Reports: China February 2013

Chris Montgomery
 

 

As I’ve run into various people they all ask the same question; “What was the highlight of your trip?”  The answer is both very easy and very challenging: it’s the people.

 
It’s easy because the Chinese were incredibly warm and welcoming.  Their joyful attitude made it easy to love them. 
 

But the Chinese people were also challenging, because they exhibited qualities that I only wish I possessed.  They were so hungry to hear God’s word, and eager to learn. We taught at one place for five hours, and when we finished they clamored for more.  They love passionately because they have sacrificed to know Him.  Because they take risks to be together there is uncommon unity among the believers.

I think everyone on our team would agree:  we learned far more than we taught.  We received much more than we gave.  And none of us will forget them, nor will we be the same.  Because our hearts were united not only by a common love for Jesus, but also an anticipation of the day we will see “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.   And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:9b-10.

I saw Jesus in them.  And I was humbled by it.

Bunmi Peters

 

I had heard from Mary about the passion of the believers there for GOD, but I was not ready to see how much the believers wanted to learn and learn for hours. They soaked in as much knowledge as they could without looking at their watches nor were they distracted by a busy child. They were so loving and genuine in their zeal for GOD. Like us "westerners" they had serious heart issues, but it seemed to me that they wanted GOD solutions. No bandaids like prozac or whatever people use these days to deal with their problems.

I was so blessed to see how the believers put "their safety" out there so that they could learn more about JESUS and I saw how GOD loves the Chinese people and one day we will all worship the King of all Kings together at the throne in heaven.

Rev.5:13
Psalm 46:10

Mary Waring


This was my fifth opportunity to lead a team with EFCC’s Connecting with China.  One of my greatest blessings of these trips is reconnecting with people I have met during past trips.  A young woman approached me at the meeting at a major cosmetic company.  You may remember that during a past stay, 11 women accepted the Lord after our team taught at this same company.  With tears in her eyes, this woman, who was one of the 11, came to thank me for praying for her when she became a believer.  We laughed, cried, and praised our Lord together.  At another meeting, a woman introduced me to her precious adopted daughter that we had discussed during the last trip.  The continuation and continuity of these special relationships are very precious to me and, I believe, very helpful to the people we work with in China.  

God teaches me many things during each mission and this one was no different.  Everything I discover about the Chinese culture, and every challenge learned from leadership under pressure, God uses to refine me to better serve Him and our Chinese sisters and brothers.  May God be glorified by all we do!

Friday Free Day

View from our hotel room

We woke to beautiful blue skies and sunny cool weather!  It is a miracle compared to last night when we arrived to smog so thick you could cut it.

After breakfast we went to the Silk Market.  It was a surprise to see that the Silk Market has a new face inside.  All the stalls are now nice new glass fronted booths, more like tiny shops.  One of the vendors told me that since the rennovation, their rents have gone up three times what they were.  Our friend Stephanie is fortunately honoring prices she has given "old time customers."  I took no offense at the "old" and gratefully accepted her good rates.

The celebration of the Chinese Spring Festival and New Year is still going on.  For hours every night there are many many fireworks being fired off all round our hotel and throughout the city.  Our rooms are on the 23rd floor, again, so we have great views of the fireworks.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is a very full day.  The team will be split up going to two different venues and meeting twice the people.  Please pray that God will direct our teaching and that His love will shine through us. 

Mary for the Team

We Have Arrived!

Departure from San Diego

 

It is great to be back in Beijing ... pollution and all.  It was a long, but happily uneventful trip.  Beautiful Grace met us as the airport.  There was so much luggage that the hired van took the baggage and three women to the hotel and Grace and the others came to the hotel in a separate taxi. 

After dropping our suitcases in our rooms, we 'retrieved'  some money from the ATM in the hotel building.  There is a large grocery story located in the basement of the hotel where we bought a case of water for each room.  The group was happy to see that there is a Starbucks in our hotel building.

Arrival at Beijing Airport

 

A very tired group of women went to bed early.  Tomorrow we have the day off to acclimate to the time, go to the Silk Market, and review our teaching.  We have a very full schedule and it was wonderful to see familiar names on the timetable.  

Mary for the Team

Just 3 Days to Departure!

Excitement is in the air as we put the finishing touches on preparations to leave for Beijing in just three days!  After waiting for 3½ months after postponing this mission, it feels amazing that we are actually leaving in just a few days.

Some of us have finished packing while others are just beginning.  Fortunately, Hainan Airlines is one of the few airlines that still do not charge any baggage fees for the first two checked bags.  That allows us to put our clothing in one bag and fill the second bag with gifts for our Chinese sisters.  We raffle off a few gifts at each teaching venue and, like women everywhere, the ladies love it.   

The weather is predicted to be in the low to mid 40s, which is not bad for mid-February.  The pollution is reportedly extremely bad, so we are taking face masks with us, but continue to for rain, snow, or wind to clear the air, at least for a few days.

Please pray for our team:

·       May God provide us with many fertile Divine meetings and moments.  We want to be used to the max to glorify our Lord!

·       May we all stay healthy and strong to finish this race well!  The long 12+ hour flights during flu season can be challenging.

·       May the Beijing pollution not affect us or those we are going to meet and teach.

·       One of the team has significant back pain.  Please pray for relief from this pain so that she can enjoy what God has planned for us. 

·       Please pray for one of our teammates who is uncomfortable flying.  I truly admire both of these women who have courageously stepped forward into this mission knowing about the lo-o-ng flights involved.

·       Other team members are struggling with job stresses and family issues.   

It is our prayer that all the spiritual warfare we have encountered, including having the mission postponed, foreshadows a Spirit-filled abundantly fruitful mission experience!  

God willing, we will keep you updated about our activities when we reach Beijing!

NOVEMBER Team preparing to depart in FEBRUARY

 

 

Mary Waring, Bumni Peters, Tammy De Armas, Chery Moen, Christ Montgomery, Nancy Lane

Is 30:18 “But the Lord still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion.  For the Lord is a faithful God.  Blessed are those who wait for him to help them.”

 

Well we are set to go on February 20^th- March 4^th.  Yes, the China team that was supposed to be going in early November 2012, postponed the trip until February 2013.  Due to the change of top government officials in November in China, we made the choice to reschedule our trip and are now preparing once again to leave for Beijing.  Thankfully through God’s grace, this didn’t equate to greater monetary expenses, simply a mental shift in timing. 

 

 

 As someone who has never been on a mission before, I am in awe of how much I have learned and I haven’t even stepped on the plane!  I set out in obedience and hope to be a blessing to those in China and yet somehow, someway they have already blessed me.  In discovering how hungry our Chinese sisters are to hear God’s word brings tears to my eyes.  This delay has also given new meaning to God’s perfect timing.  We may never know why this “postponement” took place, but what we do know is that our departure is now just three weeks away and it is clear this time it is a go. 

 

 

We ask for your prayers for our team, as we once again focus on our mission.  Please pray that as we prepare to go, we can rest in His sovereignty.   There are new items on everyone’s plate that were not there before, and as faithful jugglers we must be present for Him to work in us.  We ask for Him to lead us!  We pray for wisdom in our time left to prepare, for our surrendering to Him to be available in what He calls us to do, and for our hearts and attitudes will bring glory to Him! We all have a great desire to be 100% present to this mission and serve in ways that will bring honor and joy to Him and bless our Chinese sisters.  We ask for prayer for the strength, unity and health of the team too.  We ask for prayer for opportunities to share with our sisters, for healing, restoration, and to be able to share His love with the people we come in contact with.  

 

Tammy  

NOVEMBER 2012 TEAM POSTPONED



Due to the historic transfer of the leadership of the Chinese Government scheduled to take place in early November, the Connecting With China team visit to Beijing has been postponed.

We wish the people of China and the new Chinese leaders many blessings as they go forward into the future.

NOVEMBER team is almost ready to go!

 

The God of Miracles Can be Trusted

The November team leaves for China in 23 days!  We have raised most of the support, with the exception of the last $200!  My best guess tells me it will come in.  I believe it, because we serve a God of miracles.  Each of us has come together at our mighty Father’s prompting.  He will provide for us, He will care for us, and He will watch over us.  Our visas are being processed, and our talks are completed.  We will meet a few more times prior to our departure to refine and “tweek” our topics. 

Last week someone lent me a book that is a true story about a family in China.  As I began reading it this weekend, it startled me to think of the oppression that these people have lived under.  At one time they were instructed to tear up their gardens, removing their trees and flowers and leave just the dirt.  It dawned on me that the beauty and splendor we live with each day we many times take for granted.  As the fall approaches, and leaves turn I think of the miraculous colors God has created.

We are blessed to able to go to China and minister to these hungry souls.  God’s love for us is unfailing.  “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord who has compassion for you.  IS 54:10.

Please pray for our team:
1.  Our visas and passports completed quickly.

 

2. The leadership team in China is in transition, please pray for them.

 

3. Protection for us and our families as we prepare to go to China.

4. The hearts of the Chinese people will be changed, encouraged, and moved by what we share.

5.  That the spiritual walk of the team will be renewed and strengthened by this experience.

 

6.  God's blessing on the Divine appointments that He provides. 

 

5. Unity among our team.

Tammy