JAN. 2002

The decision to go to China

Dear friends and loved ones:

The walk to the post-office box was a very long and almost lonely.
As I walked Fan Anding drove by and asked me what I was doing.  I said
"just taking a break".  Then just twenty feet from the mailbox,
brother Tu Qiang stopped and invites me to Chinese Bible study.

I was walking to the mailbox to mail the letter to my father, to
tell him that, Lord willing, I was moving to China, probably forever.
I guess since I never got to grow up with my Father (my mother and
father were divorced at age one), I had always hoped to go back to
live near him and be his friend, and hope to win him to Christ, and
help him to grow in the LORD.  Maybe this was causing me to want to
stay in America.  But the decision to go to China was a very simple one.
I was reading an article about how to share my faith with Muslims
and got very convicted.  It says:

"If and when a Muslim begins to study Scripture, he (or she) is going
to be under suspicion by his family and friends.  He will need strong
support and encouragement from a Christian friend.  This support is even
more critical at the time of conversion, baptism, and post-baptismal
trauma.  One must be ready to die with his or her disciple (John 15:13)."
John 15:13 says:

	"Greater love hath no man than this,
	that a man lay down his life for his friends."

That was enough.  I was reminded again what Jesus did for me;
and what I am to do for others.

And then later, the Lord reminded me of Ecclesiastes 4:9,10,12 which says:

	Two are better than one;
	because they have a good reward for their labour.
	For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:
	but woe to him that is alone when he falleth;
	for he hath not another to help him up.
	And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him;
	and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Who would be the second person to go to China to preach with brother
Qiang?  Should it not be the one to whom God has entrusted him as
a disciple?

After the post-office, I feel very sad, but somewhat relieved.
I ask God "where are You when I hurt?"  Then I remember as I write
this letter that as I made that lonely walk two Chinese people
God had allowed me to serve, took time to stop and talk to me,
and even as I write this letter, brother Wu Xiaoqin calls me
on the phone and tells me he is making me dinner so we can study
Bible.  God has been speaking to me all along through the hearts
of His servants.  Thanks for all your prayers.

Pray to see you in China.

in Christ,
wes