We were extra sleepy when we left our dormitory this morning without a shower to
wake us up. Due to the water no longer reaching us on the top floor of our building we
were all a bit surprised, but with all the construction I figured it would return later in
the afternoon. Most of our Chinese students only shower once or twice a week; I knew
I could wait until we got water again. After we returned from church we were told
they were working on the problem and water should return within three or four days.
Currently, we take the elevator to the first level sink and Eastern style bathrooms. It is a
challenge I had personally been considering doing voluntarily but not having the option
of a daily shower will be a humbling cultural lesson.

Our morning at church was unique as we praised the Lord with a large Korean
fellowship. Normally we go to a small church with other Americans, some
Germans, Russians, Philippinos, and Koreans who are all volunteer workers in this
city. Worshiping with the Korean believers brought some of us tears of joy and
encouragement through unity with a local congregation.

The diverse culture welcomes us with open arms. All of our students, many Korean by
heritage but Chinese by birth, have demonstrated abundant generosity toward each of
us. It is not uncommon to be treated to dinner, a night at the pool hall with the guys, or
popsicles at the market from a chance run-in with a student. Today we were escorted by
a large group of our students from each of the six classes. As we walked around the local
museum that showed the history of the Korean and Chinese cultures I continued to be in
prayer for the evening that was to follow.

Tonight we met with a group of people we have come to know during our month here.
Most of them were not Christians but knew something about the faith. Our goal was to
connect those who were already followers of Christ with those who were on a journey
to meet Jesus. One of my students who had told me she was a Christian brought a
couple friends with her; they then blessed us singing to the Lord a Korean worship song.
(We later discovered they are on the praise team at their small church!) In English we
sang ‘Lord I Lift Your Name on High’ together. After teaching the lyrics to everyone we
explained the message—salvation through Jesus Christ. None of this had been planned,
but God’s Spirit was moving in everyone at the meeting.

One of the girls asked if Santa Claus was Jesus when he got old. Another asked why
when she went to church she couldn’t bring her lunch inside, but then when she went
in, everyone ate some crackers and drank juice during the service. A guy who has been
studying the four gospels heard the truth of Romans 5:1-10 for the first time tonight and
wrote down the passage so he could read it over. In each of the people who came tonight
we saw God working to bring them one step closer to Him, out of darkness and into His
marvelous light.

After meeting together, a girl continued to process. “God just wants a relationship with
me?” she said, “Then I have to tell people about Jesus; it’s my job.” While this was
simply a cognitive recognition, her child-like understanding is beautiful and we have
hope she will intimately know Christ soon. Many like her, who have some understanding
of what it means to be a part of the Body, still have a great deal of confusion due to
twisted and legalistic teaching. The issue of being a ‘pure Christian’ has arisen many
times due to people thinking they cannot follow God if they do not go to church at certain
times or so many days of each week. With the hope to break down false teaching the
devil has used to mask their spiritual eyes, we studied the Bible together. Many of them
do not have their own copy so we read from Chinese, Korean, and English texts. The
response from this was great. All of them asked to read it for themselves and expressed
a desire to have their own copy. We will be working with the Korean worship team to
provide the Word to all of them by the time we meet again next week.

Next Sunday will be our last weekend in this city. A handful of students who did not
come tonight had planned to but were unable. I do not know the time that God has set for
them, but we are in prayer that it is soon; may they come next week to worship and learn
together. We are so thankful for the Kingdom work that was done tonight. Everyone
was encouraged, seeds were watered, and hearts are being awakened. May the spiritual
water never stop but continue to flow, awakening their souls so they may never thirst
again!!

Nate, for the team