“I like your father,”
my Chinese MBA student friend stated after a brief conversation with my
Dad. She had previously
encountered him and they had immediately made a
connection.
“That’s good. He loves international students. He’s been to China (you know). He came to visit me for a couple of
weeks.”
“Oh!
So that’s why he can understand us! You know, I think that if you have been
to another place then you can understand the people from there much better. I think that’s why God had to come to
earth, so he could really understand what it was like to be
human.”
Prayer
At the close of international chapel we broke into groups. Two of the persons were Chinese
students who are not yet believers.
I asked each person what their prayer requests were.
Someone also asked me what mine were and I gave a brief reply before
starting the prayer time.
At the close we chatted for a minute or two and then the other
persons began to pick up their chairs and leave. One of the Chinese students remained
behind. Looking intently at me,
this student, whose story I shared regarding the loss of his grandparents in a
previous blog, said to me. “So
what are your prayer requests?”
I was shocked! Where did that come from?
Perhaps he heard but didn’t understand when I had spoken before, or
perhaps he knew I was just giving a simple answer and not really mentioning what
was on my heart. Either way, I was
honored that this unbelieving student really wanted to
know.
“Well…I would like to do my job well and serve the international
students well, and I would like to grow in love for Jesus,” I replied
honestly.
“Okay, umm, how do I start?” He asked. “Do I just say dear
lord?”
Again, I was shocked!
“Well…you can start however you like, Lord, Jesus, Father,…or
just start talking,” I said.
“Okay,” and he closed his eyes, and bowed his head with me and
began”
“Uh, Lord …. Help Joanna …. do a good job …. know
more….”……
I wish I could recall the exact words.
In truth, it was a rather awkward prayer, but I cared very little how it
sounded. To stick ones neck out
like this and try to pray out loud is something that often takes believing
international students years to be willing to do.
So in truth, God answered two prayers that day…two in
one!
To Treasure
8-10 students sat in our living room.
Usually no more than 2 or three come for Bible study and dinner, but this
week everyone seemed to be able to make it.
The topic was 1 Peter
2:21-25. “What stood out to
you?” Loren asked
students.
I was amazed that even the unbelieving students
answered according to the Word.
One in particular student who denies God’s existence said “Christ
suffered for us…”
The highlight of the night, however, came after
Loren asked us to spend a minute thinking about what sins we have
committed. He then asked the
students to share their thoughts.
“I don’t treasure what God has given me,” came a quiet but firm
reply. The student answering had
been in and out of the hospital the week before.
“Like what?” Loren
asked.
“Like my family, friends,
health…”
Her words resounded in a silent room and made us think. Are we sinning by not treasuring what
God has given us?