Tonight as we were walking through our complex, "Samuel" (all names have been changed) noticed that there were people burning candles and paper in the grass. He was asking questions, so I encouraged him to ask them himself what this was all about. The first man we approached smiled as Samuel began his question in simple words. He told us that the brown paper was paper money that he was burning in respect for the dead. Today is one of the two holidays of the year when he respects the dead in this way. The man stated that this was his religion and we were able to say that we follow Jesus. This 80 year old man had heard of Christianity when he studied in school some 65 years ago, but has no Christian friends nor had he ever met a Christian that he knew of, until now. We chatted a bit and he went in.
Then next group we came across was a mother, father and their grown daughter burning very real looking money. (Samuel exclaimed “Why are they burning that money!?!”) The daughter understood some English and answered Samuel’s question. She said that they were burning the money in filial piety for their ancestors and also to ask their ancestors for blessing and protection in this life.
As you can guess, Samuel had questions from the time we walked into the house until he was in bed and the lights were out. He was aware that they were mistaken and asked many times why they didn’t know God. Why hasn’t anyone told them? Where are the people that are dead? What is hell? After our bedtime prayers and the lights were out, the questions kept coming. “I follow Jesus. Do you follow Jesus? Does William follow Jesus? Does Thomas follow Jesus?...and on through his friends until he came to one…Does Lin Hong follow Jesus?” Lin Hong doesn’t follow Jesus, but you can tell him about Jesus. But how will you tell him? You can learn how to tell him. “I want to tell him. Can you teach me how to tell him?” I’ll do my best! “OK! I’ll be brave.”
Wow. Out of the mouth of babes. In my heart I prayed that I would have the same readiness, teachability, and the boldness to share as Samuel. In my heart I said, “OK! I’ll be brave.” Please pray that the Lord would give us the discipline to continue in our language study so that we would be able to share in a meaningful way, that we would see the opportunities he gives us to share, and that we would have the boldness to share even when it may cost us our job.
As I write I can smell the smoke of the burnt paper money and remember that our prayers are incense – prayers that are heard and answered by the One True God. Would you pray with us for these lost souls? Would you pray for us as we proclaim in word and deed the Truth?
From the Asia Workers family...
