China

Wow, China was once again an opportunity to see God at work. I feel like this was a totally selfish trip, but God still used moments for Himself to not only be met by us, but to present Him to others. Since returning we also got to see how He had us play a part in His bigger plan through prayer.

I will share that first. While we were in Shanghai we had a personal tour guide, Zijie. She is from China, but had come to Seoul one summer a while back. A little background on Zijie is that she is the first person to become a Christian from her village of about 5,000. She went to school near the North Korean border (a school that was a Christian school, but she had no idea at the time). Her father is also in the communist party. She was suppose to go home to be with her family for the New Year (Spring Festival). She decided to postpone her trip a few days to show us around Shanghai, even though she has only lived there for about 7 weeks. Us being there gave her an opportunity to learn about the city she lives in, as well as an opportunity for us to pray for her and give her some added support before returning home. Here is an email that was sent once we got back to Seoul. I think it explains it all pretty well. God is so much bigger than we can even imagine.....please, continue to pray for her and the people in China.

Isn't prayer awesome!?!?!?!?! Obviously the prayers soften more hearts than were expected. Thank you for joining us in encouraging and strengthening her.
In Him, Lara

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 8:31 PM Subject: 回复： Welcome back!
Thank you very much. My trip home was a big blessing from God. I was brave enough to tell my mom about God, and somehow, my grandfather, my father and my brother got involved. I told my mom that the Bible I took home was for her, but she worried that I would not have one for myself in Shanghai, so she suggested I take it back to shanghai, than my father said :" No, give it to me and I will read it." That was the most unexpecting message for me. How amazing! I was so encouraged that I told my grandfather and my brother about it too. I left two little books and the book with lots of pictures in it that you gave me at home, and my mother said she understood those better. See, what did I say, you came at the right time. I will look for some more easier books here for my family, for people who need them, and for me too, with the money given by your friend in Korea. It is too late, I have to go now.
Love, zijie

It is amazing to be a part of what God is doing.......and this was and is only a little glimpse of what HIS bigger plan all over the world is.

Here is a summary of the rest of my time in China....there is so much more I could write, but you will just have to ask if you want to know more.

Saturday, February 17, 2007
Arrived in Shanghai, China and had an adventure just trying to get to our hotel. One person told us to take one bus and another a different one. Praise God, we got on the right bus, took it to the end of the line and saw no hotel. The lady just pointed in a direction.......so we walked that way. Got to our hotel about 1pm and waited around until the family and Zijie got there, checking out the area. This whole time there were fireworks and firecrackers going off all over the city, so many loud bangs. This actually continued until well after 1am. But it was the Eve of the Lunar/Chinese New Year. That night went to "the Bund" to watch the fireworks.

Sunday, February 18, 2007
Got up and watched a 'Lion Dance' in the lobby of our hotel. Then, went walking thru Nanjing Road (the first and number 1 commerical street in Shanghai). After that went up to the top of the Oriental Pearl Tower. We went thru the Shanghai History Museum. That evening we were going to go to the YuYuan Garden to see the lanterns lit, but due to some circumstances, went too late. However, we got a chance to walk around this old part of town, even though it was deserted at the time. The street was soooo cool we wanted to go back the next day during daylight hours. By the way, firecrackers and fireworks were still being set off all day all over the city.

Monday, February 19, 2007
Went to the Shanghai Zoo. Coolest thing was not only getting to see the Pandas, but the fact that they were so active while we were there. After the Zoo, we went back to walk around the YuYuan Garden area. Wow, what a difference from the night before. The streets were packed. We ended the night by going to a Chinese Acrobatic Show. This was our last night with Zijie and the family. So we spent some time reading God's Word and praying and encouraging Zijie.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Went on a day excursion to an old water village, Zhou Zhuang. It is the number 1 water village in China. Originally built in 1086, it is a well preserved historic and cultural famous town in China. Also, saw a silk mill. That evening we spent the night at YuYuan Garden, we were on our own and since we liked it so much we wanted to see it at dusk and early evening when there were still people on the streets. We also wanted to do some shopping.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Today was the day we were suppose to leave Shanghai for Beijing. However, our flight was to leave around 11am, but was delayed due to weather at the Beijing Airport. We ended up sitting in the airport waiting most of the day. Around 3:30pm they announced that all flights to Beijing were cancelled. This was the biggest test and challenge from God. We were shoved around by people (now this actually happens in lines all over Korea, and had been happening each day in lines at everything we did....but I don't really want to talk about that in my blog.) We were told to go into one line, to be pushed and cut in front of....and then told we were in the wrong line. It took about three lines to finally get help.....my travel partner was losing it. We ended up being told we were on a flight at 8am the next day. So we went to get our luggage. During which time some other American girls got talking to us and said they had gotten a boarding pass which we hadn't, so we went back to check on this only to find out that we were actually on a 3pm flight the next day. My friend, was really losing it at this time. Though, I was very impressed that I had stayed so calm. It was a little scary not having anyone to really help, and I could not understand a thing. But I knew that God was with us and was going to take care of everything. The next challenge was trying to call our hotel in Beijing and then decide what we were going to do about that night. We went to information for help, and were sent back to the airline. As I walked to the airline they told me to go to information. I could not believe this. I stayed calm and explained things to the gentleman, who by the way was the one who put us in the wrong line to begin with and who told us we were on the 8am flight. He took me to information and made the call for me. Everything got taken care of, except what to do that night. I would have been fine storing our bags and going to get something to eat and then coming back to the airport. We were told that we could show up at 6am and try to get on stand by for an earlier flight. However, my friend really wanted a hotel, so we found a cheap one with some help. It was ok, but very scary to say the least. We ended up going and walking around the Bund again, and then YuYuan Garden. That night there were fireworks going off from the roof of the hotel we were at as well as the building behind us. The noise felt as though we were in a war zone. Praise God that HE took care of us, after all there really wasn't much we could do about our today or our tomorrow, except give them to HIM.

Thursday, February 22, 2007
Showed up at 6am......I actually checked with the airline first to see if there were any available seats on an earlier flight. I got us changed from 3pm to 11am. Then waited until 6:30am and were the first to get our names on the stand by list. We did not make it on the first flight out, but made it on the next at 9am. God was good. My friend kept thanking me, it wasn't me who had done anything.......it was GOD. Once we arrived near our hotel we were taken in a bike taxi, however, the man tried to get us to pay him $100 for a very short trip. We ended up giving him more yuan then what we owed him, but there was no way I was going to get pushed around anymore. Since we had a day shorter in Beijing we made some plans for excursions and then spent the rest of the afternoon shopping at a Pearl Market.

Friday, February 23, 2007
Went on an excursion to the Ming Tombs and the Badaling section of the Great Wall. We also stopped at a Jade Factory and a Traditional Chinese Preventive Medicine Center for feet massages and a check up, so to speak. I was the only one who walked all the way up to the top of the west side of the Wall. I would have liked to walk the other side as well, but could only do what I could being with a small group. I still got to walk and stand in a section of the Great Wall of China- that was cool enough in itself. And since I did it alone I had an awesome time with God.

Saturday, February 24, 2007
Ended up on a private tour to Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven. Also, got to learn about pearls, as well as another foot massage at the Traditional Medicine Center. Got a huge opportunity to talk with our guide not only about Chinese history, but American history and Christianity. We ended up having our guide get us tickets to an Acrobatic Show that night. I sat by a nice couple from Japan. He asked me a ton of questions and I got to share with him as well.

Sunday, February 25, 2007
Returned to Seoul.....though it was foggy in Beijing, God took care of us and brought us back safely.

I spent lots of time praying while I was walking on the streets through out China. It was a very sad place in a sense of speaking. Praise God for this opportunity to see yet another group of people in another country.