On the 8th minute of the 8th hour of the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year of the 21st century, the world held its breath. Four billion viewers watched as a lavish fireworks display and 2008 drummers heralded the beginning of the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony. After seven years of preparations totaling 40 billion dollars, the Games were underway! Centuries of Chinese history, culture, development, beauty, and arts were showcased for more than an hour before athletes from 204 countries began parading into the massive Bird's Nest stadium.

The athletes were surrounded by a live audience of 90,000 spectators, ironically the same number as those who died in the Sichuan earthquake three months earlier. As a reminder of both the country's grief and its resilience, a nine-year old boy who had survived the quake walked beside famed Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, who proudly carried the Chinese flag. Celebrations that continued late into the evening did not appear to hinder China?s athletes who began strong and never wavered, besting every other nation in the gold medal tally.

The world's most populous nation met the long-awaited challenge to distinguish itself on the international stage with world class athletes, elaborate venues, extreme hospitality, enthusiastic nationalism, and international diplomacy. Having now proved itself on many levels, China is now entering its post-Olympic phase. Speculation is rampant, but only God knows what really lies ahead for China.

"I am not asking you to just help in prayer as a sort of sideline, but I am trying to roll the main responsibility of prayer warfare on you. I want you to take the burden of these people on your shoulders," wrote an early China missionary to his U.S. supporters. The call to prayer is the same today. If you are you willing to accept the burden of prayer on behalf of an unreached megacity or ethnic-minority group, "Prayer Travels" is for you. Whether praying on-site or from afar, your prayers can impact the peoples of China, Mongolia, and Taiwan for eternity. Write to heart4eastasia@pobox.com for more information.

Committed Christian university students are greatly needed. A wide range of two-week "Christmas in China" volunteer opportunities can be found at: http://thetask.org/students/Projects/christmasprojects.asp. Six to 12-month "Hands On" job opportunities can be found at: http://www.thetask.org/handson. Be a part of what God is doing in East Asia!