiring us with his passion and love for the Truth.

Samantha (translator), Dr. K, one of our BBC members (far right) and her friends

Trip to Kuala Lumpur & Melaka, Malaysia

Samuel showing us the night life of Kuala Lumpur. 

Midnight snack (literally). Since we arrived late on Thursday night, we were hungry after two flights to KL.

Lush, tropical KL

Chinese Malaysian supper

Portuguese Malaysian supper

Visiting KL's Aviary Park

While visiting the Bird Park, we got caught in a torrential downpour.

Malay Malaysian dinner with Samuel, Ray, Mark & Diane

Ladies' Spring Fling - March 2017

Recently our newly-formed Women's Council held a Saturday afternoon Ladies' Spring Fling. The team shared their vision for the Women's Council as a venue to dialog with BBC women regarding issues on their hearts, whether those 'issues' pertain to living in BJ, growing in the Xn faith, or having events for fun and fellowship. As I talk with some of the ladies, we discover that many resources that encourage mentoring, life-on-life discipleship, or "Titus 2" ministries mostly come from American perspectives where people live nearby and can just hop into a car to go visit a friend. For example, I read recently about women who would spend time together doing all sorts of life-on-life activities - hang out at one of their homes for the afternoon, go grocery shopping together, etc. The point of the description was that discipleship and mentoring occur in the everyday moments of life. So true! Our challenge in BJ comes when just to reach a friend's home takes an hour - ride on a bus, take the subway, walk to the apartment. How do we practice life-on-life mentoring/discipleship/friendship (whatever we want to call it) when just getting together takes a lot of effort? BBC formed the Women's Council as a venue to discuss some of those challenges. How can we at BBC, and especially we women, encourage each other to walk by faith in Jesus, be accountable in our struggles, and help one another obey God's directives?

The Spring Fling kicked off the idea with a time of fellowship, games, and snacks.

People Stories - L

A few weeks ago we met a young lady who came to BBC upon the recommendation of a US friend. The friend (I don’t know if from a church or her school) looked up on the internet and found BBC and suggested she come. So she did. That first week she must have slipped into the back because we didn’t see her at first, but we had a delightful time getting to know her a bit at lunch with several others and then she spent the afternoon at our apartment. At lunch one of our other newcomers asked L if she was a Christian. She honestly and forthrightly answered, “No, I’m not a Christian but I might become one someday.” Wow, what openness. That open door led to free flowing conversation about what is the gospel, who is Jesus, the ‘bridge’ illustration of the gospel message, giving her Ultimate Questions (which I learned is translated Exploring Life), and loaning her Greg Gilbert’s What is the Gospel? The loaned book provided an excuse to keep in touch with her. When Dr. Krabbendam came, she joined a group of us for lunch. She again heard him explain the message of salvation as well as heard godly talk around the lunch table. God clearly is moving in her heart; I see it in her face, in her demeanor. God’s word is taking root. When we connected her with another pastor, she gave him a call that afternoon and made contact. Mark, in fact, met this pastor earlier in the week so he got to know him and hear his testimony and salvation story. God works here through strong, godly leaders like this pastor. Pray that God’s word not only takes root but flourishes in L.

New Language

When we moved to Beijing, we expected to learn a new language. Somehow we didn't expect it to sound like this:

What's the AQI today?
That's a lot of mafan.
Queue up behind the yellow line.
We need more helpers in the crèche.
Meet me at the subway.
Do you need a bag?
Amy needs a nappie.
Don't forget the bathers.
Can I bring a pushchair?
I'll be there to fetch you.
What line is that?
Do you need to shoo-shoo?
He made a visa run.
Please stand firm and hold the handrail.
Let's have a braai this weekend.
I'll send the wuye to your flat.

Where’s your flat?

Who are your flatmates?

Although friends spoke these sentences in English, they still needed some translation.

People Stories - W

This past Tuesday, our normal day off, we planned to hang out at a coffee shop to kill some time before meeting a friend to move a piano. This particular coffee shop is always full so we chose a two-person table next to a man who sat by himself. I had hoped to enjoy a nice cup of tea and just be with Mark, but the guy initiated conversation. Naturally we talked about the normal topics - life, work, family, our ages, etc. In the conversation he mentioned his age of 38. He understood most people live to about 80 so he was almost half-way there and wondering about his purpose in life. He reflected the ancient  philosophy of paying debt to society or what we might refer to as paying kindness forward. Mark used that opportunity to proclaim the message of Jesus coming to pay our debt to God so we don’t have to. We expected never to see this man again so Mark spoke boldly and directly.

It turns out that he works at a nearby restaurant so he invited us to be his guests at the restaurant. Though we had walked by it many times, we had never eaten there so we accepted his offer and went last night. It seemed the staff expected us because they deferred to him and were especially gracious.

He not only hosted us but also sat down and joined us for dinner. He indeed picked up the tab for us. But more importantly, we had conversation during the evening about life, work, and family. We brought the conversation back to his looking for purpose in life and paying back debt. I had brought along Ultimate Questions as a gift for him and told him that this little booklet addressed many of those questions about life and its purpose. Mark explained the Good News more fully by drawing the bridge illustration with the cross of Jesus as the bridge between man and God. I pray that God will use Ultimate Questions for his good and His glory. May He bring salvation to a searching man.

The food, by the way, was delicious. 

Family Time

We have the privilege of spending a few weeks at Christmas and New Year's with our families. God has given us great times of conversations, fellowship, food, and football. We even invited several of Alicia's close friends for a Friends' Dinner one night. We love the joys, laughter, and future of young people. May God bless the next generation with His grace and mercy.

Cheryl's family (minus James & Amy)
celebrating her parents' 60th wedding anniversary

Friends' Dinner
Even at home we serve internationals. As I look over this crowd, two of these young people grew up on the Amazon River in Brazil, one is a first generation American from Soviet Union immigrants, one from Germany spent 3 months working at BMW in Greer. Two others grew up in Indiana (well, that's foreign to SC, isn't it?)

Playing Taboo. They worked through half a box of cards. So much fun!!

Clemson vs Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl

Final - Saturday, December 31, 7:00 PM

University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

2Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2) 0 3Clemson Tigers (13-1) 31

Now for the National Championship Football Game
Monday, January 9, 2017 8pm.
GO TIGERS!!!

	2Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2)	0
	3Clemson Tigers (13-1)	31

2Ohio State

Buckeyes

(11-2)

0

3Clemson

Tigers

(13-1)

31