I want to especially thank the KnitWits! They are "knitting a witness for Christ" and sending 4 beautiful prayer shawls with us to China as gifts for some wonderful women there. Check out their blog, they are great! I love my beautiful red shawl and feel wrapped in prayer when I wrap up in the mornings. Thank you knitwits!!
http:/knitwitknews.blogspot.com
Saturday, June 12, 2010
On Our Way to Beijing!
Here we go - Our second team leaves for Beijing on June 24th! We are so excited and would be so grateful if you would pray that the people God would have us to see are ready and that we are prepared to be all we should be for them! Watch for updates - starting on about June 25!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Connecting Hearts
We are so excited about putting together a new way to connect women in North America with the women of China! We're calling it, "Connecting Hearts"! We wil connect 2 N. Amer women with 1 English speaking Chinese woman and 4 others. This will give us an opportunity to meet the requested needs for training leaders there.
We ask for your prayers in this...
We ask for your prayers in this...
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Cliff Hanger :)
We are back in the states and missing our dear friends in China! As I was sharing with my friend Ta yesterday I realized that I left you hanging on a mysterious "gift of dirt" in the parenting class I did. That was the blog about the class on Tuesday, March 16.
Well here's the dirt! Part of the class was on giving honor to our parents and children and in general giving the gift of honor to people around us. The illustration involved giving a gift of dirt (in a nice gift bag of course) to illustrate giving dishonor to someone - and then following up with a nice gift to show how it is when we give the gift of honor. The illustration was very well received and provoked quite a discussion about some difficult parenting some had received and some current situations and how to deal with them.The woman who received the dirt and then the replacement nice gift then turned and gave a part of her gift (a chocolate) to another to symbolize sharing.
The really funny part was in collecting the dirt - this in a virtual concrete jungle around the hotel, not to mention the fact that it had snowed and the dirt we saw around trees etc. was a bit muddy. Well, we were outside Walmart (yes you heard it right - Walmart in China!) and saw a tree that was in a sunny spot and the dirt around it was pretty dry. The friend we were with was Kristy Tan who is luckily fluent in Mandarin which came in handy when I was bending down to pick up a handful of dirt with a plastic bag...
There was an older Chinese man observing us with a funny sort of grin on his face. The Chinese are quite openly curious and as I was scooping the dirt he was getting closer and closer. Kristy saved the day and said in Mandarin, "She loves China so much she wants to take some home with her!" At that, he smiled broadly!!
...and that's the rest of the story :)
Incidentally, Sharon Sanchez' husband Ken is writing wonderful stories of events that happened there which I am posting on my profile page on Facebook if you care to check them out. Thank you again for praying and loving China with us!
We are back in the states and missing our dear friends in China! As I was sharing with my friend Ta yesterday I realized that I left you hanging on a mysterious "gift of dirt" in the parenting class I did. That was the blog about the class on Tuesday, March 16.
Well here's the dirt! Part of the class was on giving honor to our parents and children and in general giving the gift of honor to people around us. The illustration involved giving a gift of dirt (in a nice gift bag of course) to illustrate giving dishonor to someone - and then following up with a nice gift to show how it is when we give the gift of honor. The illustration was very well received and provoked quite a discussion about some difficult parenting some had received and some current situations and how to deal with them.The woman who received the dirt and then the replacement nice gift then turned and gave a part of her gift (a chocolate) to another to symbolize sharing.
The really funny part was in collecting the dirt - this in a virtual concrete jungle around the hotel, not to mention the fact that it had snowed and the dirt we saw around trees etc. was a bit muddy. Well, we were outside Walmart (yes you heard it right - Walmart in China!) and saw a tree that was in a sunny spot and the dirt around it was pretty dry. The friend we were with was Kristy Tan who is luckily fluent in Mandarin which came in handy when I was bending down to pick up a handful of dirt with a plastic bag...
There was an older Chinese man observing us with a funny sort of grin on his face. The Chinese are quite openly curious and as I was scooping the dirt he was getting closer and closer. Kristy saved the day and said in Mandarin, "She loves China so much she wants to take some home with her!" At that, he smiled broadly!!
...and that's the rest of the story :)
Incidentally, Sharon Sanchez' husband Ken is writing wonderful stories of events that happened there which I am posting on my profile page on Facebook if you care to check them out. Thank you again for praying and loving China with us!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, 3.22.10
We spent a tender time at the orphanage today holding and speaking to the children. Quite a few new ones and they hadn't seen westerners before. It was hard not to pack them up and take them with us!
What a time we had with George Chen, the Chief Director of an organization of Christian entrepreneurs. Here is the brief intro on their website: (the translation is as follows)
Vision: Chinese entrepreneurs are both with honesty, integrity, vision and international perspective, and to actively promote corporate social responsibility, leadership. Because of good faith and mutual trust, and entrepreneurs in each other's mutual assistance, additional resources, so that enterprises can quickly become bigger and stronger, all are with the long term international competitiveness.
George and his lovely wife Jennifer are so happy to partner with us and have a strong desire to see the special needs of women in business addressed! Talk about another divine appointment!!!
Tonight we met with another 10 women about leadership for women's ministry in their churches. They were so excited to have help and support and had so many questions that we were thinking they wanted to spend the night with us! We have seen a total of 12 different churches represented by the women we have trained; the women tonight were from 3 different churches. They really had thoughtful concerns and were so happy and excited! We have a big job ahead and there is such a need for resource material!
Well, one more day and we leave for home. We all feel we are leaving a part of us behind here in China! God is moving in mighty ways here; we thank you for all of your prayers!
Oh, here is a note about the woman I asked you to pray for on the last entry who said she hadn't believed there was a god. I said her name was Kali, but it is Kelly. Her friend Yolanda is the one I have mentioned and wrote this note. Yolanda says Kelly is from a Muslim family:
Dear all,
Please kindly be posted that kelly was quite happy to join our church yesterday. She said that what she got on Sunday that's what she trully needs now.
She said that she shared God words to her friends in dinner after training. All of her friends love it...They even made fun to judge whatever their talking like "this is God meaning", "that's not God meaning"...
She said that she started to read bible last night...
Our God is almighty God, lord of lords...shall we pray for her to join us every Sunday...pray for her salvation at God's time and plan...Amen.
God bless you,
Yolanda
What a time we had with George Chen, the Chief Director of an organization of Christian entrepreneurs. Here is the brief intro on their website: (the translation is as follows)
Vision: Chinese entrepreneurs are both with honesty, integrity, vision and international perspective, and to actively promote corporate social responsibility, leadership. Because of good faith and mutual trust, and entrepreneurs in each other's mutual assistance, additional resources, so that enterprises can quickly become bigger and stronger, all are with the long term international competitiveness.
George and his lovely wife Jennifer are so happy to partner with us and have a strong desire to see the special needs of women in business addressed! Talk about another divine appointment!!!
Tonight we met with another 10 women about leadership for women's ministry in their churches. They were so excited to have help and support and had so many questions that we were thinking they wanted to spend the night with us! We have seen a total of 12 different churches represented by the women we have trained; the women tonight were from 3 different churches. They really had thoughtful concerns and were so happy and excited! We have a big job ahead and there is such a need for resource material!
Well, one more day and we leave for home. We all feel we are leaving a part of us behind here in China! God is moving in mighty ways here; we thank you for all of your prayers!
Oh, here is a note about the woman I asked you to pray for on the last entry who said she hadn't believed there was a god. I said her name was Kali, but it is Kelly. Her friend Yolanda is the one I have mentioned and wrote this note. Yolanda says Kelly is from a Muslim family:
Dear all,
Please kindly be posted that kelly was quite happy to join our church yesterday. She said that what she got on Sunday that's what she trully needs now.
She said that she shared God words to her friends in dinner after training. All of her friends love it...They even made fun to judge whatever their talking like "this is God meaning", "that's not God meaning"...
She said that she started to read bible last night...
Our God is almighty God, lord of lords...shall we pray for her to join us every Sunday...pray for her salvation at God's time and plan...Amen.
God bless you,
Yolanda
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, 3.21.10
This must be short so there can be rest tonight! This day was beyond packed and beyond expectations!
First, we went to Josh and Sabina’s church and heard an amazing message about living and dying for Christ from Josh who had an episode last week with his heart. He is fine now, but what a moving message. Sharon shared about her great-aunts having been here to teach, share Christ and establish churches and schools. The story moved us all and brought the church to tears! What a legacy of faith! Eight people came to Christ today – and over 70 people attended!
After lunch at church, we went to another house church with Yolanda and Hope’s group. There were 25-30 people crammed into a space of less than 140 square feet. They wanted to be taught about godly marriage so Mary and I shared with them while Sharon and Bonnie stayed with Sabina and the new believers group and prepared the goodie bags for the event tonight. It was a precious time with all!
From 4:30-8pm we were at a tea shop with about 38 women for a requested training on Emotions, Your Story –His Story and godly Career planning. It was very well received and the teaching by Sharon, Bonnie, Sabina and I went quite well with much feedback and many questions too. There were seekers there as well with questions asked and much talking afterward. Pray for a young lady named Kali, who told me she hadn’t believed there was a god, but that her heart was stirred toward Him tonight!
Tomorrow we will go to the orphanage, see George Chen (a leader of a Christian businessmen’s group) who wants to help us to start a group for women! In the evening we will see a few of the potential leaders of women’s groups who couldn’t make the training on the 13th. Tuesday we will see the Temple of Heaven (there was a sand storm yesterday and we couldn’t go) and finish our shopping at the silk market. If I don’t get to write before I leave for home on the 24th – look for our update upon our return! We are all so filled with joy and wonder at His work here – it is hard to express in mere words!!
I love you and thank you for your support and prayers,
Peggy
First, we went to Josh and Sabina’s church and heard an amazing message about living and dying for Christ from Josh who had an episode last week with his heart. He is fine now, but what a moving message. Sharon shared about her great-aunts having been here to teach, share Christ and establish churches and schools. The story moved us all and brought the church to tears! What a legacy of faith! Eight people came to Christ today – and over 70 people attended!
After lunch at church, we went to another house church with Yolanda and Hope’s group. There were 25-30 people crammed into a space of less than 140 square feet. They wanted to be taught about godly marriage so Mary and I shared with them while Sharon and Bonnie stayed with Sabina and the new believers group and prepared the goodie bags for the event tonight. It was a precious time with all!
From 4:30-8pm we were at a tea shop with about 38 women for a requested training on Emotions, Your Story –His Story and godly Career planning. It was very well received and the teaching by Sharon, Bonnie, Sabina and I went quite well with much feedback and many questions too. There were seekers there as well with questions asked and much talking afterward. Pray for a young lady named Kali, who told me she hadn’t believed there was a god, but that her heart was stirred toward Him tonight!
Tomorrow we will go to the orphanage, see George Chen (a leader of a Christian businessmen’s group) who wants to help us to start a group for women! In the evening we will see a few of the potential leaders of women’s groups who couldn’t make the training on the 13th. Tuesday we will see the Temple of Heaven (there was a sand storm yesterday and we couldn’t go) and finish our shopping at the silk market. If I don’t get to write before I leave for home on the 24th – look for our update upon our return! We are all so filled with joy and wonder at His work here – it is hard to express in mere words!!
I love you and thank you for your support and prayers,
Peggy
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Saturday 3.20.10
My greatest fear is that I will forget any of the events of this trip! Each day I think, “this day has been filled with divine appointments and I am in awe of them!”. I am sure each day was the highlight of the trip…until the next day! I will be including a few entries from my team soon as well because we all just keep saying, “WOW”!
Our VP of international operations, Don Young has been moonlighting as a comic! :) He does an imitation of the Chinese on the phone that is so funny that even our driver who speaks no English laughs each time. As close as I can come using phonetic spelling, here it is: “Whyeeee, huhdah,huhdah,huhdah,huhdah,huhdah,huhdah – ok,ok,ok,bye,bye”. I would imagine my Mandarin teacher wouldn’t be too impressed, but it is somehow hilarious to see the reaction here!
On a serious note, today at the invitation of our China Harmony and Unity Director, Shaun BAO, we attended an event with “The International Famous Entrepreneurs & Philanthropists Union”. This was attended by leading scholars, government officials and business leaders, as well as students about to graduate and looking for jobs. I took pages of notes in total astonishment as I wrote at break-neck speed but I will only include a few quotes for you:
- From Mr. BAO, a leading government official, “Students shouldn’t look to government and government jobs for security – rather look to private enterprise!”
- From the leader of the Christian Business Men’s Committee in Beijing, “Coming here shows your loving heart. We bring moneys earned from foreign countries back to China and we bring back love from our neighbors too”.
- From Mr. Wu, “Enterprise is not just for business, but to build relationships and others; if you try to keep your treasure for your descendents, you are silly – spend money for eternity! & . “If you are given a cup of water, give a drum of water. If you were given a cup and give only a drop, stir your heart to give a drum of water!”
- From the President of Happiness Research Institute (Really!!): “Most employment enjoyment depends on joy in your heart…serving others makes you happy!”
We had the opportunity to listen to our Shaun BAO and hear him stir the audience with his story of family bitterness. His royal great grandfather who hated the English and French for the destruction of the Summer Palace; his grandfather who hated the “national army” for his exile; for his father who hated the communist government for sending him because of his royal heritage – to the country to be “re-educated”. Then after his family went to Australia and Shaun worked as a “house boy” in New Zealand, becoming very angry himself, he came to faith in Christ. What a story he shares about his 20 years in missions in Beijing after leaving successful business in Australia! His dream is reconciliation between people, nations and between man and God!
Each of the team shared for a few minutes as well and were received so well! An older gentleman came up to us before the program ended to say that he had never before heard words like ours and he couldn’t wait until the end to tell us. A prominent woman in banking, as well as others told the entire group how much they loved the words we spoke. Shaun received so much praise and we were surrounded with picture takers for quite some time at the end. The program went from 1pm – 6pm!
Dinner tonight was with Shaun and Sarah BAO as well as a visitor (who just found out about Shaun and this meeting today a few hours beforehand!), Todd Hendricks. Todd shared his story of great success and wealth in a major construction company – with an economy related bankruptcy last spring. Todd shares about being desperately committed to ministry and willingness to be totally committed to Christ!
Must get some rest now; such a day ahead tomorrow with church, a small group to train and a much larger group later on. Please lift us up in prayer! Sharon Sanchez was even asked to share in church about her missionary aunts who were hear in the 20’s!
Our VP of international operations, Don Young has been moonlighting as a comic! :) He does an imitation of the Chinese on the phone that is so funny that even our driver who speaks no English laughs each time. As close as I can come using phonetic spelling, here it is: “Whyeeee, huhdah,huhdah,huhdah,huhdah,huhdah,huhdah – ok,ok,ok,bye,bye”. I would imagine my Mandarin teacher wouldn’t be too impressed, but it is somehow hilarious to see the reaction here!
On a serious note, today at the invitation of our China Harmony and Unity Director, Shaun BAO, we attended an event with “The International Famous Entrepreneurs & Philanthropists Union”. This was attended by leading scholars, government officials and business leaders, as well as students about to graduate and looking for jobs. I took pages of notes in total astonishment as I wrote at break-neck speed but I will only include a few quotes for you:
- From Mr. BAO, a leading government official, “Students shouldn’t look to government and government jobs for security – rather look to private enterprise!”
- From the leader of the Christian Business Men’s Committee in Beijing, “Coming here shows your loving heart. We bring moneys earned from foreign countries back to China and we bring back love from our neighbors too”.
- From Mr. Wu, “Enterprise is not just for business, but to build relationships and others; if you try to keep your treasure for your descendents, you are silly – spend money for eternity! & . “If you are given a cup of water, give a drum of water. If you were given a cup and give only a drop, stir your heart to give a drum of water!”
- From the President of Happiness Research Institute (Really!!): “Most employment enjoyment depends on joy in your heart…serving others makes you happy!”
We had the opportunity to listen to our Shaun BAO and hear him stir the audience with his story of family bitterness. His royal great grandfather who hated the English and French for the destruction of the Summer Palace; his grandfather who hated the “national army” for his exile; for his father who hated the communist government for sending him because of his royal heritage – to the country to be “re-educated”. Then after his family went to Australia and Shaun worked as a “house boy” in New Zealand, becoming very angry himself, he came to faith in Christ. What a story he shares about his 20 years in missions in Beijing after leaving successful business in Australia! His dream is reconciliation between people, nations and between man and God!
Each of the team shared for a few minutes as well and were received so well! An older gentleman came up to us before the program ended to say that he had never before heard words like ours and he couldn’t wait until the end to tell us. A prominent woman in banking, as well as others told the entire group how much they loved the words we spoke. Shaun received so much praise and we were surrounded with picture takers for quite some time at the end. The program went from 1pm – 6pm!
Dinner tonight was with Shaun and Sarah BAO as well as a visitor (who just found out about Shaun and this meeting today a few hours beforehand!), Todd Hendricks. Todd shared his story of great success and wealth in a major construction company – with an economy related bankruptcy last spring. Todd shares about being desperately committed to ministry and willingness to be totally committed to Christ!
Must get some rest now; such a day ahead tomorrow with church, a small group to train and a much larger group later on. Please lift us up in prayer! Sharon Sanchez was even asked to share in church about her missionary aunts who were hear in the 20’s!
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