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Mission Moment #5
April 3, 2008

This past week the Day Women’s BSF class is on Spring Break. I admit, that every year, I hope one of my Texas friends will come see me during this time of year. The colorful spring flowers are in bloom everywhere and I really would love to show off this beautiful land and introduce a Texan friend to another culture. I continue to hope that one day a friend will come, but until then, I embrace the reality of God’s gift in my Chinese friends. So, it’s time to plan a play day! A few times a year, I say to my friends: “lets have play day”, and they start coming up with suggestions. There were 7 of us for this outing.

We rode the MRT (subway) from Taipei city to the Tianmu area, which sits at the base of Yangming Shan Mountain. Next, we rode in two taxis midway up the mountain. Then we got out and began walking up a steep incline. During WWII, when Japan occupied Taiwan, the soldiers built lots of trails. These trails are scattered along mountainsides, made of flat stones, laid side by side forming reasonable sized steps. Occasionally they made a larger flat area with a stone bench looking out over the side of the mountain. It rained on us the whole time, but when you live in a place like Taiwan, you don’t let the rain deter you; carrying an umbrella is a way of life here. It took us an hour to climb, with several rest points, so Fran’s ‘ole ticker could slow down a bit. These gals are in much better shape than I am in, so I was always at the rear of the climbing chain! After an hour of climbing on the rock path, we walked out on the main mountain road.

We then ate lunch at a nice restaurant. We had what we call “family” style. Everyone chooses one dish and everyone shares! I’m finally getting used to it, but there are always a few dishes, such as tofu, I pass up. However, when these gals order different dishes, they are usually sensitive to my likes and dislikes and they see to it that I never go hungry.

Next on our agenda: Coffee!

Although Starbucks are scattered all over this island, so are lots of little independent coffee shops. We walked out of the restaurant, to begin our mountain decent, glanced at the Starbucks on our right, then turned left on a side street and soon entered an independent coffee shop. We had the full attention of the shop’s owner; he sat us down at a double table, handed us menus and even handed me an English version. He is speaking Chinese the whole time, but I can read the body language, catch a few words, then lean over to Bess for an interpretation. He explained that he roasts his own coffee beans, and how his house blend is not too strong, and very comfortable on the palate. He wants us all to try his house coffee, black with no extras. But I want mocha-coffee. He said “ok” but he would still give me a little taste of his house blend – black! The shop owner personally served us and pulled up a chair for us to compliment his coffee. It’s funny; I still had to pull a sugar out of my pocket…. I just don’t do black coffee! He finally brought on the steamed milk and sugar bowl and ahhh…. My mocha –coffee was yummy! He continued to sit with us to engage in conversation.

Somewhere in there, I caught that the gals told him we were all Christians in a bible study together and that I am the teacher, so he turned to me and asked if I speak Chinese. I say a little bit. I then asked, “will you listen to me speak Chinese”? He said yes. I asked again, this time saying “will you listen to me speak about Jesus?” He said yes. So I pulled out my little practice sheet and said:

“Shén aì shìrén , shènzhì jiāng tāde dú shēng zǐ cìgĕi tāmen, jiào yīqiè xìn tāde , bú zhì mièwáng , fǎn dé yǒngshēng.”

He asked me to say it again. So I did.

What did I say?

I said John 3:16
God (Shén) / loves (ài)/ people of the world (shì rén),/ even so, so much so that (shènzhì jiāng) (ba/for grammar purpose) / His (tāde)/ only (dú) / life (shēng) / son (zǐ)/ gave (cígěi)/ us (tāmen),/ call (jiào)/ everyone (yīqiè) / believe (xìn)/ him (tāde),/ will not perish ( bú zhì miè wáng)/ have eternal life (fán dé yǒung shēng).

I asked in Chinese – do you believe? He said “yes”. Then Bess explained to me that he believes in all religions. I then said in English, “Oh, but our God is a jealous God, he is The Only True God”.

Then I turned to the girls and said, I think ya’ll can explain better than me.

Shirley explained to him about God being jealous because he is the One True God – his jealousy is good & protective etc. After she talked a while, Bess talked a while, then Landi talked a while. They never interpreted for me, but I think Bess shared the gospel: God sent his son to die on the cross; he arose 3 days later, overcoming sin and death. Then Landi explained heaven and eternal life. At first I struggled trying to understand and catch words, then the HOLY SPIRIT convicted me, Fran this is not about you and your language ability, this is about the Father wanting this coffee shop owner to hear the gospel, so you should stop focusing on you and start praying as they share with him. So I sat there and prayed.

The shopkeeper was attentive the whole time, but when he got up to tend to other customers, I asked Bess, “Is his heart soft or hard towards the gospel?” She said, “Not hard, but not soft either.”

After we paid our bill, I gave my Chinese one last effort on the way out the door saying, “God wants you to know him” (Shén yào nǐ rènshi tā).

As I recall this coffee shop encounter, I realize that regardless of one’s language ability, when God wants to introduce himself to someone, He will do it. He also was showing me that when I get frustrated for not having a lot of language skills, he reminds me that he has brought me here for a season to teach and train others through an English bible study, and they in turn will take ownership of His words and actively share their faith wherever they go in their mother tongue.

I count it a privilege to be in this land of opportunity at this time. Please pray for the gospel to reach all of the people of Taiwan and please pray for me concerning my language-learning journey.

Just another mission moment, with:
Fran

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